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Highway/Roadway Safety
Highway/Road safety is one of the newer hot topics that needs to be talked about more and proper training practiced. It seems as though we are seeing more incidents where emergency service personnel are getting hurt on our highways and roads.
Establishing a proper safety zone utilizing apparatus in blocking positions, traffic cones to define our safety zone and warning signs to alert motorists to the emergency scene should be one of our first priorities. We all know how many distractions occur every minute of every day for the millions of drivers out on our roadways. All it takes is a split second to turn a simple car fire or MVA into a tragedy involving emergency personnel.
A vehicle traveling on a big road (interstate/highway) between 70mph & 85 mph will cover between 110 ft – 125ft every second. In the amount of time it takes a driver to recognize there’s a problem, react to that problem and finally get his/her vehicle stopped, that vehicle can travel over 1000’. Even on our city and rural roads a vehicle can travel well over several hundred feet before it comes to a complete stop.
PRACTICE ROADWAY SAFETY.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Williams on
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We do Dee, our dept issues vests as part of PPE. Each member has their own vest. It is required on all roadway response unless actively engaged in suppression.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Weber on
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Just took a Highway Safety/Scene Management class here in PA.Everybody should be required to take it.Really lays things out well so you can understand how long it takes a vehicle to stop,blocking vehicles,etc...
People are just plain crazy and careless when it comes to driving. -
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You got that right Chris! Nothing like being out on the intersate and people flying by at 75 or 80 mph.
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We've been fortunate with the state police here Kevin, they actually see they value and importance in it. They've come to understand that we'll open things up just as quickly as we can. It does seem to slow traffic down if you have a LEO outside the safety area acting as an early warning.
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