Safe Vehicle Operations

June 2010

Class Objectives

• Review of current driving issues• Discuss the driver evaluation that

will be conducted by a station officer

Driving Concerns

• Additional Rollover Issues– Seatbelts– Driver Distraction

• Driving too fast for conditions• Intersections• Backing

Rollover Accidents

Engine 401March 4, 2009

Seatbelts

• Mandatory use by ALL occupants• Liability issues• Driver is responsible – do not move until

all are “clicked”

Driver Distraction

• Items in the cab– Light controls– Radios– Mapbook

• Cell phones– Calls– Texting

Driving Too Fast For Conditions

• Emergency vs. non-emergency• Weather• Traffic conditions

Myth

•When you have your lights and siren on, people will get out of your way!

Remember…Always drive defensively

Intersections: Policy vs Law

• Fire District policy• MO state law• Follow our policy

Intersections: According to VFIS and USFA

• 1997-2001 – 503 LODD– 121 responding to or returning from

• 1 in 4

Intersections: According to VFIS

• Nearly 24% of emergency vehicle accidents occurred at intersections and these accounted for 45% of the dollar loss

Guidelines of Intersection Safety

• Do not rely on warning devices to clear traffic• Scan intersections for possible hazards• Begin to slow down well before reaching the

intersection• Change the siren setting to “yelp” (add air

horn?) at least 200 ft before the intersection• Scan the intersection for passing options• If all lanes of traffic cannot be accounted for,

stop!• Treat each lane of traffic like another

intersection

“Busting the Intersection”

• Is not acceptable under any circumstances!

• Stopping adds on the average 40 seconds to the arrival time – AND SAVES OUR LIVES

What do 105 (the old tandem axle Ford), 401,

805 (2x), 901, 1201, 1401 have in common?

Answer – they all have gone off the paved section

of the highway and (nearly) overturned.

Backing

• Get out and check before backing• If available – use a rear spotter• Make sure the spotter is aware of

everything on both sides of the vehicle!

• Use two spotter’s (one in front and one in back) if you are going to turn while backing

This month --

• You will receive a driving evaluation (in the engine) by one of your officers over one of your station road courses before the end of August.

Summary