Law enforcement, fire, EMS, transportation and towing and recovery professionals from throughout Georgia gathered in Columbus Oct. 4–7 for the 2026 Georgia TIME Task Force Conference to study how drones, driver education, and coordinated response can make crash scenes safer and help reopen roads.

Held at the Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center, the conference gave professionals from across the state an opportunity to compare practices and learn from one another. Training addressed the work of responding to traffic incidents: assessing a scene, sending the right personnel and equipment, protecting those working beside moving traffic and clearing the roadway.

“Technology is transforming how we manage Georgia’s transportation network and respond to incidents on our roadways,” said Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Deputy Commissioner Andrew Heath, who delivered the keynote address. “The 2026 TIME Task Force Conference brings together the professionals and partners driving that progress. By embracing innovation and strengthening collaboration, we can improve operations, enhance responder safety and keep Georgia moving.”

Christina Barry, Assistant State Traffic Engineer, GDOT, and Kim Williams, Traffic Management Center (TMC) Manager, GDOT, traced three decades of the TMC’s work and how its role has evolved. They discussed recent GDOT initiatives and updates to the Towing Recovery and Incentive Program (TRIP), explaining what those efforts mean for traffic incident response across Georgia.

“Over the past three decades, the Traffic Management Center’s work has evolved alongside the needs of Georgia’s transportation network,” said Christina Barry, Assistant State Traffic Engineer, GDOT. “The tools and programs continue to change, but our focus remains on keeping responders aware and coordinating a safe response. Our TRIP program builds on that work, supporting the partnerships we rely on to manage traffic incidents across Georgia.”

Brookhaven Police Sgt. Samuel Jones used the department’s Drone as First Responder program to show how aerial views could help agencies assess a traffic incident before crews arrive. Jones, who leads the department’s Innovation and Technology efforts, discussed using drones to identify traffic impacts, guide resource decisions and assist with scene reconstruction.

“Drone as First Responder technology gives public safety agencies timely, real-time awareness before officers and other responders arrive on scene,” Jones said. “When applied to traffic incident management, this technology has the potential to help agencies assess conditions faster, deploy the right resources and make informed decisions, all while improving safety for responders and the traveling public.”

Attendees also tried the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s commercial vehicle driving simulator. Its scenarios demonstrated truck drivers’ blind spots, longer stopping distances and the risks posed by nearby vehicles. The program helps non-commercial drivers, especially young drivers, understand why large trucks need more space on the road.

Roadside hazards and response

Sessions on lithium battery hazards covered incidents involving electric vehicles, e-bikes and energy storage systems. Presenters also discussed GDOT’s Coordinated Highway Assistance and Maintenance Program (CHAMP) and how district communications officers support traffic coordination and public messaging during major incidents.

Chris Welchel, co-owner of Welchel Enterprises, drew on 30 years of towing and recovery experience to explain how Extreme Ownership principles apply to roadside operations and the work tow operators do alongside emergency responders.

“Traffic incident management is a team effort that depends on professionals from many disciplines working together,” said Tyrone McCord III, TIME Task Force co-chair and manager of GDOT’s Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) and CHAMP Incident Response Units. “Our diverse training and presentations help transportation, law enforcement, fire, EMS and towing professionals strengthen coordination, improve response and keep responders and motorists safe.”

Conference awards

The awards banquet honored five individuals and the Spalding County traffic incident management team for their service:

• HERO Operator of the Year: Calvin Foster
• Individual of the Year: Requel Williams
• Gary Millsaps Award: Bill Vorhies
• Rodney Pickle CHAMP Operator of the Year: Scott Thienes
• TIM Team of the Year: Spalding County
• TMC Operator of the Year: Shanquetia Peaco
• TRIP Tower of the Year: New Image Towing

“This conference reflects the dedication, professionalism, and collaboration that make traffic incident management successful across Georgia,” said Capt. Ritchie Howard of the Georgia State Patrol, TIME Task Force co-chair. “It allows us to learn from one another and renew our commitment to protecting responders, clearing incidents safely and keeping Georgia’s roadways moving.”