This resource guide provides visual examples of high-visibility marking
schemes applied to the rear and sides of a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, pickup trucks, utility truck vehicles, SUVs, vans, box-type trucks, and large service vehicles.
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
This resource guide provides visual examples of high-visibility marking schemes applied to the rear and sides of a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, pickup trucks, utility truck vehicles, SUVs, vans, box-type trucks, and large service vehicles. This is the handicapped accessible version of the PDF format of this document.
Adobe PDF File
This report from the National Fire Protection Association summarizes the data for on-duty deaths of fire-police officers from 1991-2010, including demographic characteristics, nature of injury, and type of duty. Further detail on the specifics of some incidents is also presented.
Adobe PDF File
This report from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute details the findings of a panel convened to review typical functions performed by emergency responders at roadway incidents in an effort to develop a set of job performance requirements for the job functions critical to safe emergency operations at roadway incidents. This report discusses the process utilized, outlines the specific job performance requirements for critical positions assigned to emergency responders and provides guidance on the use of the requirements by potential users and training organizations.
Adobe PDF File
This ResponderSafety.Com reference card diagrams the layout of a Traffic Incident Management Area and provides important traffic management details, including incident magnitude definitions, TIMA area lengths based on posted speed limit, and an Emergency Responder Checklist for crucial roadway response actions.
Adobe PDF File
This poster, suitable for EMS and fire departments to hang in their stations, reinforces safety practices when operating on the roadway.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute and the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association is the Instructor Manual for the course “Managing Emergency Incidents on the Roadway.” This program was developed to provide emergency services leaders and instructors with information and tools on traffic incident management that they can use to train other emergency responders in there departments or agencies. This Manual includes both classroom management information, full speaker’s notes for the training presentation, and a tabletop exercise.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute and the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association assists public safety agencies in developing traffic control training programs. Topics addressed include policy development, qualifications, performance objectives, recruitment, content development, implementation, and examples of successful model programs.
Adobe PDF File
This document summarizes the 18 Strategies in the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management.
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This document provides additional, detailed explanation for each of the 18 Strategies in the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management.
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This document presents recommendations from a highway responder summit (and subsequent panel review) chaired by the CVVFA that looked into the scope, causes, and potential solutions to the problem of secondary incidents at highway response scenes. The recommendations in this document fall under five major subject headings -- training, operations, human resources, public education, and legislation/regulation/research/standards.
Adobe PDF File
This document looks at the progress on implementing recommendations from “Protecting Emergency Responders on the Highways: A White Paper by the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association” in the ten years since the original summit convened and makes additional recommendations for the continuing effort to reduce the incidence of secondary incidents.
Adobe PDF File
This document is a model SOP/SOG to use as a “go by” when formulating your departments’ SOP/SOG on safe position of apparatus while operating on or near the roadway.
Microsoft Word Document
This reference card illustrates the different classes of vehicles and lists the needed vehicle details to ensure that communications with a towing and recovery company are accurate and thus the correct tow truck type is dispatched for the vehicle needing assistance.
Adobe PDF File
This reference card lists the safe standoff distances for different improvised explosive devices, vehicles potentially carrying explosives and/or improvised explosive devices, and LPG tank sizes.
Microsoft Word Document
This guide from the Federal Highway Administration introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) to stakeholders who may be called upon to provide specific expertise, assistance, or material dur¬ing highway incidents but who may be largely unfamiliar with ICS organization and operations. Topics covered include the ICS organizational structure, unified command, advance planning and coordination, and implementation.
Adobe PDF File
This manual, developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, presents guidelines for traffic management, including setup of the emergency traffic control zone, vehicle positioning, traffic control device placement, and incident command setup.
Adobe PDF File
This report from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) provides guidance to local-level fire departments on compliance with the Department of Transportation’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium’s (NFSIMSC’s) Model Procedures Guide for Highway Incidents. This document details incident case studies, describes equipment to improve highway safety, shows how to set up a safe traffic incident management area, explains incident command for highway incidents, and lists best practices and other sources of information on effective highway incident operations.
Adobe PDF File
This document is a model SOP to use as a “go by” when formulating your department’s SOP on the use of safety apparent while working in or near moving traffic.
