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Third Senior Executive Transportation and Public Safety Summit: Final Report

9. Building Public Education and Outreach Momentum for Traffic Incident Management

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Associate Administrator for Public Affairs Mike Reynard moderated this session, which included panelists from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), American Automobile Association (AAA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI), and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Recognizing that the safety of the traveling public and incident responders is a joint responsibility, this session focused more on building public education and outreach for the traveling public.

Figure 22 is a series of photos showing the panel for "Building Public Education and Outreach Momentum,” which includes David Harkey; Richard Patrick, Andrew Guevara, Allan Stanley, and David Harkey; Mike Reynard and panel members.
Figure 22. Photos. Panel for "Building Public Education and Outreach Momentum”—(left) David Harkey; (center) Richard Patrick, Andrew Guevara, Allan Stanley, and David Harkey; (right) Mike Reynard and panel members.
Source: Federal Highway Administration

As noted by previous presenters, few road users are aware of Move Over and Driver Removal laws, which vary by State. Move Over laws require drivers approaching a stationary response vehicle to slow down and/or vacate the lane closest to the response vehicle, if safe to do so. Driver Removal laws aim to expedite the removal of damaged or disabled vehicles from the travel lanes. Education and outreach will advance public awareness of and adherence to these laws, thereby, improving the overall level of safety on roadways. In this session, panelists discussed their respective organization's role in advancing safe driver and responder practices.

AAMVA Government Affairs Manager Andrew Guevara noted that they are a member of the Road to Zero Coalition, an initiative to focus on addressing preventable deaths with the goal of ending fatalities on the nation's roads within the next 30 years. AAMVA members enforce motor vehicle laws, issue driver's licenses, and provide information to motorists. AAMVA currently supports traffic incident management (TIM) and plans to go further by:

  • Disseminating information through regional directors and law enforcement services programs.
  • Promoting uniformity through standards and best practices among the association's standing committees on Law Enforcement, the Driver, and the Vehicle.
  • Monitoring and assessing legislative and regulatory actions through governmental affairs efforts.
  • Providing a forum for TIM at annual international and regional conferences.

Mr. Guevara highlighted five "lessons” for their association's members that can be delivered through collaboration with the TIM program, such as new and existing driver education at Motor Vehicle Administrations (MVA) that include TIM practices for travelers. He also highlighted immediate opportunities for collaboration to host joint sessions to promote TIM, to publish TIM articles in AAMVA's "MOVE” magazine, and to share a TIM best practices and procedures one-pager with the Standing Committee on the Driver.

AAA Senior Technical Training and Research Manager Allan Stanley, shared three focus areas overlapping with TIM, including: 1) research related to new vehicle technology and safe roadside procedures for their towers; 2) training for both tow practices and roadside safety; and 3) partnerships to support public awareness of Slow Down/Move Over laws, and Driver Removal laws. He noted that AAA is a not-for-profit organization with 60 million members. With AAA tow operators responding to nearly 30 million calls for help each year, AAA provides this responder group with training related to in‑truck technology, driving skills, tow practices, and roadside safety. AAA also tests response technologies to innovate and deliver safer solutions for their tow fleet. The AAA Foundation plan to advance TIM by promoting web-based TIM training and through broader research and education.

Figure 23 is a photo of the American Automobile Association Slow Down, Move Over promotion.
Figure 23. Photo. American Automobile Association Slow Down, Move Over promotion.
Source: AAA Summit Presentation

IIHS-HLDI President Dr. David Harkey shared information about the institute, which is a member group of 100+ companies and organizations that support research and evaluation to reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle crashes. They also educate consumers and policymakers by publishing articles related to vehicle technologies and changing behaviors.

USFA Director of National Fire Programs Richard Patrick at highlighted their efforts towards roadway safety, including emergency vehicles and roadway safety technology. USFA also provides a comprehensive education and training program for firefighters. Mr. Patrick noted that USFA offers an enhanced web-based program detailing best practices for emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety in the emergency services and a guide to model policies and procedures for fire leadership. He also highlighted studies by the USFA on emergency warning lighting, emergency vehicle visibility, and conspicuity.

The panel and participants, during question and response, shared ideas and strategies for local outreach by responder communities and media outreach to better reach the public. They discussed State motor vehicle administrations' role in delivering consistent education for new and existing drivers, and the insurance industry's potential role in incentivizing TIM training for responder communities, as well as including Move Over laws in driver reeducation curriculum.