In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-49 means "Traffic or Road Conditions" or "Hazard Report". It is used to report roadway hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, or obstacles that may impact traffic flow, allowing dispatch and other units to take appropriate precautions and coordinate responses.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, 10-49 at 7th Avenue and Oak, multiple potholes causing slow traffic."
- Dispatch: "10-4, unit 15, alert public works and notify nearby units."
In this exchange, the officer reports a roadway hazard. Using 10-49 ensures that dispatch and nearby units are aware of the conditions, enabling proper traffic management, accident prevention, and safety measures.
Operational Purpose
10-49 is essential for maintaining safe roadways and effective traffic coordination. Timely reporting allows dispatch to inform other units, warn motorists, request public works or maintenance assistance, and prevent accidents caused by hazardous conditions.
Typical situations for 10-49 include potholes, fallen debris, flooding, icy conditions, minor accidents, or stalled vehicles creating obstructions.
Officer Safety And Coordination
Declaring 10-49 ensures officers and dispatch maintain awareness of potential hazards. Units may report temporary unavailability with 10-6 while addressing the hazard, acknowledge with 10-4, and provide location updates with 10-20 for coordination with other units and safety planning.
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies use 10-49 exclusively for traffic hazards, while others extend it to general roadway conditions, weather impacts, or construction updates. Local procedures may define documentation requirements, follow-up reporting, and whether public notifications or temporary detours are needed.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-49 with phrases such as:
- "Road hazard reported."
- "Unsafe traffic conditions."
- "Obstruction on roadway."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-49 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-20 (location), 10-48 (traffic light/control), 10-46 (assist motorist/vehicle), and 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby). Together, these codes support safe, coordinated traffic management and hazard response.