Traffic Incident Management - Don't Be a Cone - Safety on the scene of motor vehicle accidents

Three injury crashes occur every minute in the United States, putting nearly 39,000 incident responders potentially in harm's way every day. Congestion from these incidents often generates secondary crashes, further increasing traveler delay and frustration. The longer incident responders remain at the scene without significant protection, the greater the risk they, and the traveling public, face. A response by well-trained law enforcement, firefighter, EMTs, paramedics, road crews and tow operators helps improve traffic incident response and provide better scene protection and safety . Better incident response improves the safety of responders and drivers, reduces crashes that occur because of incident-related congestion, decreases traffic delays caused by incidents, and can cut incident response time.

Traffic Incident Management is a combined effort of law enforcement - including our partners at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado State Patrol, - firefighters from ICFPD and other responding departments, Jefferson County Road and Bridge, Colorado Department of Transportation, and tow operators.  At Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District we call this scene safety initiative "Don't Be a Cone".  The goal of our "Don't Be a Cone" safety training over the past two years has been to improve scene safety for all responders, our patients, and the traveling public.  

"Don't Be a Cone" safety training provides ICFPD responders a shared understanding of the requirements for safe response, appropriate scene shielding, safe work on scene while extricating or caring for injured patients, quick clearance of traffic incident scenes; prompt, reliable and open communication; and motorist and responder safeguards. This "Don't Be a Cone" training covers many TIM recommended procedures and techniques, including:

- TIM Fundamentals and Terminology
- Notification and Scene Size-Up - Requests for additional fire apparatus to protect responders working on scene
- Safe Vehicle Positioning - Fire trucks are positioned to shield the emergency scene
- Scene Safety
- Command Responsibilities
- Traffic Management - Use of fluorescent vests, cones and/or flares, and vehicle lighting
- Special Circumstances - Hazardous materials, weather visibility, road conditions
- Clearance and Termination - safely leaving the scene

The safety of all responders on Highway 285 and other roads within ICFPD depends upon motorists as well.  Don't drive while digital - don't use your phone or other electronics while driving and please - slow down as you approach the accident.  We need your help in improving safety at the scene of a motor vehicle accident:

1. Pay Attention to Any Signs of Slowing Ahead  Be a defensive driver and scan the road for any potential threats of quick slowing or swerving. As a defensive driver, if there are signs of slowing ahead, let up on the gas pedal and hover over the brake to start slowing your vehicle down as you get closer to the congested sea of brake lights.

2. Plan Ahead for Any Potential Detours  For example, in some reported accidents on highways, illuminated signs will warn drivers before they approach the scene. If the warnings are a couple of miles away from the accident’s scene, some drivers will react to exit the highway ahead of time.

3. Don’t Stare  Once near or at the accident scene, keep your eyes focused ahead. Rubbernecking (when drivers stare at the accident scene instead of looking ahead in the direction they are driving), is a major cause of sudden slowing. Paying too much attention to the accident scene is a threat to you and your passengers because you may miss the signs of braking ahead of you or any road debris from the accident that causes you to swerve.  Watch for responders working on scene or providing directions to drivers.

4. Report if Necessary  Some accidents may not have been reported yet. If you do not see any emergency officials at the scene of an accident and wish to call in the accident, pull over safely to use your mobile device to do so. Do not try to use your phone while still driving around the accident because that will be a driving distraction and can cause an accident itself.  If you do call in the accident, provide detailed instructions and follow the operator’s instructions. 

5.  Slow down as you approach the accident.