Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW)
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration:
Image: International Association of Fire Chiefs
Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) takes place November 13 –17, 2023. This Federal Highway Administration (FHWA )-sponsored initiative communicates the simple steps everyone can take to keep roadway responders and the public safe around traffic incidents.
Every minute of every day, law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services (EMS), public works, transportation, towing, and other responders work roadside to make roadways safe for all road users. These traffic incident responders put their lives at risk when clearing each of the nearly 7 million annual motor vehicle crashes or the broader range of incidents such as stalled vehicles or roadway debris.
CRSW is an opportunity to promote road user awareness and adherence to Move Over laws and Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training for all traffic incident responders. FHWA has established, in cooperation with the CRSW National Committee, a Campaign Toolkit with strategic CRSW outreach themes. FHWA encourages national, State, and local organizations to amplify the visibility and message of this important week by using the Campaign Toolkit calendar to align your promotion, press outreach, and social media engagement with others across the country. By following the calendar, supporters can speak with a common voice, all using the same hashtag, #CRSW.
The theme for CRSW 2023 is “Protect Those Who Protect You,” emphasizing the traveling public’s role in keeping responders safe while responders make roadways safe for all road users. The following are common strategies executed by State and local agencies to commemorate CRSW:
- Social media campaigns across multiple platforms
- Mass TIM responder training events
- State or local proclamations (e.g., Governor’s Proclamation) and proclamation-signing events
- In-person tours of Traffic Management Centers
- Ride -along events with traffic incident responders
- Television, print news, and podcasts featuring stories or interviews
- Slow down, move over safety messages on highway changeable message signs
- Slow down, move over law enforcement campaigns
- Departments of motor vehicle offices sharing CRSW video, image, or print materials
- Highway visitor plazas and rest stops sharing CRSW video, image, or print materials
- Demonstration events at highway visitor plazas or other significant public venues
- Testimonial from responders
Review the following resources to learn more about how your State, local agency, or national association can help promote CRSW.
- CRSW 2023 Campaign Toolkit
- Social media posting tips and tricks
- National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) CRSW Resources
To learn more about CRSW, click on the links in the following list:
CRSW National Committee
The following associations serve on the Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) National Committee, led by FHWA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
- American Public Works Association (APWA)
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
- Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
- National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)
- National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA)
- National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
- National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
- Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA)