Mohave Today

The U.S. Department of Transportation has appointed Chandler Fire Chief Tom Dwiggins to its Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee to represent the International Association of Fire Chiefs, as reported by the City of Chandler's official website.

The advisory committee, which consists of 27 members, was formed to provide guidance and recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Secretary of Transportation on transportation innovation. This includes the deployment of emerging technologies, automation, and the secure exchange of data, such as autonomous vehicles and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems.

Chandler Fire Chief Tom Dwiggins has been actively involved in the development of policies, response procedures, and first responder training for the deployment of autonomous vehicles in the greater Phoenix area. He has also been a speaker at local, state, and national levels, discussing the relationship between autonomous vehicle technology and public safety response.

One notable collaboration between Chandler Fire and Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, resulted in the creation of the first emergency response guide for autonomous vehicles. Waymo's safety engineers also developed internal systems to enhance first responder response post-collision.

Chandler has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle usage, with multiple autonomous vehicle companies actively operating within the city. In fact, Chandler is the first city in the nation to amend its zoning code to support autonomous vehicle usage.

Chief Dwiggins brings 32 years of public safety experience to the advisory committee and has been serving as Chandler's Fire Chief since 2016. Under his leadership, Chandler Fire has achieved accreditation by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and has been awarded an Insurance Services Office Class 1 rating for superior fire protection.

The Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on January 18, where members, including Chief Dwiggins, will begin their two-year terms. They may also be reappointed for additional terms.

Chief Dwiggins' appointment to the committee highlights Chandler's commitment to transportation innovation and ensuring public safety in the face of emerging technologies.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.chandleraz.gov/news-center/fire-chief-appointed-nations-transportation-innovation-committee