Statistically, according to data from thePipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)and theNational Response Center (NRC), the vast majority of hazardous material (HazMat) incidents occur onRoads and Highways(Option A). While railway accidents (Option C) like the East Palestine derailment or maritime spills in waterways (Option B) are often more catastrophic and receive more media attention, the sheer volume of HazMat transported by truck leads to a much higher frequency of smaller, yet environmentally threatening, releases.
Highways are prone to frequent incidents due to the high density of traffic, driver fatigue, weather conditions, and the "door-to-door" nature of trucking which involves navigating narrow local streets not designed for large tankers. Every day, thousands of trucks carry flammable liquids, corrosive acids, and toxic gases. Even a minor "fender bender" involving a commercial vehicle can result in a punctured fuel tank or a valve leak, leading to soil and groundwater contamination.
In theCEDPframework, understanding the "transient nature" of highway hazards is critical. Unlike a fixed facility (like a chemical plant), a highway release can happen anywhere, often in areas far from specialized HazMat response teams. This high frequency of incidents requires local first responders to have a high level ofAwarenessandOperationslevel training underHAZWOPERstandards. While rail and water transport move larger quantities of hazardous goods per shipment, the "incident-per-mile" rate is significantly higher for road transport, making it the primary focus for transportation-related emergency planning and environmental protection efforts.