A.According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 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.
A.These three terms are often confused and sometime used interchangeably. They mean distinctively different things to different people.
Traffic Incident Management is that set of actions and procedures taken by multiple agencies and private sector partners acting cooperatively in a coordinated manner to prepare for and quickly and safely detect, respond to and remove traffic incidents and then to effectively address their lingering effects on traffic flow and safety.
Incident Command (ICS) is the command and control structure for the effective management of personnel and equipment resources during an incident. Through ICS, agencies working at an incident scene are able to achieve:
- Common terminology
- Modular organization
- Integrated communications
- Unified command structure
- Consolidated action plan
- Manageable span-of-control
- Predestinated incident facilities
- Comprehensive resource management
Emergency Management is a general term that describes public safety agencies as well as the set of practices and procedures used in response to an emergency incident. There are also Emergency Management agencies at the state and local level that are tasked with the planning and preparation for major natural and man-made emergencies.
A.Major emergencies happen infrequently, but in order to ensure efficient and effective response, much mutual planning, preparation and training are required of the responding parties. Traffic incidents happen frequently and differ from major emergencies primarily in scale. The responding partners are the same, especially far larger traffic incidents. Safe and effective coordinated multi-agency actions taken to quickly clear traffic incidents depend upon a high degree of institutional and technical coordination and cooperation among a large number of agencies and private sector responding parties. The better prepared public safety, transportation and private sector partners are to effectively responding to and resolving traffic incidents the better prepared they will also be to handling major emergencies when they occur.
A.National Unified Goal (NUG)
A. The National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Management is a unified national policy developed by major national organizations representing traffic incident responders, under the leadership of the NTIMC.
The NUG is not mandatory. It encourages State and local transportation and public safety agencies to adopt unified, multi-disciplinary policies, procedures, and practices that will dramatically improve the way traffic incidents are managed on U.S. roadways.
Three major objectives of NUG:
- Responder Safety
- Safe, Quick Clearance
- Prompt, Reliable Communications
The NUG promotes achievement of these objectives through 18 strategies:
- TIM Partnerships and Programs.
- Multidisciplinary NIMS and TIM Training.
- Goals for Performance and Progress.
- TIM Technology.
- Effective TIM Policies.
- Awareness and Education Partnerships.
- Recommended Practices for Responder Safety.
- Move Over/Slow Down Laws.
- Driver Training and Awareness.
- Multidisciplinary TIM Procedures.
- Response and Clearance Time Goals.
- 24/7 Availability.
- Multidisciplinary Communications Practices and Procedures.
- Prompt, Reliable Responder Notification.
- Interoperable Voice and Data Networks.
- Broadband Emergency Communications Systems.
- Prompt, Reliable Traveler Information Systems.
- Partnerships with News Media and Information Providers
A.The National TIM Responder Training Program was developed through the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) and provides incident responders with a national curriculum developed by responders for responders. The training offers a set of practices and advanced standards to enable safer and faster clearance of traffic crashes. The training addresses all aspects of incident response, from the moment the first emergency call is made to the correct positioning of response vehicles and equipment, to a safe work area using traffic control devices, to final scene clearance.
A.People who respond on a routine basis to traffic crashes, such as:
- Law enforcement
- Fire and rescue personnel
- Emergency medical services
- Transportation agencies
- Towing and recovery professionals
- Communications center and dispatch personnel
- Hazardous materials spill response contractors
- Coroners and medical examiners
- Public works professionals
A.The TIM Responder Training in New Jersey is available in-person. To learn about training opportunities in your state, please visit Training Page. The web-based training is available online through the National Highway Institute, the education and training arm of the Federal Highway Administration.
A.The four-hour, in-person training brings police, firefighters, DOT, towing, medical personnel, and other incident responders together to foster relationships and engage in interactive training. They learn how to work together in a coordinated manner, from the moment the first emergency call is made to final scene clearance.
The curriculum for the four-hour, web-based version mirrors the in-person training. The self-directed, web-based training can be undertaken at any time, using any computer that can access the National Highway Institute website.
A.The training is free of charge. Sometimes the hosting agency charges a fee to cover a cost of renting a venue where training is held.
A.No, but it's helpful if you've completed National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses, ICS-100, 200 and IS-700.
A.To become a TIM trainer, you must complete a Train-the-Trainer course. Train-the-Trainer participants are expected to have both prior instructional and TIM experience. Contact us to inquire about Train-the-Trainer courses in your area.
A.Everyone who completes either the in-person or web-based TIM Responder Training will receive a certificate of completion. For the web-based course, however, you must pass a 30-question exam with a 70 percent, or better, grade and complete an evaluation form. There is no required exam for the in-person training.
A.
- International Association of Chiefs of Police
- International Association of Fire Chiefs
- National Volunteer Fire Council
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- Towing and Recovery Association of America
- State Association of Chiefs of Police
- National Sheriffs Association
- American Public Works Association
- International Municipal Signal Association
- Institute of Traffic Engineers
- Intelligent Transportation Systems of America
- National Association of County Engineers
- Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association
- National Association of State EMS Officials
- International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
A.Please fill out the form on Request Training page and we will contact you as soon as possible.
A.No, TIM concept can be applied anywhere.