Driver/Operator Continuing Education and Training

1. Driver/Operator Continuing Education and Training Safe Driving Practices

2. FDNY Fire Truck Crashes into Passenger Car at Traffic Light

3. Career Captain/Safety Officer Dies in a Single Motor Vehicle Crash While Responding To a Call - Kansas

4. Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies and Two are Injured in Engine Rollover - Alabama

8. Fire Engine Involved in Accident in Eastern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

11. Accidents Happen Don’t Be A Statistic

12. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • NHTSA has reported that 43,005 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2002 and that motor vehicle traffic crashes were the 8th-leading cause of death among all ages that year.But broken down by age, crashes were the No. 1 cause of death for every age from 3 through 33.

13. United States Fire Administration • Every year 25% of firefighter fatalities are due to vehicle crashes • Last 10 years – more than 225 firefighters have been killed as a result of vehicle crashes • In 2000 there were 18 firefighter fatalities – • Struck by vehicles while operating on roadways • Including fire apparatus

14. Emergency Services Vehicle Accident Profiles - 2003 • Thirty-six firefighters died while responding to or returning from emergency incidents in 2003. • Vehicle crashes claimed 24 lives, eight firefighters suffered heart attacks, two firefighters were struck by vehicles, and two firefighters died in falls while responding.

15. More 2003 Stats • Six firefighters died in 2003 as they responded to emergencies in their personal vehicles. The deceased firefighter was not wearing a seatbelt in four of the five cases where the status of seatbelt usage was known. Two of the firefighters killed in personally owned vehicle (POV) crashes were under 20 years of age, two were in their 20’s, and two were age 30 or older.

16. 2003 Firefighter Fatalities Type of Duty Number of Fatalities Responding and Returning 36 Fireground Operations 31 Other On-Duty 20 Training 12 Non-fire Emergencies 10 After an Incident 2 Total 111 2003 Fatality Statistics

17. Year Number of Fatalities 2003 36 2002 13 2001 23 2000 19 1999 26 1998 14 1997 21 1996 22 Responding To and ReturningFrom Incidents

18. We Can Change These Statistics All it takes is Good Sense aka Common Sense

19. Today’s Purpose • Want to add to our existing Driver/Operator training programs • Raise Awareness of the impact an apparatus accident will have on us • Discuss a few case studies and their “Far Reaching” impact on the fire service • Discuss the “Rules of the Road”

20. What Does It Cost? • Employer Insurance Costs • Employee Medical Bills • Employee Lost Wages • Apparatus Repair or Replacement • Lost Resources

21. Today’s Purpose - Ultimately! Make Us All Better Driver/Operators

22. Agenda • Outline and Discuss pertinent State Laws • Outline and Discuss pertinent EFD-SOP’s • Review a few cases of apparatus accidents and their effects on the drivers, firefighters, department, and the fire service • Discuss the Driver/Operator’s role in incident response and returning to the station

23. Emergency Vehicle Condition Checks • Top to Bottom and Left to Right • Engine Compartment • In the Cab • With Engine Started • Air Brakes • Exterior Check • Equipment

24. Vehicle Condition - Minimum • Driving Lights • Brake, Head, Tail, and Turn Signals • Brakes • Horn • Tires • Windshield

25. Seat Belt Law • The New Jersey seat belt law requires all front-seat occupants of passenger vehicles operated in New Jersey to wear a seat belt system. The driver is responsible for enforcing the seat belt law for passengers under 18-years-old. Front-seat passengers older than 18 are responsible for themselves.

26. Seat Belts Help in a Number of Ways: • They keep passengers from being thrown from a car in a collision. • They prevent passengers from hitting the dashboard or windshield during severe breaking or a collision. • They keep passengers from sliding on the seat during sudden stops and turns.