Microsoft Word Document
This document is a model SOG to use as a “go by” when formulating your department’s SOG for cone, flare, or sign deployment at traffic-related incidents.
Microsoft Word Document
This document provides uniform operational guidelines to ensure safe operations by emergency responders dispatched to incidents on limited access highways in the State of New Jersey. These guidelines identify vehicle safe positioning, common general safety, and onsite practices for all emergency responders.
Adobe PDF File
This color-coded map indicates the U.S. states with Move Over laws. Courtesy of AAA.
Adobe PDF File
This statement presents the position of the CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute on the use of temporary traffic signs for advance warning at roadway incidents.
Adobe PDF File
This reference card from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute illustrates the accepted highway lane numbering system and nomenclature for describing roadways in consistent terms.
Adobe PDF File
This handbook from the Federal Highway Administration includes the latest advances in TIM programs and practices across the country, and offers practitioners insights into the latest innovations in TIM tools and technologies, including strategic, tactical, and support elements.
Adobe PDF File
This trifold brochure summarizes the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management, how it was developed, what organizations were involved in developing it. Detail on the strategies is not included in this document.
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This document answers Frequently Asked Questions about need for and development of the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management.
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This document provides talking points for speakers presenting the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management.
Microsoft Word Document
This bookmark publicizes the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management and its strategies.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition provides a common terminology for use by responders during traffic incidents when identifying the location of the incident and the preferred position for arriving response vehicles and equipment. The document encourages response agencies to adopt this common terminology.
Adobe PDF File
This paper from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition summarizes currently available information about the benefits of Traffic Incident Management (TIM), including congestion relief, economic savings, energy conservation and environmental benefits, public health and safety improvements, reduced mortality and morbidity, increased responder safety, reduced public safety personnel requirements, and increased customer satisfaction. The document also discusses ways to measure these benefits.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition provides a framework for improving incident communications, including response planning, incident notification protocols, public advisories, emergency routing, CAD-ITS integration, and emerging communications technologies.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition reviews available data on responder fatalities that occurred while working on the roadways and suggests strategies to reduce the incidence of these fatalities.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition proposes strategies to achieve safe, quick clearance of traffic incidents.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition reviews examples of traffic incident management (TIM) strategies to build stronger state TIM programs. These strategies include interagency strategic planning, statewide best practices guidelines, stronger working partnerships between agencies, performance goals, and workable TIM organizational structures. The document also summarizes example state and local TIM programs.
Adobe PDF File
This document from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition provides basic information about what happens in traffic incident response. This information is intended for use in public education campaigns.
Adobe PDF File
This report summarizes the data on fatal occupational injuries in the year 2005, covering all occupational groups. Fatal highway accidents were the most frequent type of fatal workplace event. Data is broken down in several ways, including by type of incident, by industry, by occupation, by demographics, and by State. Multiple full data tables are presented.
Text File
These guidelines were established to provide incident responders in the state of New York a uniform approach to emergency traffic control and scene management. The guidelines include incident response priorities, incident classification, responder safety, responder vehicles, establishing the traffic incident management area, staging, breakdown, and investigation.
Adobe PDF File
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is a compilation of national standards for all traffic control devices, including road markings, highway signs, and traffic signals. The MUTCD is used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public traffic.
Adobe PDF File
This document is a recommended example of a traffic control professional equipment list. It was provided by the Adams Area Fire District.
Adobe PDF File
Following a brief literature review, this research project conducted a comparison of the different flares and related traffic control devices in order to identify and examine alternative highway flare systems utilizing chemical or electric sources of energy to determine their suitability and visibility.
Adobe PDF File
This document is a list of recommended equipment for a traffic control professional.
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This standard identifies the minimum job performance requirements (JPRs) necessary to perform traffic incident management duties at emergency scenes on or near an active roadway." Also, the document type is not a PDF, but that's a smaller issue if it has to stay that way.
Adobe PDF File
This 2004 Staff Study Report documents the work to date of the Law Enforcement Stops and Safety Subcommittee. It includes technology, practices, and research related to improving officer safety and preventing police vehicle crashes. Recommendations are included at the end of each section of the re¬port as benchmarks against which to measure future successes to improve the safety of police vehicles, highway environment and design, and traffic stop practices.
