310-01 Traffic Operations

A designated area at an incident scene where personnel are protected from traffic hazards.

The practice of positioning emergency vehicles to shield personnel and the incident scene from oncoming traffic.

The high risk associated with operating near moving traffic due to factors like driver distraction, impaired judgment, and reduced visibility.

A formal agreement between Fire Rescue and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for quick removal of vehicles and debris from State roadways.

The practice of prioritizing the clearing of roadways to restore traffic flow as quickly as possible.

The increased danger of nighttime incidents due to limited visibility and slower driver reaction time.

The potential threat posed by passing motorists at any incident involving vehicles, regardless of their abilities or intentions.

The practice of operating within a designated Safe Work Area to minimize exposure to traffic hazards during emergency responses.

The direction traffic travels away from the incident scene.

The direction where cars are coming from as they approach the incident.

The lanes of traffic are numbered from left to right, starting with the furthest left lane as Lane 1.

Positioning a Fire Rescue apparatus at a 45° angle to create a barrier between oncoming traffic and the safe area.

The first arriving Fire Rescue apparatus will usually block the traffic lane

The loading area for patient transport vehicles should always be angled away from nearest moving traffic lanes.

When an incident involves traffic moving from multiple directions, two or more sides must be blocked.

Emergency personnel should always be extremely cautious when exiting or entering their vehicles due to traffic.

Vehicles should be parked on the same side of the roadway whenever possible

The wheels of blocking Fire Rescue apparatus should be chocked to prevent moving

The front wheels of blocking apparatus should point away from the incident scene.

Fire Rescue apparatus should be positioned to protect essential components from traffic

The safe work area should include all damaged vehicles, debris, patient care, and staging.

Law enforcement vehicles should be used to block additional traffic lanes as needed.

The process of merging multiple lanes of traffic into fewer lanes, often using cones or flares as visual cues.

The area on a roadway where drivers adjust their speed and lane position to comply with traffic control measures.

A Fire Rescue employee tasked with monitoring upstream traffic and warning personnel of approaching vehicles that are not complying with traffic control measures.

A vehicle that is not responding to traffic control measures such as speed changes, lane changes, merging instructions, or cone placement.

An incident commander's primary responsibility to ensure the safety of all responders and patients by creating and maintaining a Safe Work Area.

The process of gradually removing emergency equipment and personnel from the roadway to minimize traffic congestion and hazards, while ensuring safety precautions are followed.

The use of emergency warning lights on all responding vehicles to alert others to the presence of a hazard and to create a safe work area.

The area where emergency response vehicles are positioned, out of the way of traffic flow, but readily available to respond to the incident.

Procedures specifically for responding to incidents on high-volume, limited-access highways, taking into account the unique challenges of heavy traffic and potential road closures.

The practice of placing traffic cones farther apart in high-volume highway incidents, providing a wider warning to drivers, as the high speed of traffic requires increased visual cues.

Establishing a dedicated person to communicate and coordinate with law enforcement at the scene of an incident. This ensures a shared understanding of operational procedures and facilitates effective traffic management.

Guidelines for individual Fire Rescue personnel who drive non-emergency vehicles, emphasizing caution and communication in the event of an incident involving moving traffic.

Assessing the safety of the situation, balancing the need to assist with the risks involved, and acting as a “reasonable and prudent” person would.

The action of moving uninjured individuals away from moving traffic and into a safe working area, ensuring their safety until further help can be provided.

A dedicated firefighter assigned to monitor approaching traffic and alert others of non-compliant motorists.

A specific incident where a lookout is required, often involving hazards.

The primary goal of a lookout is to ensure the safety of responders and the incident area by warning of approaching vehicles.

The process of creating a safe work area to protect responders and patients from traffic dangers.