State of New Jersey Highway Incident Traffic Safety Guidelines for Emergency Responders

The purpose of this document is to provide uniform operational guidelines to ensure safe operations by emergency responders dispatched to incidents on limited access highways and other roadways as applicable in the State of New Jersey. These operational guidelines were formulated based on nationally recognized practices, with guidance from those agencies listed in the document under Acknowledgements. Input was received from representatives of those agencies listed under the State of New Jersey Highway Incident Traffic Safety Guidelines for Emergency Responders Feedback Committee, and the document was endorsed by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. This document should be used by emergency responders as a guideline for decision-making. The decisions can be modified as necessary to address existing onsite conditions. 

These guidelines identify safe vehicle positioning, common general safety, and onsite practices for all emergency responders. It provides guidance for maximum protection and safety for all emergency responders operating at limited access highway incidents and other roadways, as applicable. These guidelines also identify the need to provide mobility for the motoring public. Key topics include temporary traffic control, incident management, roles and responsibilities, equipment, safety, incident response, arriving on scene, traffic control, and demobilization.