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Conference Teaches Emergency Responders Traffic-Reducing Strategies

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A day-long conference was held at Citizens Bank Park yesterday for emergency personnel in the region who arrive at traffic accident scenes.

More than 150 police, fire, emergency medical services, towing and other personnel from New Jersey and Pennsylvania attended the conference. There was classroom instruction and mock traffic accident out in the parking lot to demonstrate emergency vehicle placement at an accident scene.

Barry Seymour is the executive director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. The organization hosted the event. He says reducing the timeline of a traffic incident in a safe effective way is the main goal.

"The objective today was to learn best practices and safety," Seymour says. "Congestion in large part is caused by accidents. The faster we can get cars off the road, the faster and quicker we can reduce congestion and keep people safe.  So it's not just keeping drivers safe but responders safe."

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey welcomed the attendees in the beginning of the day.

Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio 1060

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