Contra Costa County CERT Program Special Event Traffic Control

1. Contra Costa County CERT Program Special Event Traffic Control Continuing Education Series Released: 22 January 2010

2. Special Event Traffic Control Presented by Officer Jeffrey Fields Moraga Police Department

3. Community Emergency Response Team • Personal safety is ALWAYS the number one priority • Work as a team • Wear specialized personal protective equipment: vest, gloves, hat and whistle

4. Community Emergency Response Team • Upon completion of this class and successful demonstration of exercise skills, you will be qualified as a CERT Basic Traffic Controller to assist law enforcement officers in directing traffic during community special events. • To remain qualified as a CERT Basic Traffic Controller you must renew this training annually.

5. Unit Objectives • Safety First, Second and Always… • Perspectives • Hands, Tools and Gear • Personal Protective Equipment • Conduct Field Exercise

6. Perspectives “There is nothing that shows the skill, finesse, and understanding of human nature like standing in the middle of the road conducting lanes of traffic like a symphony orchestra.” Dr. Joel F. Shults, Chief Adams State College Police Department

7. Perspectives Safety First, Second and Always… Be constantly aware of ALL the traffic around you !!! According to the Federal Highway Administration, three worker fatalities occur nationally in cone zones every five days.

8. Traffic Management and Control

9. Traffic Management and Control • A CERT member with additional training may be called upon to assist local law enforcement with traffic control during special events • Staying alert to your surroundings is the key to staying alive…

10. Hands, Tools and Gear • In a traffic control situation, you may use: • Stop / Slow signs • hand signals • whistles • voice commands • flashlights, flares • cones or barricades

11. Traffic Controller Position • Never place yourself in the path of a moving vehicle. • Always remain standing and never turn your back on traffic. • Stand alone in a highly visible location.Do not mingle with the event crew, the traveling public, or other people. • Plan an escape route. • Do not leave your positionfor any reason until relieved.

12. Traffic Controller Do’s DoStay alert at all times. Don’t be distracted by the event. DoUse clear and deliberate hand signals when directing traffic. DoBe friendly and polite with the public, but do not engage in small talk. DoHave a good idea of the day's events schedule to answer motorists' questions. DoTreat motorists courteously. Never argue with the occupants of a vehicle. DoUse proper equipment and warning signs. DoBe prepared for changing weather by bringing a raincoat, sweater, or warm coat.

13. Preferred Traffic Controller Position

14. Two Traffic Controllers Operation When two traffic controllers are required, you must coordinate communication procedures prior to the start of operations. The two controllers must be on each end of the traffic diversion zone and you must be able to see each other, or have two-way radios for proper communication. One controller should be the lead controller and coordinate all activities.

15. Hand Signals Art of the hand signal • Make eye contact with the driver • Give only one direction at a time

16. Hand Signals

17. Hand Signals START • Place yourself so one side is towards traffic to be started • • Look at the driver and point with arm and finger toward first car to be started • • Hold position until you get driver’s attention • • With palm up, swing hand up and over chin, bending arm at elbow • • After traffic has started from one side, drop that arm and start traffic from other side in the same manner • Continue to use the same signals for the slow and timid • Talk the drivers through it ! KEEP MOVING

18. Hand Signals

19. Hand Signals

20. Whistle Who keeps a whistle in their CERT gear? Who needs a whistle for today’s exercise?

21. Whistle • Whistle use defined: • One long blast with “stop”hand signal • Two short blasts with the “start”hand signal • Several short blasts to get the “attention”of a driver • A short, intermittent blast to “keep the traffic moving”

22. Voice Commands • Voice is seldom heard in traffic • Hand gestures and the whistle are most efficient • Shouted orders may antagonize a driver • When a driver or pedestrian does not understand, you should move closer to the person, and politely explain the command

23. Flashlights • A flashlight can be used to direct traffic at night

24. Flashlights • Flashlights with colored extensions work for evening, foggy or rainy weather

25. Personal Protective Equipment

26. Perspectives “All the flashing lights and noise and uniforms and equipment and excitement makes just another day in the life for you. For the motorist it’s a giddy adventure ride at CrashLand Theme Park. Don’t count on them focusing on you if you don’t make yourself unmistakably the person they need to be watching. Got your glow-vest, whistle, and white gloves ready?” Dr. Joel F. Shults, Chief Adams State College Police Department

27. Exercise • Part One (in classroom) • Each person will demonstrate the hand signals for: • Stop • Forward • Right Turn • Left Turn

28. Exercise • Part Two (in parking lot) • Each Person will demonstrate using hand signals / whistles • Stop • Forward • Right Turn • Left Turn • Right Turn across a traffic lane • Left Turn across a traffic lane • Place a car in hold position to not block single lane

29. Unit Summary Safety First, Second and Always… Perspectives Hands, Tools and Gear Personal Protective Equipment Visual 5.28