FHWA 19-17 Wednesday, November 16, 2017 Contact: Nancy Singer Tel.: (202) 366-0660

Five-year-old program graduates 300,000th Emergency Responder

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao joined officials representing the Washington Metropolitan area’s first responders to announce today that the 300,000th emergency responder has completed the Federal Highway Administration’s “Traffic Incident Management” (TIM) responder training, a national effort to improve the safety of first responders on the scene of highway crashes.    

“The courage and dedication of America’s emergency responders is inspiring as well as life-saving,” said Secretary Chao. “Traffic Incident Management training helps save the lives of first responders, who put their own safety at risk every day when they go to work and respond to our nation’s highway crashes.”

The event, during National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week (NTIRAW), highlighted the commitment of the first responders who keep our nation’s highways safe. To assist their efforts and to ensure their safety, FHWA developed the TIM responder training course. Designed by and for responders, the course helps build teams of well-trained police, firefighters, highway workers, and emergency medical and towing personnel. Together, they learn a common set of practices, including quick clearance techniques that improve communications and reduce the amount of time needed to remain on scene. The training will remain available along with a refresher course.

The 300,000 emergency responders who have completed the training represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 

Secretary Chao signed a proclamation in honor of NTIRAW and as a declaration of the Department’s commitment to the safety of the nation’s first responders.

Please find Secretary Chao’s full remarks HERE.

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