Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials announced yesterday that the 200,000th emergency responder has completed the Traffic Incident Management (TIM) responder training. The life-saving training is part of a national effort to improve the safety of first responders and others on the scene of highway crashes.
“Besides protecting emergency workers and ensuring crash victims receive immediate attention, these practices reduce the chance of secondary crashes and prevent traffic jams by keeping traffic moving for other drivers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
FHWA’s TIM responder training course is designed by and for responders, and helps to build teams of well-trained police, firefighters, highway workers, and emergency medical and towing personnel. Together, they learn a common set of practices, including quick clearance techniques that improve communications and reduce the amount of time needed to remain on scene.
The delays caused by such crashes and other traffic incidents are responsible for about half of all traffic delays—which limits freight movement, increases worker commute times and significantly decreases highway safety for everyone on the road.
The 200,000 first responders who have completed the training represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
