Washington — The Department of Transportation is committing to train 1 million first responders to “improve road safety for emergency personnel, American families and truck drivers.”
The announcement came at the start of Crash Responder Safety Week (Nov. 17-21). In the past five years, more than 300 first responders have died while responding to vehicle crashes, a DOT press release states.
Among the department’s efforts is the the National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training course, launched in 2012. It’s designed to train police officers, firefighters, highway workers, emergency medical services and workers in the towing industry on “best practices for safe, coordinated crash response; quick scene clearance; improved communication; and preventing secondary crashes.”
More than 800,000 first responders have completed the course.
Other efforts include:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Move Over” campaign, intended to raise awareness about state laws regarding stopped emergency and service vehicles.
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SafeDRIVE and Operation Safe Driver initiatives, aimed at curbing risky driving behaviors and preventing crashes that require emergency responses.
“Every responder on our roadways puts their life on the line to save others, and that sacrifice is met with wholehearted support from USDOT,” FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said in the release. “FMCSA is committed to strengthening safety, expanding training and holding unsafe operators accountable so emergency personnel can do their jobs and go home safely. Protecting those who protect us is not optional; it is our duty.”
