Operating Procedures for Roadway Incidents Flashcards
A set of notification procedures used to advise approaching motorists to transition from normal driving status to the temporary emergency traffic control measures ahead of them
Advance Warning
Involves positioning a fire department apparatus at an angle to traffic lanes, creating a physical barrier between upstream traffic and the work area
Block
The distance between moving traffic and the personnel and vehicles in the protected work area
Buffer space
The direction of traffic moving away from the incident scene
Downstream
The area at a vehicle-related roadway incident shielded by the block and is commonly referred to as the work area
Incident space
The act of merging several lanes of moving traffic into fewer moving lanes
Taper
Involves the roadway lanes where approaching motorists change their speed and position to comply with traffic control measures established at an incident scene
Transition zone
Refers to the direction of traffic approaching the incident scene
Upstream
Also known as incident space and refers to the area at a vehicle-related roadway incident shielded by the block
Work area
Emergency response to incidents on limited-access highways should include at least ____ unit traveling in each direction.
1
When units respond together in the same direction they should
Remain in single file
When the shoulder must be used for response apparatus operators must use extreme caution and be aware of what
- road signs
- debris
- guard rails
- oversized or stopped vehicles
- standing water
Vehicle operators should only use designated median strip crossovers marked “AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY” when?
They can complete the turn without obstructing the flow of traffic in either direction or when traffic movement has stopped
Vehicle operators should enter highway access and egress ramps in the normal travel direction unless the unit officer can confirm what?
That oncoming traffic has been stopped and that no civilian vehicles will be encountered on the ramp
The use of U-turn access points between Jersey barriers presents an extreme hazard and should occur only when?
Necessary for immediate lifesaving measures
When responding to incidents in or near high occupancy vehicle lanes, personnel should consider establishing safe working areas by doing what?
Using additional units to block traffic lanes on the nonincident side of the flexible delineator markers
When apparatus’s route of travel requires crossing the flexible delineator markers the apparatus operators should do what?
Reduce speed and pass through the markers at a shallow angle
Fire and EMS crews should avoid crossing lanes of traffic on foot unless what?
Roadway is completely shut down
The apparatus driver and the officer take joint responsibility for what
Apparatus placement
As soon as a unit arrives on the scene the officer should provide dispatch with what?
- Accurate location
- lane location identified
The driver should place the vehicle at an angle to the lanes with the front weels rotated away from the incident and the pump panel facing toward the work area to protect the pump operator is know as what?
Fend-off position
At intersections or where an incident may be near the middle of a street how many sides of the incident need protection?
Two or more sides
Drivers should place blocking apparatus at least _____ feet behind the first operating unit to create a safe work area
50
The first-arriving unit regardless of type will take the position normally taken by who?
1st arriving engine company
After arriving on-scene and positioning in a fend-off position the operator of the first arriving suppression unit should utilize what?
Vehicle-mounted directional arrows and places flares or traffic cones along the working area
Personnel who place cones or flares should do so how
While facing oncoming traffic
If an incident requires personnel to channel traffic around a curve, hill or ramp they should place the first cone or flare where?
Prior to the hill or curve
When an incident requires multiple EMS transport units drivers should considering positioning them ________ in the protected area to facilitate easy egress from the scene to the hospital.
Diagonally
Personnel operating within a roadway or whose operational positioning exposes them to moving traffic should wear what?
High-visibility safety apparal
The acronym LCES stands for
Lookouts
Communication
Escape Route
Safety Zones
If taking the primary blocking position behind a roadway fire could expose the engine to fire extension the driver may position where?
At an increased distance from the work area
Emergency warning lights may be turned off when what three conditions occur
- Daylight hours
- All involved vehicles and emergency vehicles have been moved out of traffic lanes onto the highway shoulder
- Traffic is congested and passing slowly
When emergency warning lights are turned off then what must be activated?
Emergency flashers
As the human eye adapts to the dark the color ______ blends into nighttime surrounding and becomes more difficult to see
Red
When the eye moves from light to dark vision recovery takes how long
6 seconds
When moving from dark to light vision recovery takes
3 seconds
At 50mph a vehicle travels approximately _____ feet per second
75
After experiencing glare a vehicle driver will travel _____ feet in the 6 seconds it takes for them to fully regain their night vision
450
Studies have shown that at a distance of _______ car lengths oncoming vehicle headlights completely blind the opposing drivers
2.5
The best combination of lights to provide maximum night visibility is
- Red warning lights on
- headlights off
- fog lights off
- pump panel lights on
- rear and front spotlights on
- Traffic directional boards operating
One minute of stopped traffic causes an additional _____ minute travel delay
4
To describe roadway incident travel impacts VDOT has adopted what system?
3-level system
What traffic incident level impacts the traveled roadway less than 30 minutes
Level 1 / Minor
What traffic incident level impacts the traveled roadway 30 minutes - 2 hours
Level 2 / Intermediate
What travel incident level impacts the traveled roadway more than 2 hours
Level 3 / Major
