National Traffic Incident Management (NTIM) Coalition

National Traffic Incident Management (NTIM) Coalition
Name	National Traffic Incident Management (NTIM) Coalition
Founded	1998
Headquarters	United States

National Traffic Incident Management (NTIM) Coalition is a U.S.-based coalition focused on improving roadside safety and clearing incidents to reduce congestion, secondary collisions, and emergency responder exposure. The coalition brings together stakeholders from transportation, public safety, emergency response, towing, and traffic operations to coordinate best practices and training across jurisdictions. It serves as a convener for policy alignment among federal, state, and local entities and engages with standards bodies, research institutions, and industry organizations.

History

The coalition emerged in the late 1990s as agencies sought coordinated responses to highway incidents after events influencing policy such as the Interstate Highway System, the Federal Highway Administration, and lessons from major incidents like the I-95 collapse studies, linking practice with research from institutions such as the Transportation Research Board and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. Early collaborations included representatives from State Department of Transportation (United States), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and private sector stakeholders including the American Towman community. Over time the coalition worked with standards and technical committees like Institute of Transportation Engineers, American Traffic Safety Services Association, and National Fire Protection Association to develop operational guidelines and to respond to policy shifts influenced by legislation such as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and initiatives linked to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Mission and Objectives

The coalition’s mission aligns with objectives promoted by entities like the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Incident Management System, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration: reduce incident duration, protect responders, and restore traffic flow. Objectives include harmonizing protocols across agencies exemplified by Metropolitan Planning Organization coordination, promoting data standards used by Intelligent Transportation Systems programs, advancing rapid clearance policies championed by groups such as Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), and supporting research priorities articulated by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Organizational Structure

The coalition’s structure reflects a multi-stakeholder governance model incorporating advisory members from the Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and representatives from state DOTs such as California Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Transportation, and Florida Department of Transportation. Committees mirror technical committees from organizations like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Public Transportation Association, and National Association of Counties, while working groups include law enforcement liaisons from National Sheriffs' Association, firefighter representation connected to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and towing representation aligned with Towing and Recovery Association of America. An executive steering committee coordinates with academic partners such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs reflect cooperative efforts with operational frameworks developed by National Incident Management System, deployment strategies informed by Incident Command System, and technology integration using standards from SAE International and American National Standards Institute. Initiatives have included model policies for quick clearance and Move Over laws promoted alongside advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and public safety campaigns reminiscent of Click It or Ticket messaging. Pilot programs have partnered with regional operations centers such as Transportation Management Center (TMC) facilities in major urban areas including New York City, Los Angeles County, and Chicago to test data sharing via platforms like 511 travel information systems and coordinate with research projects funded by the National Science Foundation.

Training and Certification

Training programs developed or endorsed by the coalition link to curricula from the Emergency Medical Services, National Fire Academy, and law enforcement training academies including the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. Certification pathways intersect with standards from International Organization for Standardization technical committees and professional recognition through associations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police and National Volunteer Fire Council. Courses cover topics promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, safety procedures advocated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and operational tactics used by agencies like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The coalition sustains partnerships with federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Federal Emergency Management Agency, plus state DOTs, metropolitan planning organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area), and local agencies like the New York City Department of Transportation. It collaborates with industry stakeholders including the Towing and Recovery Association of America, American Traffic Safety Services Association, ITS America, and standards bodies such as Institute of Transportation Engineers and SAE International, while engaging academic partners like University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and Cornell University for evaluation research. Nonprofit partners and advocacy organizations include American Red Cross and National Safety Council.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations draw on performance measures used by the Federal Highway Administration, metrics from the National Performance Management Research Data Set, and research outputs cited by the Transportation Research Board. Impact assessments report reductions in incident clearance time, declines in secondary crashes, and improved responder safety documented in studies from institutions like Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and University of Minnesota. The coalition’s influence is reflected in adoption of model practices across departments such as Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of Transportation, and incorporation of recommendations into national programs led by the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Category:Transportation safety organizations