INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of many road accidents in Iran makes it necessary to pay more attention to the rescue and rescue sector, the correct location of the road rescue and rescue centers and its development and equipment. Various factors are involved in the location of relief and rescue bases, which cannot be investigated and analyzed with traditional methods. Golestan province receives millions of travelers every year due to its natural conditions and features of tourism and pilgrimage, as well as its location on the transit route in the north of the country, which has many road accidents. This issue requires serious attention regarding the location of road rescue stations to provide better services to the injured in high-accident areas.
METHOD: In this study, hierarchical method was used. First, the influential factors in road accidents were identified; then based on the comparison of these factors and according to the opinion of experts, the weight of each factor was obtained. Finally, the weights obtained in GIS were combined with each other and the priority map of the existing rescue centers and the location of the proposed rescue centers were obtained.
FINDINGS: In vicinity of cities and villages, mixing of the purpose and method of using the international road by residents and passing drivers has been the main cause of accidents. Concentrating of rescue and relief bases in these areas does not reduce the number of accidents and can only have an effect on speeding up relief. The main places to establish relief and rescue bases in Tehran-Mashhad international road are the border between the cities of Minoodasht, Azadshahr, Ramian, Aliabad, Gorgan, Kordkuy and Bandar Gaz. In the meantime, Gorgan-Ali Abad and Gorgan-Kordkuy roads are more dangerous.
CONCLUSION: According to the results, the concentration of accident-prone points is located in the distance between two road rescue and relief bases and it seems that factors such as population, culture, road engineering, climate, and the culture of native and local inhabitants are involved in this matter. Therefore, it is recommended that policies should be reviewed in order to reduce road accidents in these areas.