Module 1 Introduction & Crashes and Safety MOT Training for Incident Responders in Florida

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Introduction & Crashes and Safety

MOT Training for Incident Responders in

Florida

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Introduction

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Objectives of the Course

Instruct incident responders on the proper use of Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) at traffic incident management areas to:– Protect incident responders

– Move road users reasonably, safely, and expeditiously past or around the traffic incident

– Reduce the likelihood of secondary traffic crashes

– Preclude unnecessary use of the surrounding local road system

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We want you…

to return home safely to your family every night!

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Carrie Pratt | Times

Pictures: Danger on I-95 – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

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Carrie Pratt | Times

Pictures: Danger on I-95 – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

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Incident Responses

• Exposure time is critical– Who is at risk?

• Responders• Public• Victims of the crash/incident

• Shutting down traffic increases the risk of secondary incidents

• 1 min of stopped traffic causes a 5 min delay

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Video: Your Vest Won’t Stop This Bullet

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STOP/SAFE

•STOP location

•Awareness of traffic

•Find an escape route

•Enter traffic safely

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Video: Seattle Wave: The Far-Reaching Impact of Traffic Incidents

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Reduction of Capacity Under Incident Conditions

• A two-lane interstate highway facility has a reduction of 5% capacity with a simple vehicle stop on the shoulder.

• On a two-lanes interstate highway facility, a shoulder accident causes a 20% reduction in capacity.

• For a three-lane interstate highway facility, one lane blocked by an accident or any event causes a 50% reduction in capacity.

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Maximum Reduction on Total Traffic Flow

(Disabled Vehicle)

5%

(Vehicle Crash)

20%

(Disabled Vehicle)

5%

(Vehicle Crash)

20%

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Maximum Reduction on Total Traffic Flow

(Vehicle Crash)

50%

(Vehicle Crash)

50%

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Crashes and Safety

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Florida Challenge

• Area: 65,758 square miles

• Geographically, 22nd largest state

• Population: 18.3 million, 44thth largest largest in the U.S.

Source: FDOT Office of Policy Planning

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Total Crashes in Florida

200,000

210,000

220,000

230,000

240,000

250,000

260,000

270,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Source: DHSMV-Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2006

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0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Alcohol-Related Crashes Speeding Involved Crashes

Florida, Alcohol and Speeding Crashes Statistics (Trend of Fatalities)

Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2005

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Nationwide Fire/EMS/Police Fatalities – “Struck by Vehicles”

Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Incident Responders “Struck by…”

• Drivers – Distracted– Inexperienced– Unfocused– Tired– Just plain… dumb

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• December 2001 - Justin Thomas Willis, a FDOT District Seven Road Ranger

• Killed by a hit-and-run driver who struck him while he was assisting at a traffic incident. 

• The hit-and-run driver was never identified.

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• June 8, 2002 - A 26-year-old male career firefighter (the victim) died and another career firefighter was injured.

• Both the victim and the injured firefighter were off duty and had stopped to aid a trapped motorist in an overturned vehicle in the median of a highway.

Full Story

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• February 15, 2006 – a Broward County sheriff's deputy was killed.

• The deputy was conducting a routine traffic stop when struck and killed by a driver with a suspended license.

Full Story

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• March 5, 2006 - Donald M. Bradshaw, an FDOT District Seven Road Ranger, was killed by a drunk driver in the early morning hours while assisting at a crash scene on I-275. 

• The drunk driver passed stopped cars, barreled through flares and traffic cones, and hit Bradshaw, who was shutting down southbound traffic near the Howard-Armenia exit.

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• Road Ranger critically injured on I-95

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• Florida Highway Patrol Trooper injured on I-10

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Florida’s “Struck-by” Histories

• Florida Highway Patrol vehicle was struck and a wrecker driver injured on I-95

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