HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 301.04 REVISED 5-2017_Emergency and Non-Emergency Driving Safety
Beaumont Fire Anne Huff, Fire Chief UOG 301.01 & 301.01A Replaces: Revised: 7/2015/5 Effective: Safety DrivingEmergency -Emergency & Non – 301.04 STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES
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I. Guiding Philosophy
The safe arrival of fire personnel and equipment at any incident scene or destination is a
critical part of our ability to serve the public. To effectively accomplish this, it is necessary and
expected that we respond to all incidents in a safe and responsible manner which balances the
need for a timely response with the safety and well-being of both our own members and all
others who share the roadways with us.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to define measures that will minimize the risk of injury or
damage while driving.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to communicate safe driving expectations relative to:
A. Emergency responses.
B. Non-emergency responses and routine driving.
IV. Definitions
A. Emergency Responses – High priority emergency incidents that include the
potential for loss of life, serious injury or major property damage, which requires
the use of lights, sirens, and other traffic control devices for a safe and timely
response to the location.
B. Non-Emergency Responses – Lower priority non-emergency incidents (no
suspected risk to life or property) or routine department duties that do not require
the use of lights, sirens or traffic control devices. These responses are not time
sensitive.
C. Opticoms – Traffic control devices that override the normal operation of traffic
signals when they are activated by emergency vehicle emitters, so that the traffic
signal turns green to allow responding unit(s) unimpeded access to an intersection
in their direction of travel.
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V. Emergency Response Driving Safety
A. Response Status for T74 – T74 will respond non-emergency unless specifically directed
to respond emergency traffic by:
1. The Incident Commander
2. Fire Communications
B. Required Use of Warning Lights & Audible Warning Devices on Emergency Responses
1. State law and Department policy require warning lights and audible
warning devices to be in use while the vehicle is in motion on an emergency
response.
2. The use of warning lights and audible warning devices does not grant the right-of-
way to an emergency vehicle.
3. These devices are intended to make other drivers aware of the presence of an
emergency vehicle. Other drivers should yield the right-of-way to an emergency
vehicle; however, the emergency vehicle driver must never assume that
another vehicle will yield the right-of-way. It is always the emergency vehicle
driver’s responsibility to ensure that the other driver has yielded the right-of-way
before advancing.
C. Responsibilities
1. The Driver of a fire department vehicle is responsible for the safe operation of the
vehicle at all times, including compliance with all traffic laws, as well as fire
department rules, regulations and SOGs.
2. The Officer-in-Charge of a fire department vehicle is responsible for supervising
the driver and all other assigned members; this includes ensuring that the driver
complies with traffic laws, City and fire department policies, and SOGs.
3. All department members are required to comply with all traffic laws, driving,
and/or safety policies and procedures while operating, riding in or performing any
function that involves a fire department vehicle.
D. Required Use of Seatbelts
1. All persons driving or riding in fire department apparatus/vehicles shall be seated
in an approved riding position, and are required to wear a seatbelt or
approved safety restraint (if seat belts are not present) any time the vehicle is
traveling more than 5 mph (State law & SOG 301.02-Use of Vehicle Safety
Restraints).
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2. The driver is required to confirm that all members are properly seated and
wearing a seat belt before putting the apparatus in motion. Donning PPE is not an
exception to this. All PPE should be donned either before the unit responds or
upon arrival on scene. Members may continue to don any PPE that can be done
safely while both seated and wearing their seatbelt while enroute.
3. Seatbelts should be checked daily with the routine apparatus checks. A unit
should not be used for service if every riding member does not have a properly
functioning seatbelt or other approved safety restraint.
E. School Zones and School Bus Encounters
1. Efforts should be made to plan responses so that school zones are avoided while
students are present. If travel through a school zone is necessary when school is in
session (i.e. not a school holiday or not out for summer), the responding apparatus
will:
a. Turn off the audible siren (to keep other motorists or children from
panicking and doing something unpredictable)
b. Immediately lower their speed to no greater than the posted speed limit of
the school zone. The warning lights may remain activated unless they
cause a disruption to the children or other drivers that creates an unsafe
situation.
c. Notify dispatch that they are delayed by a school zone.
d. Proceed cautiously through the zone before resuming full emergency
response.
