Newport Fire Department

Driver/OperatorOperating Emergency Vehicles

Division of TrainingUpdate: April 2013

OBJECTIVE

This Objective of this class is intended to teach how to safely drive/operate an emergency vehicle when responding to an incident

4 Parts of the Comprehensive Program: Driving Regulation Driver/Operator safety tips Defensive driving techniques Driver Awareness Course

Overview

Reason for the Class

Reason for the Class

Reason for the Class

Reason for the Class

INTRODUCTIONS

Historically 22% of fatalities Personal vehicles – 26% Engines – 14% Rescues – 5% Ladders – 3%

Study of 81% (tanker drivers) killed were not wearing a seatbelt.

2012: 83 firefighter deaths, 18 from accidents

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Prevention: Instituted the Emergency Response

SOG ▪ (3-I-1 Emergency and Non-Emergency

Response)▪ Includes Seatbelt Use

Enforcement: Officers and Drivers

▪ Both are responsible/liable for the crew

▪ Supervisor Liability – if training inadequate.

Objectives

This lesson follows Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator certification according to: NFPA 1002 Standard for Fire Apparatus

Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications

Specific objectives

1. List the five most common causes of fire apparatus collisions

2. Regulations governing fire apparatus driver/operators

3. Vehicle Operations4. Apparatus rider safety5. Defensive Driving Techniques6. Vehicle Control7. Driver Awareness Course outline

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

5 most common causes Improper backing of apparatus Reckless driving by public Excessive speed by apparatus driver Lack of driving skill Poor apparatus design

Improper backing

Seldom causes serious injury or death, but accounts for a significant portion of overall damage costs

Occurs On emergency scene In parking lots Backing into the station

USE A SPOTTER!

Reckless driving by publicFailure to obey posted traffic

regulationsFailure to yield right of wayExcessive speedUnpredictable behavior created by

panic to approaching emergency apparatus

Inattentiveness Cell phones Radios Children

Excessive speed Apparatus Loss of control on

curve or adverse road surface (roll over, crash) Black ice Snow

Inability of driver to stop in time to avoid collision

Lack of driving skill or experience

Overconfidence in one’s driving ability It’s always the other guy that is a bad

driver Inability to recognize a dangerous

situation False sense of security because of good

driving record Misunderstanding of apparatus

capabilities▪ Turning radius

Lack of knowledge about how to operate the controls of the apparatus in an emergency

Poor apparatus design or maintenanceMost often in “homebuilt” vehicles or

local mechanicsVehicles not baffled properly

Liquid surgesMaintenance

Vehicle system failure, especially brakes Truck 1, Engine 2

REGULATIONS/LAWS

StateCity OrdinancesDepartment policy

Driving Regulation

Unless specifically exempt, fire apparatus are subject to all statute, rule, regulations, or ordinances that governs any vehicle operator

Drivers must always exercise care for the safety of others

Regulations pertain to dry, clear roads during daylight hours Adjust for wet roads, fog, darkness

State Laws

Special Privileges: RIGL 31-12-6 Privilege, NOT a RIGHT!

RIGL 31-12-7 Park or stand, irrespective of any law Proceed past a red light or stop sign, but

only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operations

State Law (cont’d)May Exceed the speed limit, so long

as does not endanger life or propertyDisregard regulations governing

direction of movement, or turning

Due Care

RIGL 31-12-9 “Shall not relieve the

driver from the duty to drive with due regard for safety of all persons, nor shall the provisions protect the driver from consequences of the driver’s reckless disregard for the safety of others

Right of Way/ Yielding

RIGL 31-17-1 Intersections- driver

on the left shall yield right of way to the driver on the right

RIGL 31-17-6: Yielding to

Emergency Vehicles▪ Lights and siren must

be used▪ Refuse to Yield:

$20.00 fine (RIGL 31-7-7)

Other

RIGL 31-23-11: Warning Devices only during Emergency response Must be visible from 500 ft

RIGL 31-23-51 Headsets permitted for Emergency

VehiclesRIGL 31-23-43

Wheel Safety Chocks▪ Not required if vehicle is equipped with

positive spring-loaded air parking brakes

School Bus

NOT Exempt from laws that require a stop for school buses with flashing signal lights

City Ordinances

Ordinance 10.04.010 State Motor Vehicle Code adopted

Ordinance 10.08.050 Reflects the Emergency Response SOP

regarding1. Parking or standing2. Red lights/Stop signs3. Speed limits4. Directions and turning

LIABILITY

If involved in a collision, both the driver and department may be held liable

Supervisory Liability (Officer) – SOP # 3-I-1 Negligent Failure to Direct Negligent Assignment Negligent Failure to Discipline

Negligent Failure to Direct

Failure to provide knowledgeable guidance, instruction, and/or direction as how to properly perform an action

• Not or inadequately providing training

Negligent Assignment

Assigning (or allowing) an individual to perform an act with the knowledge that the individual is not competent to perform that activity, or is not qualified or not properly trained to perform a given function• ie. Allowing someone to drive apparatus that

has shown that they cannot “acceptably” complete the Driver Competency Course

Negligent Failure to DisciplineFailure to take proper corrective action steps in order to insure that critical infractions of rules or polices are not repeated.

