Third Quarter 2024

July to September

Welcome to the TIME Task Force Third Quarterly Newsletter! This edition reflects the ongoing hard work that is put into training initiatives, events, outreach to transportation and responder communities, and more. We are grateful to everyone who makes these initiatives possible, and we hope that each article is a testament to the TIME Task Force community’s dedication to and passion for safer roadways across Georgia.

By staying engaged in our efforts, you are playing an important role in supporting the TIME Task Force’s mission. Through communal support, step-by-step, traffic incident management continues to improve across the state. As you read this newsletter, we hope these steps are apparent, and that you gain valuable insight and knowledge.

Happy reading!

2024 TIME Task Force Conference Sponsors

By Kathleen Yund

The TIME Task Force spent significant time in Q3 preparing for what turned out to be an outstanding biennial conference that took place on October 13-16 in Athens, Georgia. This four-day event was an opportunity for responders and transportation professionals to gather to network, learn, and share valuable insights and lessons within traffic incident management. Check out our media page and social media for photos and stay tuned for a full update in our fourth quarterly newsletter. For now, thank you to our sponsors who helped make the event possible!

Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Visits the Transportation Management Center

By Ivan Lichtenstein

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Area Analyst Mike Hatcher organized several groups from the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) to visit the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Transportation Management Center (TMC) over the course of three days during the summer. The TMC is a dynamic center where people from multiple agencies work collectively to help manage traffic and incidents and relay real-time communications to motorists throughout Georgia. In addition to 511 Georgia call-taking and Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) dispatch, the State Road and Tollway Authority, Georgia State Patrol, and signal operations round out floor operations.

Upon their arrival, the AFRD groups sat down for a presentation on how the TMC works closely in real time with first responder agencies during traffic incidents. This was followed by a tour of a HERO vehicle where guests could ask the on-site HERO questions about day-to-day responsibilities.

This visit provided the AFRD with further insight as to how the TMC and HERO operate, which helps improve future coordination and TIM response efficiency.

Stop on Red Week

By Joe Schulman

Running a red light is not only illegal, but also dangerous and can result in serious injuries or death. A recent study by the Federal Highway Administration found that more than 90 percent of drivers recognize the dangers of running a red light, but one in three drivers admitted to doing it at least once in the last month anyway.

National Stop on Red Week was held August 4-10 with a focus on reminding drivers that it only takes one wrong decision to create a dangerous situation, which can result in serious injuries and even death. During the week, first responders took time to speak with motorists and warn them about the dangers of running a red light.

This year’s theme was “Zero in on Red,” in which the goal is a future with no fatalities from drivers running through red lights. Drivers, including first responders, can take the Vera Mobility Safe Driving Pledge throughout the year to encourage drivers to prioritize safe driving practices.

Third Quarterly Meeting Recap:

Big Toys and Special Speakers Visited the Quarterly Meeting

By Joe Schulman

The TIME Task Force third quarterly meeting was held in Jefferson, Georgia, and featured a pretty big guest star: a 75-ton rotator! Sapp’s Wrecker Service showcased its new addition that can be used in recovery and towing of heavy-duty equipment that regular wrecking vehicles cannot move.

The meeting also included an update on the TIME Task Force’s social media campaigns. Over the summer, posts on Facebook and X focused on national and state campaigns, including:

Summer construction
Back to school safety
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Stop on Red Week
Labor Day travel forecast
Child passenger safety week

Scott Malcolm of AtkinsRéalis updated the TIME Task Force Board on education efforts. Georgia continues to be one of the top states for educating first responders on traffic incident management and clearing crashes in a timely manner. The Board also heard from a media representative on the best way to communicate with the traveling public about traffic issues. Finally, Olympia Osselyn and Holly Hegyesi of the Georgia Department of Driver Services’ Motorcycle Safety Program discussed ways to educate the public about sharing roads with motorcycles.

TIME Task Force Committee Chair Nominations

By Kathleen Yund

The Georgia TIME Task Force is comprised of five committees, three of which are now accepting committee chair nominations for the 2025-2027 cycle. Do you or someone you know have experience in communications, programs, or training and want to be a leader in traffic incident management (TIM)? Consider nominating a committee chair. Visit the TIME Task Force Committee Chair Nominations web page to learn more about our committees, requirements to be a committee chair, and how to submit a nomination.

