Question: Who is responsible for making sure the roadway is cleaned up and free from spilled liquids, glass and other car parts from a crash?  

Answer: I have noticed that responding agencies and tow companies usually work as a team to treat the injured, direct traffic, investigate the crash and clear the scene as soon as possible for everyone’s safety. This is especially important on roadways with higher speed limits.

Below is a general list of responsibilities at a crash scene, although each scene differs as to the crash severity and what is needed.

Law enforcement general responsibilities:

• Securing the incident scene

• Assist disabled vehicles

• Provide medical aid until help arrives

• Serve as incident commander along with Fire/Rescue

• Direct traffic

• Conduct crash investigation

• Supervise scene clearance

Fire/Rescue/EMS general responsibilities:

• Protect the incident scene

• Provide medical care

• Provide initial HAZMAT response and containment

• Suppress fire

• Rescue crash victims from vehicles

• Arrange transportation for the injured

• Provide advance emergency medical care

• Determine destination and transportation for the injured

• Coordinate evacuation with fire, police and ambulance/airlift

• Remove medical waste from scene

• Assist in incident clearance

Towing companies general responsibilities:

• Removing vehicles from scene

• Protecting victims’ property and vehicles

• Provide transportation for uninjured vehicle occupants

• Remove debris from roadway (scene)

Question: Winter is here. Can talk about tire safety and how a person can tell if their tires are still good?

Answer: Winter season is a good time to remind motorists about the importance of installing and maintaining good tires. Tires must be able to carry your vehicle’s weight and grip the surface of the road properly. Inspect tires regularly for cuts, cracks, uneven wear, bald spots, bulges, and punctures. Carry a good spare tire and check its pressure often. Tires do not have as much traction on gravel or dirt roads as they do on concrete or asphalt roads. Tires have been known to lose up to 1 psi (pounds per square inch) every month. Check your tire pressure often and never drive with under-inflated tires.

• The vehicle’s recommended tire pressure is located on a sticker inside the driver’s door of your vehicle or in the owner’s manual.

• Check your tires before you’ve driven or at least three hours after you’ve driven your vehicle.

• Insert a pressure gauge into the valve stem on your tire. The gauge will show a measured psi.

• Compare the measured psi to the psi found on the sticker inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. DO NOT compare to the psi on your tire’s sidewall.

• If the measured psi is above the number, let air out until it matches. If below, add air until it reaches the proper number.

• Check your tires often for wear and damage problems. A tire is illegal if the tread is less than one-sixteenth of an inch deep. An easy way to check for wear is by using the penny test.

• Take a penny and hold Abraham Lincoln’s body between your thumb and forefinger.

• Select a point on your tire where the tread appears the lowest and place Lincoln’s head into one of the grooves.

• If any part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the legal and safe amount of tread. If your tread gets below that, your vehicle’s ability to grip the road in adverse conditions is greatly reduced.

You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.