Allowing personnel to drive through intersections without stopping or reducing speed ▪ Discipline need not necessarily be harsh, but

must be sufficient to discourage repeat violations

APPARATUS PASSENGER SAFETY

Driver must assure safety of all personnel on the apparatus

Don gear before getting into apparatus No riding on the tailboard Seatbelt use

NFPA 1901 Fire Apparatus – requires a seat and belt for all firefighters

NFPA 1500: 3 exceptions to Seated or seat-belt use

1. Loading hose – driving forward2. EMS call3. Performing Tiller training

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

Starting the Vehicle

Start as soon as possible so that it is warmed up when rest of the crew is assembled and ready to respond

Let it idle as long as possibleConsider response – road closingsDo Not move the vehicle until all

occupants are within the cab, seated, and wearing a seatbelt

Driving Apparatus

Accelerate gradually No need to stomp on the throttle

Automatic transmissions downshift automatically to prevent lugging. When ascending a steep grade, may

downshift to avoid the lugging

Weight Transfer

Things in motion tend to remain in motion

Whenever a vehicle undergoes a change in speed or direction, weight transfer takes place relative to the severity of change

Weight carried on vehicle contributes to skidding an rollover due to: Too much speed in turns Harsh or abrupt steering Driving on too steep slope

Warning Devices

Drivers respond better to sounds that change pitch often, so short bursts with the air horns or changing oscillation is best

Be careful not to “outrun” the siren 40 mph – siren can project 300 ft to front 60 mph – audible only 12 ft or less in

frontUse discretion on type of call

Psychiatric patient

Warning Devices

Limit use to true emergency response Trouble alarm No functions Supervisory signals Public service calls

Adverse Weather

Decrease speed gradually, keep off soft shoulders

Bridges, shady areas, northern slopes become slippery first

Test brakes to determine braking distance

Increase following distances It takes 3 – 15 times more distance to

stop a vehicle in snow and ice than on dry surface

Driver Attitude

Develop a safety-conscious attitudeRemain calm and drive in a safe

mannerDo not drive recklessly or

aggressivelyDo not DEMAND the right-of-way

although you may legally have itBe prepared to yield the right-of-way

in the interest of safetyStrive to present a positive fire

department image at all times

Loading LDH

The road must be closed to other traffic

Apparatus must be driven forwardNo members are allowed to stand on

any portion of the apparatus while in motion Kneel or sit

Backing Apparatus

Avoid backing whenever possible Normally safer and sometimes quicker to

drive around the blockUse at least 1 firefighter with a radio,

positioned on the drivers side, approx. 1 vehicle length behind, to warn of obstacles or overhead objects

No spotter, do not back up!

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

Slow the apparatus at intersections, be prepared to stop Even at a Green light

Red lights/stop signs Slow down as necessary You are responsible if get into an

accidentBe alert to the unexpected

Cars pulling out in front of you

Anticipate Other Drivers Actions Aim High in steering

Find a safe path well ahead Get the big picture

Stay back and see it all Keep your eyes moving

Scan – do not stare Leave yourself an “out”

Do not expect others to leave you an escape route

Make sure others can see and hear you Lights, siren, horn

Visual lead time

Scan far enough ahead for the speed driven, to allow time to react

Passing Procedures

Avoid passing vehicles that do not pull over

Always travel in the innermost lane on multilane roads, if possible

Avoid passing on the right People may try to pull over into you

Avoid passing other emergency vehicles Let the slower vehicle move to the right,

and communicate intensions on the radio

Stopping Apparatus

Smooth, even stop: don’t jam on the brakes

Consider the weight of the vehicle, brake conditions, tires, and road surface

Engine brake will assist in braking Let it do its job

BRAKING

Driver reaction distance The distance the

vehicle travels while a driver moves the foot to the brake pedal

Braking distance The distance the

apparatus takes to come to a complete stop

BRAKING

Total stopping distance The sum of the reaction and the vehicle

braking distance

Stopping Ability

Conditions of the road surface Dry, flat vs. wet, steep, icy, snow, or

unpavedSpeed being traveledWeight of the vehicleType and condition of the vehicle

braking system Properly maintained vehicle will stop

faster

VEHICLE CONTROL

Driving too fast for road conditionsFailing to appreciate weight shifts of

apparatusFailing to anticipate obstacles Improper use of aux braking devices Improper maintenance of tire

pressure (over-inflated tires) Improper maintenance of tire tread

depth

Controlling Skids

ABS: maintain a steady pressure on brake pedal, do not pump

Air brakes: slight delay between time from pushing brake until sufficient air is sent to the brake (approx 0.4 sec)