Adobe PDF File
This video is a 30 second public service announcement encouraging the public to slow down and move over when they see responders working on the roadway. The format available here is WMV for PC. For other versions, including QuickTime for Mac, please visit the "Slow Down Move Over" PSA page: http://www.respondersafety.com/SDMO.aspx
MP4 Video
This video is a 30 second public service announcement reminding the public that responders are doing hard and dangerous work to keep roads safer and that they should slow down and give responders room to work safely. The format available here is WMV for PC. For other versions, including QuickTime for Mac, please visit the "It's No Picnic Out Here" PSA page: http://www.respondersafety.com/NoPicnic.aspx
MP4 Video
This video shows examples high visibility markings on fire, EMS, and police vehicles, including products for retrofitting fire apparatus built before to the NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus went into effect in 2009. The format available here is WMV for PC. For other versions, including QuickTime for Mac, please visit the "Marked and Seen" page: http://www.respondersafety.com/MarkedAndSeen.aspx
Windows Media Video
This video makes plain the dangers of working on the roadway, the grave reality of line of duty deaths occurring on the roadway, and explains the “ten cones of highway safety” for responders to practice to work more safely on the road.
MP4 Video
This report, produced in partnership between the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), analyzes emergency vehicle visibility and conspicuity with an eye toward expanding efforts in these areas to improve vehicle and roadway operations safety for all emergency responders. Emphasis in this report is placed on passive visibility/conspicuity treatments. Key finidings include additional research on emergency vehicle visibility and
conspicuity in the United States, with particular emphasis on the interaction between civilian drivers and emergency vehicles during responses and on incident scenes.
Adobe PDF File
Through synthesis of current research on highway work zone safety with input from participants in a December 1998 workshop, this document offers measures that contractors, agencies, policymakers, manufacturers, law enforcement, and the research community can take to reduce occupational injuries in highway work zones.
Adobe PDF File
This alert describes the hazards facing fire fighters working along roadways, presents two case studies, and lists recommendations for prevention of struck bys.
Adobe PDF File
This Power Point program provides training for responders on the first arriving apparatus at a highway incident. The first 15 minutes of an incident often sets the tone for the entire response. Learn how practices such as “windshield size up” can make the scene safer.
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
A full operations level training program that may be taught in modules. Suggested presenters should be at least a level one instructor. Suggested teaching time is 4 hours total.
ZIP file
This guideline outlines proper safety practices to be used when backing fire department and EMS vehicles and maneuvering in close-quarters situations.
Microsoft Word Document
Career Fire Fighter Dies When Backed Over While Spotting an
Apparatus - New Jersey
Adobe PDF File
The Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) and their
Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) developed this manual and the
accompanying online-based training course for first responders and other
personnel who respond to roadway incident scenes. In the initial minutes of a
roadway incident, responders often find themselves operating in moving traffic
at great peril.
Adobe PDF File
This presentation is an excerpt from the University of Extrication “Safe Parking” highway safety program by Ron Moore, Battalion Chief, McKinney, TX FD. The segment in this presentation addresses the issue of proper PPE for responders working in or near moving traffic.
Adobe PDF File
Traffic Incident Management Area (TIMA)
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This report summarizes a workshop convened during the 2018 National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week on how to harden blocking vehicles to protect responders and the public.
Adobe PDF File
This paper summarizes the proceedings of a workshop convened by the Emergency
Responder Safety Institute during the 2018 National Traffic Incident Response Awareness
Week to envision the future of roadway incident response safety and traffic incident
management and as a Twenty Year Review of the original 1999 White Paper "Protecting Emergency Responders on the Highway".
Adobe PDF File
Be Right, Be Bright
MP4 Video
This report details the history of how the current fire apparatus lighting standards were developed, summarizes the last 20 years of research on emergency lighting, and has the results of a study done in May 2019 specifically addressing what changes should be made to fire apparatus lighting standards in response to the change to LED lighting.
