Education
Traffic Incident Management Information
An effective TIM Program helps to:
Save Lives
by providing safe, more effective on-scene techniques, and reducing the exposure of responders-thereby reducing injuries and fatalities.
Save Money
by reducing freight and traveler time spent in backups; minimizing secondary crashes; reducing insurance claims; eliminating incidences of responder vehicles hit by traffic and; lowering costs for response agencies.
Save Time
by clearing incidents faster, thus decreasing delays.
Traffic incidents create unsafe situations for motorists and pedestrians, put motorists’ and responders’ lives at risk, and cause delays. Traffic Incident Management (TIM) responders—including fire, police, ambulance, and towing and recovery professionals—work together to help motorists, and to clear incidents safely and quickly.
But these responders can’t do it alone. As a driver, you must also do your part to help keep everyone safe and moving on our roadways.
To report an incident please call (303) 239-4501.
You can also dial *CSP from your cell to report aggressive driving, or *DUI to report suspicions of intoxicated driving.
By The Numbers
4 Minutes
How long traffic is delayed for every minute a lane is blocked.
36 Minutes
The length of a traffic holdup due to an initial incident that is likely to cause a secondary crash.
52
The number of law enforcement fatalities due to traffic-related incidents nationwide in 2015.
25%
Percentage of congestion caused by traffic incidents. Potentially 40-60% in some urban areas
18%
Percentage of fatalities that are due to secondary crashes
13%
Percentage of first responders fatalities are due to traffic related incidents.
2.8 Billion
The gallons of fuel wasted annually due to being stuck in traffic, nearly 24 gallons per driver.
38,000
The number of responders in harm's way at an incident scene in a 24-hour period.
20,000
The average number of first responders injured annually while responding to traffic incidents.
Helpful Tips
1
Move your car to a safe place out of the travel lanes if you are involved in an incident and there are no injuries.
2
If you see flashing lights ahead or behind slow down and move over. Failing to do so may result in a ticket.
3
Help keep everyone safe and avoid tickets. Inform friends and family about these laws.
Use these tips to help you operate safely while driving near an incident scene.
Colorado Safety Information
Move Over Law
In June 2017, then Gov. Hickenlooper signed the “Move Over for Cody” legislation meant to increase penalties for not exercising caution towards roadside emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and public utility vehicles. The bill, SB17-229, is named for State Trooper Cody J. Donahue, who was struck and killed in November 2016 while investigating a crash.
Under the law, drivers must exhibit the utmost care and caution by yielding to oncoming emergency vehicles and “moving over” at least one lane. If not possible drivers must drastically reduce their speed and allow as much room as possible to the emergency vehicle.
For more information on the law and it’s penalties visit Colorado.gov State Bills Page
Quick Clearance MOU
During an incident, first responders aim to quickly clear the scene and improve the safety of everyone involved. In order to do so CDOT and CSP have prepared the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in reference to “Urgent Clearance of Highway Incidents and Safety at Incident Scenes.”
The MOU establishes interagency collaboration to quickly clear incidents, reduce the time responders spend on scene, and manage traffic in a way that is safe for both the first responders and traveling public.
Passenger Vehicle Traction Law
On August 2, 2019, Governor Polis signed legislation that updated requirements for drivers using state highways during winter months.
Specifically, it changed the required minimum tire tread for vehicles on snowy roads to 3/16 of an inch. The statute also says that the minimum tire tread for dry roads remains 2/16 of an inch.
In addition, the law reaffirms CDOT’s ability to close state highways during inclement weather, and requires any motor vehicle to have one or more of the following when Traction Law is implemented:
tire chains;
an alternative traction device;
four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with adequate tire tread at least 3/16″ depth;
Tires with any form of the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol for mud/snow rating imprinted by the manufacturer or that are all-weather rated by the manufacture.
The traction law requires all motor vehicles to be meet the above in order to be prepared for icy or snow-packed conditions, which typically occur from September through May. CDOT may also restrict travel for any motor vehicle not properly equipped for the conditions.
While the bill specifies the I-70 mountain corridor, the law applies to all state highways. The I-70 mountain corridor is spoken of specifically due to the high number of spinouts and crashes that occur along this stretch during adverse conditions.
For more information on the Traction Law visit the CDOT Traction Law Page
Commercial Vehicle Chain Law
The Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Chain Law is a requirement for all large vehicles with a GCWR/GVWR of 16,001 pounds or more to affix chains or alternate traction devices (ATDs) to all drive tires (up to four). Even though it has “commercial” in the name, the requirement is based on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for the vehicle regardless of its use (private or commercial).
From Sept. 1 through May 31, all commercial vehicles (CMVs) traveling on I-70 between the Dotsero exit (mile point (MP) 133) and the Morrison exit (MP 259) must carry sufficient chains to be in compliance with the Colorado chain law.
In addition, the law reaffirms CDOT’s ability to close state highways during inclement weather, and defines CMVs as being used in commerce to transport passengers or property and fitting into one of the following categories:
gross combination weight rating of 16,001 or more pounds, inclusive of a towed unit, which has a gross vehicle weight-ration of more than 10,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight rating of 16,001 or more pounds
designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver
Vehicles subject to the law, except buses, are required to have tire chains or ATDs on at least four drive tires. If the vehicle has less than four drive tires, you are required to have chains or ATDs on all drive tires. Buses are required to have tire chains or ATDs on at least two drive tires.
While the bill specifies the I-70 mountain corridor, the law applies to all state highways.
For more information on the Commercial Vehicle Chain Law visit the CDOT CMV Chain Law Page or click the links below.
Video Resources
Operating Near the Zero Buffer Video
The Responder Safety Learning Network has developed a video about the dangers and recommendations for working near active traffic during incident response. This video highlights a more recent term that has been used called the Zero Buffer Zone which is the area between the corner of the blocking vehicle and the lane of active traffic.
This was also highlighted during the February 2022 Colorado Talking TIM webinar about vehicle parking and working around the area of the Zero Buffer Zone during incident response.
To access this video, visit the Operating Near the Zero Buffer training video.