No ABS, release brake, turn into the skid

Once skid is controlled, apply power to allow vehicle to get traction

Auxiliary Braking SystemsFront brake-limiting valve system

Known as “Dry road/slippery road” switches

Were intended to help maintain control on slippery roads

Reduced the air on the front steering axle by 50%, when the switch was in slippery-road position, preventing the front wheels from locking▪ The switch reduced the breaking ability to

25%

Automatic Traction Control (ATC)Turns itself on and offDecreases the engine speed as

needed until traction is acquired Reduces wheel over-spin

Works in two ways: Wheel spins, the ATC applies air pressure

to brake the wheel, transferring torque to the wheels with better traction

Wheels spin: engine torque reduced

Automatic Tire Chains

Short lengths of chain are attached to a rotating hub in front of each rear wheel

The hubs swing down into place when a switch is activated

The rotation of the hub throws the chains underneath the rolling tires Lose effectiveness

▪ in snow deeper than 8”▪ Moving slow or in reverse

Vehicle Accidents

Code # 1-IV-8Outlines the Procedures IF an

accident occurs during Emergency or Non-Emergency conditions

DRIVER AWARENESS COURSE

NFPA 1002 Straight line Confined Space Turnaround Alley Dock Serpentine Course Offset Alley Diminishing Clearance Stop Sign Road Tests

Straight Line Exercise

To familiarize the driver with operating the vehicle within close quarters both in forward and reverse at a steady speed.

To enable the driver to adjust the mirrors for proper viewing, and make minor steering adjustments.

Confined Space Turnaround To allow the driver to become familiar

with the turning radius of the vehicle Tests depth perception while using

mirrors Tests the driver/operator’s ability to

turn the vehicle 180º within a confined space Requirements — An area that is at least

50 feet wide and 100 feet long(Continued)

Confined Space Turnaround Has no limit to the number of

direction changes required before the apparatus is turned 180º and driven through the same opening it entered

Is completed successfully when the apparatus has been turned 180º and driven through the original entrance point with no course markers being struck or without leaving the defined course

Confined Space Turnaround

Alley Dock

Tests the driver/operator’s ability to move the vehicle backward within a restricted area and into an alley, dock, or fire station without striking the walls and to bring the vehicle to a smooth stop close to the rear wall

Alley Dock Exercise Requirements

Boundary lines for the restricted area 40 feet wide, similar to curb-to-curb distance

Simulated area 12 feet wide and 20 feet deep along one side and perpendicular

Serpentine Course

Simulates maneuvering around parked and stopped vehicles and tight corners

Must be completed in each direction in one continuous motion without touching any of the course markers

(Continued)

Serpentine Course

Requirements Markers between 30 and 38 feet

apart, depending on the size of the apparatus being used

Adequate space on each side of the markers for the apparatus to move freely

(Continued)

Serpentine Course

Off-Set Alley Exercise

To allow the driver to become aware of the front and rear tracking of the vehicle.

To familiarize depth perception through the use of mirrors, especially the location of the right rear wheel

Parallel Parking Exercise

To allow the driver to understand the importance of vehicle positioning prior to starting a movement that requires an exact right side placement.

Familiarizes the driver to turning radius.

Diminishing-Clearance

To familiarize the driver with the importance of properly aligning a vehicle when entering a very confined asymmetrical area.

Requirements — Two rows of stanchions that form a lane 75 feet long, narrowing from a width of 9 feet 6 inches to a diminishing clearance of 8 feet 2 inches

(Continued)

Diminishing-Clearance

Stopping Exercise

To familiarize the driver with the position of the front of the vehicle.

To require the driver to brake smoothly and precisely while bringing the vehicle to a stop at a specified point.

ROAD TESTS (Include)

Four left and four right turns A straight section of urban business

street or two-lane rural road at least one mile in length

One through intersection and two intersections where a stop must be made

A railroad crossing One curve, either left or right

(Continued)

Road Tests

A section of limited-access highway that includes an on ramp, off-ramp, and a section of road long enough to allow for at least two lane changes

A downgrade that is steep enough and long enough to require downshift and braking

An upgrade that is steep enough and long enough to require gear changing to maintain speed

One underpass or a low-clearance bridge

Competency Course

Safe Operations SummaryRemember that speed is less

important than arriving safelySlow down at intersections, or stopAnticipate the worst possible

situationDrive defensively – be aware of

everythingExpect motorists and pedestrians not

to see youBe aware of season, weather, day of

week and time of day

QUESTIONS?

DRIVER TRAINING