Tim Initiatives

Depending on the time of day and location, incidents create 55-60% of the congestion on highways in Nevada.
Identifying the severity and location of a crash can significantly shorten the response and clearance times, it may even save lives.
An accident that occurs as a result of congestion or distraction from a prior crash is referred to as a secondary accident.
Exact figures on the number of secondary accidents are difficult to calculate. Preliminary results of a study by UNLV indicate that as many as 22% of all incidents in the Las Vegas region are the result of an earlier crash.
Secondary crashes can potentially be more serious than the original crash as motorists become impatient and distracted with their driving. National studies show that as many as 18% of secondary crashes result in a fatality.
Every minute a crash remains in traffic

Welcome to TIM

Effective traffic incident management is vital to the successful operation of modern highway systems in the state of Nevada. By working towards an enhanced level of interagency coordination, collaboration and communication through the activities surrounding an active coalition of traffic incident management stakeholders there is a proven difference in roadway clearance times, enhancing safety and decreasing the number of crashes, even fatalities.

City and county boundaries are not contained by traffic, congestion knows no boundaries. As such, efficient performance of traffic incident management practices has increased in complexity, requiring technology and a well-planned, coordinated, multi-disciplinary response.

Traffic Incident Management activities involve:

  1. Quick detection of highway incidents through video detection, loops or 911.
  2. Verification of highway crashes (CCTV Cameras, monitors, etc.).
  3. Timely response to the crash or incident by a plethora of incident responders including city, county and state: law enforcement, fire & recovery, public works, engineers, maintenance, private ambulance, EMT, towing companies, freeway service patrol among others.
  4. Efficient methods for clearing incidents quickly (incentive towing programs, legislative measures that support authority removal and move-it laws allowing vehicles involved in non-injury crashes to move out of travel lanes).
  5. Restoration of traffic flow back to its pre-incident capacity as quickly as possible.
  6. TIM performance measures to be implemented throughout the state of Nevada so that the benefits of safe, quick clearance can be demonstrated.
  7. Timely and accurate information delivered to the traveling public through a variety of communications avenues like media, public information officers, PSAs, internet, real time travel time delivery mechanisms (i.e., smart phones), social media and other tools including NDOT 511 program.

TIM IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER!

During the past few years, Nevada started to see a decline in fatalities on our roadways.  Unfortunately, this has all been temporary as there was a 21% increase in fatalities from 2019 to 2020.  There was an 18% increase in fatalities from 2020 to 2021. This has all come from an increase of impaired drivers and speeding, per the Department of Public Safety.  With that, there has been an increased focus of training Nevada’s First Responder community and to emphasize the importance of safety while on scene of a vehicle crash. This has lead to over 400 of the first responders in Nevada being trained in the SHRP2 4-hr TIM Training classes this past year. Over 75.2% (6,424) of Nevada’s responders who are involved in clearing crashes and traffic management activities throughout Nevada, have participated in TIM SHRP2 Multiagency Training, presented through the TIM Coalition certified trainers. We will continue to push this training to keep all involved as safe as possible. A major focus will continue to be of the safe, quick clearance of an vehicle crash.

All agencies also follow the Nevada Statewide Open Road Policy, signed by NDOT, DPS and the Governor and supported by the Nevada TIM Guidelines.  Kudos to Nevada’s AMAZING incident responders for saving lives!

Below is a video to bring attention to the bad start in 2022 in which 9 people were killed in 1 crash on January 29, 2022 in Southern Nevada. This incident definitely had an impact to the North Las Vegas community as well as all First Responders in the area and beyond.

2022 Nevada Fatalities

2023 Nevada Current Fatalities

First Responder Safety

The national numbers for first responder struck-by’s is a number that we all cannot live with. Per Respondersafety.com, the numbers since 2019 have gone up. As Nevada’s First Responders, we have to do all we can to protect our brothers and sisters while they are on scene of a traffic crash. The national struck-by numbers are as follows:

2019 – 44

  • 18 Law Enforcement
  • 9 Fire / EMS
  • 14 Tow Operators

2020 – 46

  • 17 Law Enforcement
  • 4 Fire / EMS
  • 21 Tow Operators
  • 3 DOT / SSP
  • 1 Mobile Mechanic

2021 – 65

  • 30 Law Enforcement
  • 9 Fire / EMS
  • 22 Tow Operators
  • 2 DOT / SSP
  • 2 Road Service Technicians

2022 – 50

  • 17 Law Enforcement
  • 11 Fire / EMS
  • 17 Tow Operators
  • 1 DOT / SSP
  • 4 Road Service Technicians

2023 –

For statistical information for 2023, please click on the link below.

Responder Safety Yearly Fatality Report

Nevada Legislative Initiatives Supporting Traffic Incident Management:

Senate Bill 312 was signed by Governor Brian Sandoval in May 2017. This important legislation strengthens several TIM-related laws, including the requirement for cars to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles, requirements for motorists to move cars from the travel lanes after a crash if possible, and vehicle removal laws.  The legislation went into effect on October 1, 2017. You can read the legislation here: Senate Bill 312

Nevada initiatives underway or planned in the near future:

The Nevada Open Roads Policy was renewed during the October 2021 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit in Las Vegas. To review details of the policy, please click below on the Nevada Open Roads Policy link below.

Nevada Open Roads Policy

Nevada TIM Coalition Video Production

In 2019, Nevada TIM Coalition partners  along with NDOT, partnered to produce this video during the 2019 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit. This video will be used to promote traffic incident management across Nevada. This video is being shared with agencies to help explain and promote TIM principles.