27. The driver was ejected from the tanker

28. Safe Operations of Emergency Vehicles • USFA Recommendations • Use Your Seatbelt • Ride Inside • Train Drivers • Restrict Vehicle Speed • Restrict Alcohol Use

29. Steering the Vehicle In normal driving, hands should be kept at 9 and 3 o’clock.

30. Blind Spots

31. Speed ControlStopping Distances • Start slowly, gradually increasing speed until safely within the legal speed limit and flow of traffic. • There is no absolute formula to judge stopping distance. It depends on numerous factors

32. From EFD Driver/Operator Training Manual -Engine • Four Different Stopping Factors 1. Perception Distance • This is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes see a hazard, until your brain recognizes it. The perception time of the average alert driver is about 3/4 of a second. At 55 mph your vehicle will travel approximately 60 feet

33. From EFD Driver/Operator Training Manual -Engine 2. Reaction Distance • The distance traveled from the time your brain tells your foot to move from the accelerator, until your foot is actually pushing on the brake pedal. The average alert driver has a reaction time of about 3/4 of a second. This accounts for an additional 60 feet when traveling at 55 mph

34. From EFD Driver/Operator Training Manual -Engine 3. Brake Lag Distance • When accounting for the actions of the air brake system, at 55 mph add an additional 32 feet. 4. Effective Braking Distance • The distance it takes to stop once the brakes have been applied. At 55 mph on dry pavement, with good brakes, it can take a heavy vehicle about 170 feet to stop. The time it takes is about 4 1/2 seconds.

35. From EFD Driver/Operator Training Manual -Engine • Stopping Distance Formula Perception Distance 3/4 Sec 60 Feet +Reaction Distance +3/4 Sec + 60 Feet +Brake Lag Distance +1/2 Sec + 32 Feet +Effective Braking Distance+4 1/2 Sec+170 Feet Total Stopping Distance =6 3/4 Sec or 322 Feet

36. Stopping Distances • Individual Reaction Time • Weather and Road Conditions • Vehicle Weight • Brake Conditions • Condition and Type of Tires • Roadway Conditions • Speed

37. Proper Braking • The use of brakes may seem simple, but it is not. A driver should always know what type of braking system a vehicle uses. It could be a conventional drum and disc system, or an anti-lock system (ABS). • Apply gentle pressure to the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

38. Speed Control • Exceeding the speed limit is a common cause of fatal and other types of accidents. Always obey the speed limit. Speed affects almost everything that can happen while driving. A good rule is to keep up with the flow of traffic at any legal speed. In order to make safe or emergency stops when necessary, it is important to keep enough distance from surrounding traffic

39. New Jersey Speed Limits

40. Notable Items From NJ Driver’s Education Program • Pass Only When Safe • Keep to the Right • Yielding the Right-of-Way • Controlled Intersections • Uncontrolled Intersections

41. Turning Regulations - Right • Right Turns • Right Turn on Red

42. Turning Regulations - Left

43. Stopping Regulations • Never attempt to beat a traffic light change. Even if the light is changing to green, exercise caution. There may be one or more vehicles driving through the intersection. • Accidents at traffic signals often happen shortly after the signal has changed. • When a yellow light follows a green light, prepare to stop. Only continue through an intersection where the light is changing from green to yellow if already in the intersection.

44. When a Motorist Must Stop • At an Intersection With a Stop Sign • At an Intersection With a Red Light, Flashing or Otherwise • When a Traffic Officer Orders the Motorist to Stop • When There Is a Yield Sign and Traffic Does Not Permit a Safe Merge • When a School Bus Is Picking up or Letting off Children And/or Red Lights Are Flashing • When Coming From an Alley, Private Driveway or Building • For a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk or at an Intersection

45. Stopping for School Buses

46. NJ Street/Road Signs

47. NJ Street/Road Signs

50. SOP 105.14 Engine Company Functions SOP 105.03 Response Modes SOP 103.09 Emergency Response w/Department Vehicles SOP 105.18 Immediate Response Levels SOP 105.01 Minimum Response Levels SOP 103.06 Emergency Response Levels SOP 103.07 Vehicle Backing Procedures SOP 105.09 Engine Company Responses SOP 105.15 Natural Gas Emergencies SOP 105.16 EMS Engine Operations SOP 105.02 Medivac Helicopter Landing Procedures SOP 105.19 Hazardous Materials Incidents SOP 105.07 Water Shuttle Operations SOP 103.20 Highway Safety SOP 105.05 Fire Department Radio Operations SOP 103.11 Accident Procedures EFD SOP’s for Driver/Operators