Mohave Today

CHANDLER, Ariz. – 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.

The 27-member advisory committee was formed to provide advice to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary of Transportation about plans and approaches for transportation innovation.

These innovations include deployments of emerging technologies, automation and the secure exchange of data, including autonomous vehicles and technology that enables vehicles to communicate with each other and the roads they travel.

The advisory committee will conduct its first meeting on January 18. Members have been appointed for two-year terms and can be reappointed.

Dwiggins has been instrumental in developing policy, response procedures and first responder training for the deployment of autonomous vehicles within the greater Phoenix area. He has presented on the relationship between autonomous vehicle technology and public safety response at the local, state and national level.

Waymo collaborated with Chandler Fire to develop the first emergency response guide for autonomous vehicles. Waymo safety engineers also created internal systems that enhanced first responder response post collision.

Chandler has multiple autonomous vehicle companies actively operating within the city and continues to partner with companies developing emerging technologies. Chandler is the first city in the nation to amend its zoning code to support autonomous vehicle usage.

Dwiggins has 32 years of public safety experience and has served as Chandler’s Fire Chief since 2016. Chandler Fire is recognized among the nation’s best, with accreditation by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and an Insurance Services Office Class 1 rating for superior fire protection.

Original source can be found here.