Adobe PDF File
2020 ERSI Struck-By-Vehicle Fatality Spreadsheet
Adobe PDF File
Erie County Sobriety Checkpoint Traffic Control Zone Set-Up & Safety Worksheet
Adobe PDF File
Erie County Sobriety Checkpoint Planning Worksheet
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Following each JPR in this standard that is related to emergency responders working on the roadway, you will find a list of ResponderSafety Learning Network modules whose content supports that JPR.
Adobe PDF File
Following each JPR in this standard that is related to emergency responders working on the roadway, you will find a list of ResponderSafety Learning Network modules whose content supports that JPR.
Adobe PDF File
Following each JPR in this standard that is related to emergency responders working on the roadway, you will find a list of ResponderSafety Learning Network modules whose content supports that JPR.
Adobe PDF File
Following each JPR in this standard that is related to emergency responders working on the roadway, you will find a list of ResponderSafety Learning Network modules whose content supports that JPR.
Adobe PDF File
Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association National Fire Police Summit- March 6 & 7, 1999
Adobe PDF File
This Exam Workbook and Study Guide prepares the user to take the written test for certification to earn the Certified Traffic Incident Management Technical Specialist credential offered by the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) in cooperation with The Emergency Responder Safety Institute of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association. This certification is accredited by The Pro Board.
Adobe PDF File
2021 ERSI Struck-by-Vehicle Fatality Incidents Data – as of December 31, 2021 (Year-End Totals)
Adobe PDF File
In 2020, ERSI , conducted a nationwide survey of over 899 fire service and EMS personnel to gather their opinions regarding helmet use at roadway incidents.
Adobe PDF File
Fire departments, law enforcement, transportation, emergency medical agencies and towing and recovery operators are responding to an ever-increasing number of roadway incidents involving crashes, medical emergencies, vehicle fires, and hazardous material events.
Adobe PDF File
Go inside the December 17, 2020 struck by incident that shook Citizens’ Hose Company (Smyrna, DE) to its core and hear from the firefighters involved what happened, how traffic control made the difference, and how the department has responded moving forward.
MP4 Video
Developed by the Capitol Region Council of Governments Greater Hartford Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Coalition, this field guide provides guidance for traffic incident scene management for emergency response organizations. Includes TIM and responder safety basic principles, guidelines for deploying traffic control devices, recommended TIM procedures, and practical diagrams of traffic control applications like vehicle classification, stopping distances, and traffic incident management area setups for different roadway configurations.
Adobe PDF File
The Monroe County Intermediate School District (Michigan) in collaboration with the 1st District Court of Monroe, MI produced this public service video describing the experience of a struck by incident from the perspective of a teen driver who hit an emergency responder. Sarah’s Story was produced in 2005 and its content reflects Michigan traffic laws at that time.
MP4 Video
2022 ERSI Struck-By-Vehicle Fatality Incidents Data – as of 12/31/2022
Adobe PDF File
One-minute slow down, move over PSA featuring Mike Cox, a firefighter who survived being struck in the 1998 Pennsylvania Turnpike Incident involving the Lionville Fire Department.
MP4 Video
Description: One-minute slow down, move over PSA featuring Steve Senn, an assistant fire chief who survived being struck in the 1998 Pennsylvania Turnpike Incident involving the Lionville Fire Department.
MP4 Video
This chart summarizes the Slow Down, Move Over laws in U.S. states, with code citations and vehicle types covered by the statute. Compiled by AAA. As laws do change, please confirm any citation is current when you access it.
Adobe PDF File
Move Over laws factsheet Q&A. Courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Adobe PDF File
A written pledge for drivers to sign that commits them to avoid emergency scenes, move over and slow down, leave their phone alone, stay alert, follow traffic control instructions, and refrain from “D” driving.
Adobe PDF File
A poster of safe driving and anti-distracted driving messages for public education.
Adobe PDF File
This “How to Give Effective Distracted Driving Presentations” webinar from ResponderSafety.com and EndDD.org, delivered by Joel Feldman, covers strategies for addressing the distracted driving problem, how to talk to students about the risks of distracted driving, and how to craft distracted driving public education programs to reach the wider community. The webinar pays particular attention to the high school level because young adult and teen drivers are at increased risk.
MP4 Video
What happens after an emergency responder is struck by a vehicle? Five emergency responders changed forever by a struck by experience tell their stories.
