Traffic Control Procedures for Emergency Responders

The objective of this research was to develop a training course and handbook to guide on-scene emergency responders responsible for controlling traffic during a roadway crash and subsequent clearance. Traffic control is an essential component of incident response in order to move road users safely and expeditiously past or around a traffic incident, and to reduce the likelihood of secondary crashes. Emergency responders, with the exception of law enforcement, are provided limited or no training in traffic control but yet by nature of their job often have to perform such duties. There is a need to provide basic knowledge and requirements to on-scene responders in order to reduce traffic delays, secondary crashes, and injuries to those involved in response activities. Deliverables from the study efforts include workshop materials and a presentation suitable for use in training a wide range of incident responders. In addition, information from the presentation materials and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices has been excerpted and condensed into a handbook titled “Guidelines for Emergency Traffic Control”.