Message from the Manager

Ross Township Independence Day Parade and Celebration

The annual Ross Township Independence Day Parade and celebration scheduled for July 5, 2020 has officially been cancelled due to COVID-19 and social distancing efforts. Please stay posted for updates on our Community Day Celebrations set to occur on September 26^th and 27^th of 2020 at the Block at Northway.

Election Day Rescheduled

The primary election will now be held on June 2, 2020. Go to the Allegheny County Elections Division’s website for more information on the election and potential changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Census

May 18, 2020 Board of Commissioners Meeting

Memorial Day 

The Township Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2020, in observance of Memorial Day. This year Ross Township along with other cities, boroughs, and municipalities in Allegheny County will participate in a Virtual Memorial Day Celebration. The video will be available on our Township website and our social media outlets. Stay tuned for more information.  

The WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW of Highway Safety
A CALL TO THE PUBLIC, TO HELP KEEP OUR RESPONDERS SAFE

By: Ron Coleman

Ross/ West View Emergency Medical Services

WHAT should you do WHEN an emergency vehicle is approaching with lights and sirens?
WHEN approaching an accident scene, WHAT should you do?
HOW can “YOU” keep us safe?

The public safety community of police, fire, and EMS is finding itself making national headlines quite a bit thus far in 2020. Unfortunately, these headlines are not for heroic actions of saving lives or protecting the public that we should be hearing. These headlines announce the loss of life and debilitating injuries of first responders involved in tragic incidents on our roadways across the country. This year alone, across the nation, 10 responders have perished as a result of being struck while working on our roadways. Those responders include police, fire, EMS, towing and construction workers.
The headlines above are not reserved for just other communities, Ross/West View EMS experienced the misfortune in December of 2019 when one of our ambulances was struck by a tractor trailer.

On December 5, 2020, while working at the scene of an accident, an out-of-control tractor trailer struck the back of our ambulance before rolling over and coming to a rest just feet away from our ambulance. We are thankful to report that the ambulance crew involved was not injured and they displayed exemplary performance by immediately exiting the ambulance to begin extricating the driver of the tractor trailer and to render medical care. Unfortunately, not all of these highway incidents have favorable outcomes as ours did.
On January 5, 2020 a colleague in the EMS community lost his life while on the scene of a vehicle crash on Interstate 70. Supervisor Mattew Smelser from Rostraver EMS in Westmoreland County, was struck and killed while performing his duties. Matt was a fellow Paramedic, a father, a husband, a son and public safety educator and the loss of his life seared through the public safety community. This loss will
have everlasting effects on his family, community and coworkers. While the Honor Guard members from Ross/West View EMS were assisting with funeral services in Rostraver, discussions were already taking place to devise a plan aimed at responder safety improvements.

The number of deaths nationwide continues to climb; regardless of the laws which direct that drivers move over and steer clear of emergency scenes and work zones.
In 1999, traffic incident management programs were developed to educate first responders how to better manage medical and rescue incidents on roadways in the hopes of preventing injuries and death. These courses include tactics that enhance the safety of responders while at the same time as keeping traffic flowing if possible. In 1999 when such courses were developed, the death toll was at six for the entire year across the nation. In less than two months in 2020, the number of deaths is nearly double.

WHY are the numbers continuing to grow?

One of the reasons for such a significant increase in first responder deaths on highways is secondary to distracted driving? the use of cell phones, interactive navigation screens (such as GPS), and other technology apps that require a person to interact by entering information such as addresses, accidents, disabled vehicles, weather, and more. Unfortunately, though the information is useful, much of this communication originates from the hands of the driver, causing added distraction.

WHAT is Ross/West View EMS doing to increase public awareness?

The administration and staff at Ross/West View EMS has taken great strides to ensure that our staff is educated and trained in the latest traffic incident management programs. Recently, Supervisor Ron Coleman arranged a meeting with Senator Lindsey Williams to discuss our concerns and make recommendations that would enhance public awareness of first responders and workers on roadways.

