Newport Fire Department

Driver/Operator
Operating Emergency Vehicles

Division of Training
Update: April 2013
This Objective of this class is intended to teach
how to safely drive/operate an emergency
vehicle when responding to an incident
 Overview

4 Parts of the Comprehensive Program:

Driving Regulation
Driver/Operator safety tips
Defensive driving techniques
Driver Awareness Course
 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
 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.
 This lesson follows Pumping Apparatus
Driver/Operator certification according to:
NFPA 1002 Standard for Fire Apparatus
Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
1. List the five most common causes of fire
apparatus collisions
2. Regulations governing fire apparatus
driver/operators
3. Vehicle Operations
4. Apparatus rider safety
5. Defensive Driving Techniques
6. Vehicle Control
7. Driver Awareness Course outline
 5 most common causes
Improper backing of apparatus
Reckless driving by public
Excessive speed by apparatus driver
Lack of driving skill
Poor apparatus design
 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!
 Failure to obey posted traffic regulations
Failure to yield right of way
Excessive speed
Unpredictable behavior created by panic to
approaching emergency apparatus
Inattentiveness
Cell phones
Radios
Children
 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
 Overconfidence in ones driving ability
Its 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
 Most often in homebuilt vehicles or local
mechanics
Vehicles not baffled properly
Liquid surges
Maintenance
Vehicle system failure, especially brakes
Truck 1, Engine 2
 State
City Ordinances
Department policy
 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
 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
 May Exceed the speed limit, so long as does
not endanger life or property
Disregard regulations governing direction of
movement, or turning
 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
drivers reckless disregard for
the safety of others
 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)
 RIGL 31-23-11: Warning Devices
only during Emergency response
Must be visible from 500 ft
RIGL 31-23-51
Headsets permitted for Emergency Vehicles
RIGL 31-23-43
Wheel Safety Chocks
Not required if vehicle is equipped with positive spring-
loaded air parking brakes
NOT Exempt from laws that require a
stop for school buses with flashing
signal lights
 Ordinance 10.04.010
State Motor Vehicle Code adopted
Ordinance 10.08.050
Reflects the Emergency Response SOP
regarding
1. Parking or standing
2. Red lights/Stop signs
3. Speed limits
4. Directions and turning
 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
Failure to provide knowledgeable
guidance, instruction, and/or
direction as how to properly perform
an action

Not or inadequately providing training

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
Failure 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
 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 forward
2. EMS call
3. Performing Tiller training
 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 possible
Consider response road closings
Do Not move the vehicle until all occupants
are within the cab, seated, and wearing a
seatbelt
 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
 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
 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 front
Use discretion on type of call
Psychiatric patient
 Limit use to true emergency response
Trouble alarm
No functions
Supervisory signals
Public service calls
 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
 Develop a safety-conscious attitude
Remain calm and drive in a safe manner
Do not drive recklessly or aggressively
Do not DEMAND the right-of-way although
you may legally have it
Be prepared to yield the right-of-way in the
interest of safety
Strive to present a positive fire department
image at all times
 The road must be closed to other traffic
Apparatus must be driven forward
No members are allowed to stand on any
portion of the apparatus while in motion
Kneel or sit
 Avoid backing whenever possible
Normally safer and sometimes quicker to drive
around the block
Use 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!
 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 accident
Be alert to the unexpected
Cars pulling out in front of you
 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
 Scan far enough ahead for the speed driven, to
allow time to react
 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
 Smooth, even stop:
dont 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
 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
 Total stopping distance
The sum of the reaction and the vehicle braking
distance
 Conditions of the road surface
Dry, flat vs. wet, steep, icy, snow, or unpaved
Speed being traveled
Weight of the vehicle
Type and condition of the vehicle braking
system
Properly maintained vehicle will stop faster
 Driving too fast for road conditions
Failing to appreciate weight shifts of
apparatus
Failing to anticipate obstacles
Improper use of aux braking devices
Improper maintenance of tire pressure (over-
inflated tires)
Improper maintenance of tire tread depth
 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
 Front 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%
 Turns itself on and off
Decreases 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
 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
 Code # 1-IV-8
Outlines the Procedures IF an accident occurs
during Emergency or Non-Emergency
conditions
 NFPA 1002
Straight line
Confined Space Turnaround
Alley Dock
Serpentine Course
Offset Alley
Diminishing Clearance
Stop Sign
Road Tests
 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.
 To allow the driver to become familiar with
the turning radius of the vehicle
Tests depth perception while using mirrors
Tests the driver/operators ability to turn the
vehicle 180 within a confined space
Requirements An area that is at least 50 feet
wide and 100 feet long
(Continued)
 Has no limit to the number of direction
changes required before the apparatus is
turned 180 and driven through the same
opening it entered
Is completed successfully when the apparatus
has been turned 180 and driven through the
original entrance point with no course
markers being struck or without leaving the
defined course
 Tests the driver/operators 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
 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
 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)
 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)
 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
 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.
 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)
 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.
 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)
 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
 Remember that speed is less important than
arriving safely
Slow down at intersections, or stop
Anticipate the worst possible situation
Drive defensively be aware of everything
Expect motorists and pedestrians not to see
you
Be aware of season, weather, day of week
and time of day
QUESTIONS?