Message from the New TIM Network Liaison
We know that Traffic Incident Management (TIM) saves lives. Maybe the life saved will be your family, friend, member of your department, or your own! In my travels around the country promoting TIM, this one simple fact is what keeps me doing what I do. I know that traffic deaths is the leading cause of death for responders as a discipline.
I promise that this message will be shorter than the message last month. I am fortunate to have such good friends who feel that they can support me in my endeavor to provide high quality information to our members. While I was working in Michigan a couple months ago I met one such friend, and I thank him.
All eyes in the transportation world will be on Washington, DC this month. The annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting is being conducted this week. These are exciting times in transportation, especially for Transportation Operations and TIM. Information on the latest in connected vehicle and autonomous vehicle technology will be presented and discussed. I saw a report on television this week that those being born this year may never experience driving a vehicle as we know it today. That is exciting, and somewhat frightening for the future of transportation. We will be telling stories about how “in the old days” we had to actually operate the vehicle. I hope I am still around to tell those stories, anyway.
Stay tuned to The Responder for information gleaned from the TRB meeting.
The TIM Network, and The Responder, continue to evolve into the number one resource for TIM practitioners. The TIM Network is currently being expanded to include knowledge center information, additional links for responder safety, training, and other resource information. It is essential that we continue to share our knowledge and experience with the TIM community. This information, both the good things and those opportunities for improvement that we experience, are essential to the safety and survival of those involved in TIM. Submitting information to the TIM Network and The Responder will help everyone to be current on the latest in best practices for our industry.
Another way in which we can all share the information that is critical to our survival is to take every opportunity to promote ourselves and what we do. Never stop learning, and never stop educating those who need to know what we do each day. Whenever I speak at TIM conferences, conduct TIM training, or just talk with responders, I am told that we are missing out on a major stakeholder in TIM, the motorist. We know that they are not getting the information that we need for them to get through traditional sources. It is up to each one of us to promote TIM at each opportunity that comes our way.
One example is when you set the voicemail on work or cell phones. Take the time to make a statement on your message about Slowing Down and / or Moving Over. It just takes a few seconds and it can pay huge dividends. Those who have called me know that my voicemail includes this message, and has for years.
Last year I issued a challenge for each member of the TIM Network to encourage at least one person to sign up. I am issuing this challenge again. Please take this opportunity to increase our membership. This will benefit all of us. I have included a link to register:
http://timnetwork.org/register/
I have another challenge for the membership this month. I would like for everyone to take an opportunity to proactively promote TIM in their daily duties. Please do this and send me an E-mail highlighting your efforts. This will help to provide examples of how we can all get the word out.
Please accept these challenges. I am counting on all of you.
Some of you have heard that I have taken the step into semi-retirement. I plan to cut back on the regular scheduling and work on projects as needed. I also plan to continue as the TIM Network Liaison. This is such an important position and responsibility for me. I will still be working on TIM issues and projects, conducting TIM training, and promoting Traffic Operations.
Stay safe and take care of each other. We are all that we have.
Rusty James, TIM Network Liaison
E-mail: wjames@gfnet.com
View from the Street
By Eric Reddeck, NFFF Everyone Goes Home Advocate –http://www.everyonegoeshome.com
In 2017 leadership needs to get out of the office and look around in the field. To see if the best practices are being used in TIM. Leadership should attend the local Traffic Incident Management committee meetings, Leadership should check to see if they have the most updated equipment, like Emergency Preemption of Traffic Signals. Leadership should joined TIM Network http://timnetwork.org/ and view TIM NETWORK on Facebook National Traffic Incident Management Coalition
Police Officers 00 http://www.odmp.org/search/year/2017?ref=sidebar
Firefighters 01 http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
EMS ? 00 http://www.national-ems-memorial.org/
Towers ? 00 http://internationaltowingmuseum.org/
DOT Workers ?
Congratulations to Frank Gentilquore, 2017 Towman of the Year!
http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/140599/American-Towman-of-the-Year-2017?page=-1#.WG0Fw4WcGz4
See the full article on Frank attached!
The Cops Are At Your Fire! (The Secret List)
Depending upon where you work, relations with law enforcement can be great-or not so great. While it’s pretty safe to say that in most cases, relations are good-there is one area of concern that we may have all experienced-law enforcement officers arriving at fires before the FD and attempting to do what they think is the right thing-but is definitely not right thing.
As a matter of fact, the well mentioned police officer or deputy sheriff may actually make things worse by, say for example, taking out/breaking a windows-and now you have to deal with that problem. Or they may go in to search and end up becoming a victim. The fact is that it has happened and can absolutely make things worse. The goal of any cop is to help fix the problem-while not becoming part of the problem. Sorta like us-we try to make things better once we arrive-and are trained to do so.
So who trains the police, the sheriffs deputy and the law enforcement officer on what to do at a fire-and what not to do?
ISFSI…that’s who.
The International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) has launched the Safe Operations for Law Enforcement on the Fire Ground training video and accompanying four-hour classroom led curriculum.
The ISFSI LEO fire ground training curriculum consists of an online training video and associated quick drill designed to be used for roll call training, an in-depth lesson plan and PowerPoint intended to be delivered to recruit officers during extended training times or at law enforcement conferences, and an associated Law Enforcement Operations on the Fire Ground SOG.
—–HERE is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV6OK5QiYew&t=2s
—-HERE is a link to get YOUR law enforcement officers enrolled in this outstanding training program SPECIFICALLY for the law enforcement community:
http://isfsi.org/upcoming-events/safe-law-enforcement-operations-fire-ground-pilot-program/
—-AND TODAY-there is a podcast on this specific subject and program:
(Here is the recorded version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXrUWlmflho
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2017/01/hangout-isfsi-leo-safe-fireground-ops.html
Another real positive step forward for us all by ISFSI-good stuff.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 1/4/2017-1000 Hours
See the below link for an article on Drunk Driving Fatalities
https://responsibility.org/get-the-facts/research/statistics/drunk-driving-fatalities/
The LEL Traffic Stop Newsletter
December 16, 2016
http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=56cb3c3b4c6ad2b1787bc6d32&id=96933181cb&e=e78f941cfb
December 23, 2016
http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=56cb3c3b4c6ad2b1787bc6d32&id=1d90648f32&e=e78f941cfb
January 6, 2017
http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=56cb3c3b4c6ad2b1787bc6d32&id=1a0e0b800b&e=e78f941cfb
January 13, 2017
http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=56cb3c3b4c6ad2b1787bc6d32&id=6b043d1c61&e=e78f941cfb
In the News of TIM
New York: Police seek tips after tow truck driver Sal Brescia killed on I-95
Tennessee: TDOT worker dies from injuries after being hit on I-40
Illinois: Rockford Firefighters urge incident awareness
TIM Network/FHWA Knowledge Management System (KMS)
The TIM Network coupled with the Federal Highway Administration has launched a new TIM Knowledge Management System. We encourage all TIM Network members to submit articles, resources, and any other general TIM information that could help practitioners across the nation. As seen below, these featured articles will be included in The Responder. Don’t be afraid to submit!
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