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What is Highway Watch®?
Highway Watch® is the highway sector's national safety and security program that uses the skills, experiences and "road smarts" of America's transportation workers to help protect this critical infrastructure and the transportation of goods, services and people.
Highway Watch® is administered by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Highway Watch® coalition engages scores of the highway sectors' leading organizations to train hundreds of thousands of transportation workers throughout the industry. Each state program is coordinated by a locally designated organization such as the state trucking association.
How does Highway Watch® work?
Highway Watch® volunteers are trained by security professionals, law enforcement, and other expert personnel. Highway Watch® participants are given observational tools and the opportunity to exercise their skills to spot problems such as homeland security concerns, stranded vehicles, impaired drivers or unsafe road conditions, and report them rapidly and accurately to the authorities.
Highway Watch® participants - transportation infrastructure workers, commercial and public truck and bus drivers, and other highway sector professionals - are specially trained to recognize potential safety and security threats and avoid becoming a target of terrorists or to spot a terrorist threat to others. The Highway Watch® effort seeks to prevent terrorists from using large vehicles or hazardous cargoes as weapons and to help protect America's critical infrastructures and people. Highway Watch® participants are also reminded to use wireless location and communication technologies properly when reporting safety hazards, unsafe road conditions, auto accidents, and other roadway concerns. Highway Watch® reports are combined with other information sources and shared both with Federal agencies and the Sector by the Highway ISAC.
How do Highway Watch® participants make their reports?
After completing the Highway Watch® training, transportation professionals use cell phones and other telecommunications equipment to contact emergency personnel through a special Highway Watch® hotline - providing emergency responders with precise location and incident information. A trained operator at the Highway Watch® Call Center verifies the highway professional's identity (each participant has a unique Highway Watch® ID number) and location and then routes the call to the appropriate law enforcement authorities in that area. The Call Center correlates the location information and routes the call to the proper response agency in that area or to the proper state or regional emergency dispatch center. Additionally, Highway Watch® training instructs all participants to use 911 for life threatening emergencies.
What type of training do Highway Watch® drivers receive?
Highway Watch® participants attend a comprehensive training session before they become certified Highway Watch® members. This training incorporates both safety and security issues. Participants are instructed on what to look for when witnessing traffic accidents and other safety-related situations and how to make a proper emergency report. Highway Watch® curriculum also provides anti-terrorism information, such as: a brief account of modern terrorist attacks from around the world, an outline explaining how terrorist acts are usually carried out, and tips on preventing terrorism. From this solid baseline curriculum, different segments of the highway sector have or are developing unique modules attuned to their specific security related situation.
What is the Highway ISAC and how does it work?
The Highway Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Highway ISAC) is a critical component to the Highway Watch® effort and serves as the analytical and communications focal point for the Highway Watch® program. In close cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Highway ISAC, a nationwide team of well-trained and experienced transportation security professionals collectively detect, assess, report, process, analyze, and respond to incidents which might post a threat to national security.
When a security-related call is made to the Highway Watch® hotline the operator notifies local law enforcement authorities; a report of the incident is then generated and forwarded to the Highway ISAC where it is shared with government intelligence officials and other law enforcement agencies.
Are Highway Watch® professionals paid extra? Are there any financial incentives to join the program?
Highway Watch® participants are self-motivated and do not seek compensation for participation. They participate because they want to do their part to keep America safe.
How are Highway Watch® professionals identified?
Highway Watch® participants receive certificates of completion and individual ID cards at the conclusion of the training course.
Why do local government and safety officials become involved with Highway Watch®?
Local officials and law enforcement authorities become involved in the Highway Watch® program because they recognize the value in having extra 'sets of eyes and ears' on the road. They also appreciate that the services Highway Watch® provides augments their existing resources.
Is there any outreach communication to Highway Watch® participants?
As needed, the Highway Watch® hotline sends out alerts to trained participants. These alerts may include national security updates, Amber Alerts, and 'be on the look out' (or BOLO) requests.
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