GSP: A report of garbage cans in the roadway went over the radio moments ago. Lately debris in the roadway, specifically the Parkway, has been happening often. Are you people securing your loads with bubble gum and masking tape? Today it’s 3-4 trash cans that are dancing across the center lanes of travel. As dispatch sends an NJSP Unit to investigate, they explain how they are unsure where the debris actually is. One caller said the cans were just before Interchange 98, and another said between mileposts 91-92. The exact location of the offending trash cans is unknown, or possibly 2 separate incidents?

Callers, or the reporting parties often call 911 and provide as little information as possible. Sometimes they can’t due to circumstances- but often people are just unaware of their surroundings. Too many times callers don’t know where they are, or how to read a mile marker on a highway. Dispatchers, and call takers need to pull as much detailed information out of callers as possible- to relay over the radio more efficiently. This can be challenging sometimes, especially in a situation where seconds count.

Anyway, the NJ Trooper saw the trash cans, and mentioned they were already blown over to the shoulder.

OCSN Staff training seminar: 2017