Traffic Incident Manager saves countless lives through training of first responders

Rusty James, right, received recognition from ITS Heartland earlier this year for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency repsonders with the TIM program in the KC metro area. 

Traffic Incident Response Week, Nov. 13 – 19, was created to raise awareness of the dangers emergency responders are exposed to when they work at a traffic incident.

Rusty James, provides training to law enforcement officials,
emergency responders, and highway workers

Training emergency responders across the nation using the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Incident Management (TIM) program creates a coordinated response to clear traffic incidents efficiently with less risk to emergency responders, those involved in crashes and drivers that pass through an incident area.

As part of the Kansas City Scout traffic management center, TIM has been used in the KC metro area for many years. The manager of this effort until recently was Rusty James.

In May, Rusty was recognized by ITS Heartland, a five-state intelligent transportation systems organization, with its President’s Award in appreciation for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency responders.

There is no way to count the number of lives Rusty James saved over his many years of training law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, tow operators, DOT maintenance workers and other first responders. But there is no doubt the he is responsible for many people going home after an incident because of the training he provided. Thank you Rusty!

Should people be allowed to use cellphones during flight?

If you've ever been annoyed by people talking too loud on their cellphones, the U.S. DOT feels your pain and wants to do something about it.

In December, the Federal Communication Commission approved the first step in allowing passengers on airplanes to use cellphones in flight.  FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called the ban "outdated" and "restrictive."

The current FCC ban was adopted in 1991 based on concern the calls planes might interfere with cellular networks on the ground, but technological advances have resolved those worries.  Thus, the FCC would like to see the restrictions lifted since their are no safety issues related to cellphone use in flight. And it has the authority to make that decision.

Click here to read full DOT response.

However, the DOT regulates aviation consumer issues. And it believes that lifting the ban may be "an unfair practice to consumers."

According to the DOT,  "Allowing voice calls on passenger aircraft may be harmful because people tend to talk louder on cellphones than when they're having face-to-face conversations. They are also likely to talk more and further increase the noise on a flight, as passengers would not be simply talking to the persons sitting next to them but can call whomever they like. While some planes may already have seat-back phones in place, we believe that most are rarely used and the department's concern is not about individual calls but rather the cumulative impact of allowing in-flight calls in close quarters."

The FCC points out that even if the ban is lifted it will be at the airlines discretion as to whether or not to allow it.  Delta Air Lines has already stated it will not allow calls.

Recent polls have shown that the majority of Americans are against lifting the ban. And the FCC has received several public comments in opposition to lifting the ban. 

In response to this public outcry, the DOT wants to know what you think about the potential rule change.  Click here to post a comment.  Comments must be received by March 26.