The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Traffic Incident Management training for first responders is now available as an online, self-guided course.

The TIM training program focuses on a response effort that protects motorists and first responders during a roadside emergency, while minimizing impact on traffic flow.

Since its inception in 2009, NJDOT and its partner agencies have trained more than 24,000 emergency and incident response personnel, including police, firefighters, EMS personnel, DOT crews, towing/recovery companies and other responders.

The course can be found on the NJTIM website, www.NJTIM.org.

Training efforts, like these, are crucial in coordinating response efforts that keep all first responders and transportation professionals safe. The average annual counts of responders struck and killed nationally, while working in or near moving traffic are:

• Fire/Rescue and EMS:                                               5 to 10 deaths per year
• Law Enforcement:                                                     10 to 15 deaths per year
• Tow/Recovery:                                                         15 to 20 deaths per year
• DOTs, Public Works, and Safety Service Patrols:        1 to 5 deaths per year

Before developing the online course, training has always been in person, which can be difficult to organize, particularly for personnel who may have irregular schedules working in a 24/7 work environment.

In addition to providing easier access to TIM training for busy first responders and transportation professionals, the online training is more cost effective than traditional, in-person meetings.

Interactivity is a key feature in this program, making it just as effective as in-person training. Components, such as videos, simulations, knowledge checks and interactive scenarios, engage participants and provide them with practical experiences that mimic real-world situations.

The online TIM training also utilizes assessments and certifications to evaluate the trainees’ understanding of the material and practice decision-making in high-stress scenarios without real world consequences.

Counties and municipalities are encouraged to have their law enforcement and emergency personnel, including volunteer firefighters, EMTs, Hatzolah, and Chaveirim take the online TIM training to learn how to improve safely and coordination in responding to incidents on New Jersey’s roadways.