MP4 Video
This “Don’t Be a ‘D’ Driver” public education handout from the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Emergency Responder Safety Institute explains how to prevent distracted driving and what to do when approaching an emergency scene on the roadway to protect responder and motorist lives.
Adobe PDF File
2023 ERSI Struck-By-Vehicle Fatality Incidents Data – as of 12/31/2023
Adobe PDF File
This document explains opportunities available from the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP), which provides no-cost training, technical assistance, and resources to local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies with the goal of reducing the number of officers injured and killed on the nation’s roadways. Further information is available at LEOroadwaysafety.org.
Adobe PDF File
One-minute distracted driving PSA featuring Joel Feldman, the founder of EndDD.org whose daughter, Casey, was killed when a distracted driver hit her in a crosswalk.
MP4 Video
One-minute distracted driving PSA featuring Joel Feldman, the founder of EndDD.org whose daughter, Casey, was killed when a distracted driver hit her in a crosswalk.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring Amy Hanifan, President of Women In Fire.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring Dr. Candice McDonald, President, Cumberland Valley Volunteer Fireman’s Association and Deputy CEO, National Volunteer Fire Council.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring Diana McMaster, Fire Commissioner, Bald Hills Fire District #17.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring T. J. Nedrow, Washington Director, National Volunteer Fire Council.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring A. J. Terranova, Firefighter, Bald Hills Fire District #17.
MP4 Video
Thirty-second Slow Down, Move Over PSA featuring Nick Vankirk, Firefighter, South Bay Volunteer Fire District #8.
MP4 Video
This ERSI study reports the results of a field experiment to investigate the impacts of emergency vehicle marking color, retroreflectivity level and spatial patterns on drivers’ ability to see emergency responders working near their vehicles was carried out. The study also examined the impacts of a wearable flashing LED light.
Adobe PDF File
This project identified concepts and tools to help fire service leaders create a robust diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) plan to attract TIM personnel to their organization, ensure underrepresented populations are empowered to serve, and retain diverse personnel. Examples of organizations who are actively employing effective DEI tools and techniques are highlighted.
Adobe PDF File
2024 ERSI Struck-By-Vehicle Fatality Incidents Data – as of 11/06/2024
Adobe PDF File
The video, “Traffic Incident Management Committees Drive Roadway Safety” is an inside look into what a TIM Committee does, how it makes emergency responders’ work easier and safer, and the ways its activities help responders deliver superior service to the public at roadway incidents.
MP4 Video
A visual aid to use during wildfire response to remember “must do” safety actions when responders are operating on foot near moving vehicles.
Adobe PDF File
This Emergency Responder Safety Institute report summarizes research and subject matter expert input into how to develop a training approach that improves wildfire
Adobe PDF File
A visual aid to use during wildfire response to assist in setting up a traffic incident management area (TIMA) when wildfires or wildfire operations impact roadways.
Adobe PDF File
A training presentation to accompany the report Protecting Emergency Responders from Moving Vehicles During Wildfire Responses to teach contributing factors to wildfire traffic-related incidents, key safety considerations, avoidance and mitigation actions, recommended responder actions, and incident command.
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
A training presentation to accompany the report Protecting Emergency Responders from Moving Vehicles During Wildfire Responses to teach traffic incident management practices for safe, efficient operations, including pre-planning, advance warning, visibility, blocking, backing up, and evacuation.
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
This procedure details apparatus placement at responses.
Adobe PDF File
This plan serves as an operational guide when serious dry vegetation fires are encountered.
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This procedure identifies parking practices for Fire Department apparatus that will provide maximum protection and safety for personnel operating in or near moving vehicle traffic. It also identifies several approaches for individual practices to keep firefighters safe while exposed to vehicle traffic.
Adobe PDF File
The purpose of this procedure is to establish a standard deployment for wildland-urban interface fire incidents.
Adobe PDF File
A short training video reinforcing key traffic incident management practices decrease to decrease responders’ risk of being struck by vehicles at wildfires.
MP4 Video
This zip file contains all training materials for the Emergency Responder Safety Institute’s Traffic Incident Management in the Wildland-Urban Interface Training Program.
ZIP file