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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2019
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Nov. 10 - 16 marks National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week
November 10-16, 2019
PORTLAND, Maine - The Federal Highway Administration, key partners, and responders around the nation will mark National Traffic Incident Response Awareness week this November 10th through the 16th, 2019. This is the fourth year for the observance.
The theme for 2019 is: “TEAM Stands for Traffic Emergency Actions Matter: SAFETY IS A TEAM EFFORT!”
This theme focuses on the fact that every person has a role in traffic incident response. Drivers and passengers, passing motorists, public safety communications professionals, emergency responders, traveler information providers, and the towing/recovery community all play a role when an incident snarls traffic and threatens lives.
Responders, community leaders and preparedness organizations will use the week to educate drivers and prepare their local public safety professionals to help prevent responder, driver, or passenger injuries and deaths. Nationwide, police, fire and rescue, safety service patrols, emergency medical professionals, towing and recovery professionals, public works departments, utilities, constructors, and transportation crews will talk to communities about the dangers of Traffic Incident Response, that are killing drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and those who rush to their aid.
Locally, Maine Turnpike Authority, MaineDOT and stakeholders from the six TIM coordinating committees throughout the State are collaborating on public outreach about National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week and raising awareness about the public’s role as part of the TEAM.
People interested in being part of the TEAM can help out this week by posting on social media using the following hashtags:
#SafeIncidents
#MoveOver
#MoveOverSlowDown
Drivers can help do their part by practicing the following:
- Slow down and move over when approaching and passing an incident scene to provide a protective buffer for you, for responders, and the motorists behind you.
- If you can steer it, clear it. Many drivers think they should not move their car if they are involved in a fender-bender or crash. Even if the vehicle is drivable and there are no injuries, many believe they should wait until the police arrive before moving their cars. But this is not true. If your car is drivable and there are no injuries, you should move your car to the shoulder or a nearby safe place off of the road.
- Know your state’s laws about what to do in a traffic incident. Some states even want those vehicles moved if there are injuries.
National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week occurs right before the end-of-year holiday travel that we make to visit family and friends. Many of us will travel between communities or states. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Pack supplies you would need in case of an emergency. Be prepared in case the worst happens.
Know before you go and save a life. And when you come near an incident scene, please slow down, move over, and obey all signals, signs, and personnel.
Traffic Incident Management (TIM) consists of a planned and coordinated multi-disciplinary process to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible. Effective TIM reduces the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and improves the safety of motorists, crash victims, and emergency responders. For more information, please visit the Maine TIM web site: https://smpdc.org/timg
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