CFD Emergency Traffic Management

Question 1

NFPA 1901 - emergency vehicles should have two modes

Answer 1

One mode to signal to drivers that the apparatus us responding to an emergency and is calling for the right of way

One mode to signal that the apparatus is stopped and is blocking the right of way

Question 2

for night operations

Answer 2

the headlights should be turned off so they do not blind oncoming motorists

Question 3

arrow boards and directional bars

Answer 3

are to be used any time CFD apparatus are blocking roadways

Question 4

traffic cones - Low-speed roadways (60km/h or less posted speed)

Answer 4

Incidents that are anticipated to take 30 minutes or less to clear on low speed roadways, Arrow boards may be sufficient warning for oncoming motorists

For incidents anticipated to take longer than 30 minutes to clear will require cones to be placed behind apparatus

Question 5

traffic cones - High-speed roadways (70km/h or greater posted speed)

Answer 5

For Incidents that are anticipated to take 30 minutes or less to clear, if officer determines and when traffic has slowed and it is safe to do so, crews can deploy cones

For incidents anticipated to take longer than 30 minutes, the officer may request additional resources (Can be accessed through dispatched as required)

on a high-speed road (greater than 70km/hr posted speed) a Safety Support Engine (SSE) will be automatically dispatched.

Question 6

Establishing the traffic control zone Begins on approach to the scene, officer must consider factors including:

Answer 6

Approaching the incident

Staging the initial apparatus

Staging the secondary apparatus

Establishing command and scene size-up

Setting up the traffic control zone

Operation and monitoring of the traffic control zone

Takedown of the traffic control zone and resumption of regular traffic patterns

Question 7

Approaching the incident

Answer 7

Approach the incident form the direction of travel in a safe and controlled manner and with emergency lights on

Question 8

Staging the Initial Apparatus

Answer 8

buffer zone
lateral buffer
taper
tangent

Question 9

buffer zone

Answer 9

The space between the incident site and the fire apparatus

Question 10

lateral buffer

Answer 10

Space between the side/corner of the apparatus and civilian traffic

Question 11

taper

Answer 11

Placement of a safety support engine or an arrangement of delineation devices in a diagonal line that marks the closure of one lane and movement to a second land

Question 12

tangent

Answer 12

Is a row of delineation devices that are straight and parallel with the flow of traffic

Question 13

Fend Off Position

Answer 13

Achieved by slowly pulling the apparatus as far to the right or left as possible within a lane of travel, then turning sharply back, to position the vehicle at 20-30 degrees to the roadway

Staying within the lane and remaining at least 0.5 meters form the adjacent lane

A traffic cone should be placed between the corner of the apparatus and the adjacent laneway (lateral buffer)

Question 14

In-Line Position

Answer 14

Achieved by approaching the scene and maintaining the apparatus in line with the incident

Approach to the scene can be made from either direction

Crews should leave at least the minimum 0.5m lateral buffer

The in-line position allows for maximum visibility of the retroreflective striping as well as any arrow boards which may be incapable of rotating

Question 15

staging Secondary Apparatus - when approaching the scene the officer should consider

Answer 15

vehicle location
vehicle staging
a lateral buffer
designating a FF to place cones

Question 16

size up - roadway hazards

Answer 16

traffic hazards and debris
environmental hazards
fire or explosions
suspicious or terrorist activity

Question 17

size up - incident factors

Answer 17

condition of involved vehicles
scene access and egress
environmental conditions
evidence and/or witnesses
risk to vehicle occupants
known or probable occupants
occupants survival assessment

Question 18

Formulating the Incident Action Plan (IAP) - minor traffic incidents

Answer 18

incidents where it is expected that the duration will be 30 mins or less until all vehicles and debris are removed from the roadway

Question 19

Formulating the Incident Action Plan (IAP) - intermediate traffic incidents

Answer 19

will have on-scene time durations ranging from 30mins to 2 hours

Temporary traffic control protocols will need to be established with advanced warning, approach and transitions areas usually needing to be set-up

Question 20

Formulating the Incident Action Plan (IAP) - major traffic incidents

Answer 20

Incidents whose duration will exceed 2 hours

Full traffic control zones will need to be established. If the incident will exceed 24 hours, full work zone requirements will need to be implemented

Question 21

Components of a Traffic control zone (five distinct component areas)

Answer 21

• Advance warning area
• Approach area
• Transition area
• Activity area
• Termination area

Question 22

Activity area, includes:

Answer 22

Traffic space
Initial apparatus location
Buffer zone
Incident site
Additional apparatus
Staging area

Question 23

advance warning area

Answer 23

should alert motorists that there is a traffic situation or difficulty ahead, which will require some action on their part

Question 24

approach area

Answer 24

should identify the nature of the equipment or vehicle that the driver is about to encounter and allow the driver to analyze the situation

Question 25

transition area

Answer 25

should tell the motorist what actions to take

this section should allow sufficient time for the driver to execute safe driving techniques before entering the activity area

Question 26

activity area - traffic space

Answer 26

where traffic is allowed to pass through the activity area, next to the incident

Question 27

activity area - buffer zone

Answer 27

4m / 10 km/h of posted speed

Question 28

activity area - incident site

Answer 28

restricted area for authorized personnel

Question 29

activity area - staging area

Answer 29

where emergency vehicles that are not performing traffic control may be directed

is downstream of the incident site

the location of the staging area should not create a traffic hazard or obstruction or impede other emergency vehicles

Question 30

termination area

Answer 30

where traffic returns to its normal path

extends from the downstream end of the staging area to the point where traffic is able to resume normal driving

Question 31

Tangent and Taper diagram

Answer 31

Question 32

tangent length - straight flat roads

Answer 32

For every km of posted speed, the tangent length will be approx. 1m

Question 33

tangent length - should be adjusted for conditions

Answer 33

Wet road conditions, multiply the posted speed by 1.5 for tangent length

Snow/ice conditions, multiply the posted speed by 2 for tangent length

Question 34

Roadway speed affects the placement of warning devices due to the following factors:

Answer 34

The distance travelled while reacting to the perceived hazard is lengthened with increased speed. A vehicle travelling at 100 km/hr covers 28 metres of roadway per second

The distance required to stop the vehicle after the brakes have been applied is proportional to how fast the vehicle is travelling and the road conditions

Question 35

To assist crews with estimating distances, the following comparisons may be helpful:

Answer 35

1 engine length is approximately 9m.

The light poles on Deerfoot Trail are approximately 100m apart.

One skip line (dash) = 3m and the space between lines (gap) = 6m (Alberta Transportation, 2003, p. 23)

Question 36

Additional Conditions Affecting Placement of Warning Devices

Answer 36

view obstructions
reduced visibility

Question 37

view obstructions

Answer 37

Horizontal view obstructions – curved roadway (trees or buildings on the inside for the curve)

Vertical view obstructions (elevation changes in the roadway)