NJDOT and regional transportation agencies host Traffic Incident Management training for first responders

More than 17,000 emergency personnel in New Jersey trained to date

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today hosted a           multi-disciplinary first responder training exercise in Traffic Incident Management (TIM) at the Camden County College Fire Academy.

TIM Responder Training brings police, firefighters, DOT, towing, medical personnel, and other incident responders together to engage in interactive, hands-on incident resolution exercises.  Today’s training was done in partnership with the New Jersey State Police, Pennsylvania

Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Gloucester Township Fire Department, and Haine’s Towing and Reihl’s Towing companies.

To date, NJDOT and its partner agencies have trained more than 17,000 emergency and incident response personnel in New Jersey and PENNDOT has trained more than 14,000 emergency and incident response personnel in Pennsylvania.

The TIM training program focuses on a response effort that protects motorists and responders while minimizing the impact on traffic flow.  Using a multi-disciplinary approach to solve these problems is crucial.  The average number of responders struck and killed nationally while working in or near moving traffic each year are:
•        Fire/Rescue and EMS: 6-8/year;
•        Law Enforcement: 10-12/year;
•        Tow/Recovery: 50/year;
•        DOTs, Public Works, and Safety Service Patrols: 100/year + 20,000 injured

This life-saving training is part of a national effort to improve the safety of first responders and others on the scene of highway crashes.  The course is intended to provide students with local, state, and national best practices by providing them with the knowledge they need to conduct safe, quick clearances of roadway incidents.  The training consists of a full day course covering 8 hours of material, including classroom training and hands-on outdoor activities utilizing actual vehicles with response equipment and traffic safety equipment to upright an overturned truck. It also included a New Jersey State Police helicopter landing at a temporary landing zone set up by first responders to simulate a medivac operation.

NJDOT has a website www.njtim.org that functions as a central clearinghouse for first responders across the State, including materials and future training opportunities. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info or on the NJDOT Facebook page.  

Please note, the NJDOT Communications Office has a new phone number – 609-963-1975.