DOT Getting Ready for 2017 National Traffic Incident Response Week
During the next year, FHWA, first responders, and other partners are preparing with an eye on the inaugural National Traffic Incident Response Week, preparing motorists and local public safety professionals to take safe actions and prevent responder, driver, or passenger deaths.
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a year-long effort Nov. 21 to engage state DOTs, first responders, community traffic reporters, drivers' education instructors, preparedness organizations, and motorists about the first National Traffic Incident Response Week, which will take place Nov. 13-17, 2017. FHWA Deputy Administrator David Kim's post about it was featured on the DOT blog that dy.
Discussing why it matters, he wrote that NHTSA data show "35,092 people – someone’s daughter, son, co-worker and neighbor -- died on our nation's highways in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2015. The figure represents a 7.2% increase over 2014, which makes it the greatest one year increase in 50 years, and breaks a recent historical trend of fewer deaths occurring per year. With an increasing number of vehicles miles traveled and incidents to respond, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that our emergency responders are able to do their jobs," he continued. "Traffic Incident Management (TIM) experts tell us that drivers are not aware of the laws in their states, especially 'Move Over and Slow Down' laws and others similar in purpose. And the disciplines that suffer the most from this ignorance are our safety service patrols, tow truck operators, transportation or public works maintenance crews, fire and rescue personnel and law enforcement officials.
"Over the next year, FHWA, first responders and other key partners across the country will lay the groundwork to remedy this, culminating with the inaugural National Traffic Incident Response Week. Ideally, by this time next year, responders, community leaders and preparedness organizations will have used the week to prepare drivers and their local public safety professionals to take safe actions and prevent responder, driver or passenger deaths. Police, fire and rescue, safety service patrols, emergency medical professionals, towers, and public works and transportation crews will talk to communities about dangers that kill drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and those who rush to their help," Kim added.
He explained that FHWA selected the week of Nov. 13-17 partly because it coincides with DOT and FHWA campaigns that remind travelers to be especially safe during the holiday season. Some states are conducting their own events in November 2016 to raise awareness and prepare for National Traffic Incident Response Week: "State DOTs in Iowa and Missouri are hosting Ride-a-Long events in conjunction with Safety Service Patrols and law enforcement agencies to show the public what happens at incident scenes and what to when a driver encounters roadway operations geared to clear an accident. Florida has developed slogans for its Variable Message Signs and is showing videos at rest stops throughout the state illustrating motorist responsibilities when approaching a crash scene. Nationwide, the National TIM Network has formed a working group at FHWA's request and is providing links to safety statistics, PSAs, a training video developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and FHWA. You can find all this, and other resources, at http://timnetwork.org/traffic-incident-response-awareness-week," he wrote.