USFA, DOJ Initiate Emergency Vehicle Safety Study

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)/National Institute of Justice (NIJ), has begun a study of emergent topics in emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety. The International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) will conduct the study.

Each year, approximately 25 percent of on-duty firefighter fatalities occur while responding to or returning from incidents, with the majority of fatalities resulting from vehicle crashes. This represents a leading cause of firefighter fatalities – second only to heart attacks.

The issue also affects the law enforcement community. Data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows that from 2001-2010, vehicle-related crashes – including motorcycle crashes and struck while operating on the roadway – were the leading cause of on-duty fatalities for U.S. law enforcement officers. These fatalities represented 43 percent of the total number of officers who lost their lives on duty during that time.

Source: United States Fire Administration