Senator Williams and her staff listened intently as one of our paramedics involved in the December 2019 incident, along with Penn Time representatives (Penn Time is the statewide traffic incident management safety group) recalled frightening experiences and case history related to responders being struck on the roadways. This meeting provided a forum for discussion to enhance safety at highway incidents and raise awareness of commuters in the commonwealth. Senator Williams and her team were very receptive of the information presented and are very willing to work with public safety and the construction industry to improve safety.

WHAT suggestions were discussed to capture public awareness?

Create an informational video that;

• all drivers must review on the Department of Transportation website, prior to being able to renew vehicle registration
• all new drivers must review before testing for a driver’s license
• all licensed drivers must review prior to license and photo renewal
• is broadcast within all driver’s license centers for customers to review while awaiting services
• informational review within all state inspection stations
• Media broadcasts on radio, TV, social media outlets, sporting event venues, promotional films

Anything that will help get the information out to our drivers will potentially save lives!!

Additional discussions regarding funding for emergency vehicles within the commonwealth to be outfitted with a system known as HAAS Alert.

The HAAS alert system is a device that can be purchased and mounted in emergency and or construction vehicles, that sends a signal out to select travel apps to provide early warning to traveling motorists. This alert is sent to users running apps within a specific range from vehicles operating on highway or emergency incidents.
HOW “You” the driver, can help us stay safe!

Always remember SIREN

• Stay Alert 

-- pay attention, keep the noise level low in your car and look for more than one emergency vehicle approaching when you hear a siren.

• Investigate

-- check your rear-view mirror and oncoming traffic, as it is difficult sometimes to determine the direction being traveled by emergency vehicles.
-- if emergency vehicles approaching from the rear slow down check on the traffic around you. Pull off the highway to the right safely, gradually brake to avoid losing control.
-- if the emergency vehicle is approaching from the oncoming direction; in general, you still want to pull to the side of the road and turn your hazard lights on.
-- another good reason to pull over: is that police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances will sometimes drive on the wrong side of the road if the traffic is too dense in their lanes of travel.
--pulling onto the shoulder will free your lane for the emergency vehicles.

• React

-- react quickly and calmly and scan in all directions before pulling over.
-- avoid the knee-jerk instinct to pull over immediately — there could be another car, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.
-- always use a turn signal and don't slam on the brakes or pull over suddenly.
-- keep a foot on the brake so the brake lights let emergency vehicle drivers know you have stopped.

• Enter

-- before re-entering the road, look in all directions.
-- look for other approaching emergency vehicles, remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed before re-entering traffic.
--turn on your signal and gradually merge back into traffic.
--stay at least 500 feet behind any moving emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights

• Never

-- stop at a place that doesn't have enough room to pull over safely. Pull over to the edge as far as possible and stop. Stop clear of intersections and avoid stopping on blind curves.
-- follow or try to out run and emergency vehicle to get through a traffic light. Emergency vehicles could make sudden turns and or stops.
-- pass a moving emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights unless directed to do so by a police officer or emergency personnel.

WHEN approaching an emergency scene or vehicles operating on the side of the road?

When you see a stopped emergency vehicle with warning lights activated, a disabled motorist, and or a construction/towing vehicle, remember to STEER CLEAR, MOVE OVER, SLOW DOWN

• Slow down
• Move over a lane if possible, away from the emergency personnel or tow truck operators.
• If traffic or other conditions prevent you from changing lanes, you must slow down and proceed with extreme caution. Other drivers will take your lead, and together you will reduce the risk of a tragic accident
• Stay focused on the roadway and not the events taking place at the accident scene. Our safety depends on your focus of the road.

The Law in Pennsylvania requires motorists;
On a 4 lane road;

• Move over at least one lane. Or if it is unsafe to move over, Slow down to a speed at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit.

On a 2 lane road

• Move over as far as possible without leaving the lane and slow down to a speed at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit.

Optimally we would like all vehicles to reduce their speed and provide us the best chance of survival!