Responders work more effectively if they understand each other’s roles, responsibilities, and what each responder brings to the scene. Students will explore the different agency priorities at a traffic incident, including how others typically respond to an incident. Other points of discussion include:

• How to determine who’s in charge?
• What information do we need to exchange?
• What’s the importance of meet-and-confer (particularly when the situation changes)?
• How do we avoid duplication of efforts?

The training is presented to and by all three disciplines (WSDOT, WSP and Fire). The goal for the training is to initiate communication within these groups, working together with unified command. This will be a springboard for local WSP, WSDOT and Fire/EMS representatives to collaborate in the future. They will create work groups to build response plans for their areas, and engage in regular meetings and debriefings.

Each State Patrol District Commander coordinates a minimum of one training session per quarter in partnership with the local WSDOT Region representative and Fire District representative.