Committee chairs have the opportunity to:

Improve TIM programs and safety, gain reputable experience leading a board committee
Acquire specialized knowledge and teamwork skills as they learn from and work with diverse teams of industry professionals
Gain visibility through their efforts within the TIME Task Force, GDOT, and TIM agencies
Expand their network opportunities with current and new TIME Task Force contacts and those around the state
And more!

Nominations are open through Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Committee Chairs will serve a two-year term, which begins on Friday, February 7, 2025, and will typically attend two virtual meetings a month, though some in-person activities also occur.

National TIM Responder Training Georgia Presentation Update

By Scott Malcolm

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the fourth edition of the National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program (formerly known as SHRP2) in September. The Georgia FHWA-appointed TIM program contacts and master instructors reviewed the new material during a half day workshop and are currently adding Georgia touches to the presentation.

Once this process is complete, Georgia will have a newly updated version of the course material with all the applicable Georgia laws and lessons learned included, after which all active Georgia trainers will be provided with instructions on how to access the new material.

Our goal is to keep all our Georgia responders up to date on the latest safe, quick clearance strategies. Two train-the-trainer courses will be offered in the near future to anyone who would like an opportunity to deliver this important message in their area of the state.

For more information, contact us at TIM_Training@dot.ga.gov.

Join a TIME Task Force Committee

By Kathleen Yund

The TIME Task Force consists of five committees that work to advance the organization’s mission and engage with agencies and professionals around Georgia to improve and enhance traffic incident management (TIM) in the areas of training, operations, programs, communications, and grants.

Currently, the training, operations, programs, and communications committees are actively seeking members to help support these missions!

We understand that everyone’s schedules are different, so committee members are only expected to contribute as much as they are personally able to and are expected to attend one virtual meeting a month.

You do not need to be a professional in training, operations, programs, or communications to get involved; each committee welcomes TIM professionals from any background who have an interest in one of these four areas and wants to contribute even further to help make Georgia’s roadways safer.

If you are interested in becoming a committee member or getting in touch with the committees, send an email to info@timetaskforce.com with your inquiry.

National Campaigns in Q3

By Ivan Lichtenstein

In Quarter 3, we had some significant campaigns that played a huge impact on traffic incident management in Georgia. See below for a list of these campaigns:

July

Bicycle Safety
Summer Construction
Back to School
Heat Stroke Awareness
Stay In Your Car
July 4th Travel Forecast

August

Summer Construction
Stop on Red Week
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

September

Labor Day Travel Forecast
Child Passenger Safety Week

Marketing Matters

By Kathleen Yund

We regularly share content to help inform the public about traffic safety, various laws impacting motorists and first responders, and how to protect fellow motorists and citizens. Please follow us! Check out our social media platforms, Facebook, X, and YouTube to see content related to campaigns and initiatives from this past quarter.

You can also visit our blog on the website to read and stay up to date on various campaigns and more at: timetaskforce.com/blog.

Check out our top Facebook and X posts of the quarter:

Facebook

Upcoming Events & TIM Team Meetings

By Ivan Lichtenstein

Get involved in our TIM community by exploring upcoming events on our calendar.

From TIM Team meetings to TIM training events, there are so many ways to get involved in TIM across Georgia! Be on the lookout for future special events such as quarterly TIME Task Force meetings to meet and network with members in and out of your area.

Interested in joining a TIM Team? Reach out to TIMteams@dot.ga.gov for more information.

View Upcoming Events

NEEDED: Notable Achievements in TIM around Georgia. We Want to Hear from You!

Hey first responders and public officials! Did your city, county, or agency implement a unique innovation or technology in TIM or have any notable achievements in the past year that you would like to share? We want to hear from you! Please share a brief synopsis of your topic to info@timetaskforce.com, and we will get back with you to gather more details. Your achievements could help inspire other agencies!

Find a TIM Team Near You!

Did you know there are about 51 active TIM Teams across Georgia? This impressive number makes Georgia the state with the most teams nationwide recognized by the Federal Highway Administration!

There are currently four TIM areas and 15 regional TIM Teams throughout those areas. Please send us an email at TIMteams@dot.ga.gov if you are interested in joining one of our TIM Teams, hosting a meeting, or being a TIM champion in your area.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for our next quarterly newsletter by visiting our website and following us on social media.

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TIME Task Force

515 Plasters Avenue NE

Atlanta, GA 30324