The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will host a free basic traffic incident management class for first responders on Tuesday, April 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class will take place at the Smart Communities and Innovation Building on the University of Alabama campus.
Ken Colvert, ALDOT’s Traffic Management Center manager and retired 21-year veteran firefighter with the City of Birmingham, will teach safety clearance protocols and offer his unique perspective on handling incidents.
“Getting in a room with the folks who are actually out there on the roadways is invaluable,” Colvert said. “We’re all working toward the same goal to clear crashes quickly and safely.”
Even a minor crash can quickly escalate into a major hazard. The risk of a secondary crash increases by nearly 3% for every minute the original incident remains on the road. These follow-up crashes are often more severe—and more deadly—than the initial event.
An incident responder working a crash is injured on average every two days and killed every six days in America. The towing industry is 15 times deadlier than all other private industries combined, according to the CDC.
“Everyone has a role to play in keeping our roads safe,” Colvert said. “We hope this class gives first responders practical tools to protect themselves and the public. And we want drivers to stay alert and cautious when approaching a crash scene.”
First responders who would like to attend the class or other classes around the state can sign up for TIMs training at https://www.alabamatim.org/.