2. When encountering a loading or unloading school bus displaying flashing red
lights on any street other than a divided or restricted access highway, the
responding apparatus shall:
a. Turn off the audible siren (to keep children from panicking and doing
something unpredictable)
b. Come to a complete stop.
c. Not continue emergency response until the bus driver has stopped
unloading or loading the children and turned off the flashing red lights.
3. When encountering a loading or unloading school bus displaying flashing red
lights facing the opposite direction of travel on a divided or restricted access
highway, the responding apparatus is not required to stop. However, they will
lower their speed appropriately so that they may cautiously pass the bus without
disrupting the children or the bus driver.
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F. General Emergency Driving
1. Excessive speed and/or reckless driving are strictly prohibited during all
department responses. The Driver/Operator must be in control of the apparatus at
all times to such an extent that responses do not cause harm to our responders or
the public.
2. All responding apparatus shall be capable of coming to a complete stop at red
lights or stop signs in the event that the other traffic does not see them or fails to
yield the right of way. At no time is it acceptable or permissible for responding
units to run a red light or stop sign at a blind intersection or in any situation where
it is not apparent that all other traffic has yielded the right of way.
3. Responding apparatus/vehicles shall not be driven in a direction opposing other
traffic, such as a one way street or in opposing traffic lanes, unless it is absolutely
necessary. If necessary, drivers will do so with all due regard for the safety of
personnel and the public, and then only for the shortest distance possible at no
more than 20 mph.
4. Responding apparatus/vehicles shall not be closer than 300 feet behind other
emergency vehicles during response to incidents.
5. When responding on multiple lane roads, it is best practice to respond in the most
left lane in the direction of travel to allow vehicles to go to the right to yield “right
of way.” Passing ordinary traffic in the right hand lane should generally be
avoided unless absolutely necessary.
6. The driver/operator shall be aware of other emergency vehicles approach to
intersections where they anticipate simultaneous arrival. When approaching a
traffic device controlled intersection at the same time as another responding
apparatus from a different direction of travel, BOTH units will yield until they
can verify who will proceed first.
a. Generally, the apparatus with the green light or normal right of way
should have primary right of way. At an intersection where both units are
required to stop, the apparatus arriving second to the intersection should
yield to the apparatus arriving first.
b. If in doubt, or arriving at exactly the same time, radio communication
between units or visual cues should be used to determine who proceeds
first.
7. When approaching an intersection displaying a flashing yellow light or a yield
sign, responding apparatus/vehicles shall slow to a speed at which it can safely
stop. The traffic shall be checked in all directions prior to proceeding through the
intersection with due caution.
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8. During emergency response in areas of heavy congestion, caused by people,
vehicles, and/or other items (i.e., tree limbs, building construction materials, etc.)
speeds shall be reduced accordingly. At no time shall the posted speed limits be
exceeded when not safe to do so.
9. Emergency response in private vehicles is prohibited.
G. Speed Limit Guidelines
1. The maximum speed of any vehicle during an emergency response shall not
exceed 10 miles per hour above the posted speed limit (in good
weather & road conditions only) in accordance with City policy. The driver and
Officer in charge must be aware of traffic conditions, and make decisions
regarding speed and maneuverability with due regard for the safety of civilians
and fire personnel at all times.
2. The maximum speed through any traffic-controlled intersection in which the
apparatus has the right-of-way (i.e. green light) shall not exceed the speed limit of
the street involved. This shall also apply to school zones when denoted by
flashing lights.
H. Passing of Other Responding Apparatus: It is always dangerous for one emergency
apparatus/vehicle to pass another, and may only be done when the driver of the
apparatus/vehicle to be passed has given verbal notification that it is safe to do so.
I. Opticoms:
1. Opticoms are installed within the City at various traffic intersections to provide an
additional resource to safely maneuver apparatus/vehicles responding to
emergency incidents. At no time does this system relieve the driver or Officer in
charge of their responsibilities in regard to safety of citizens and members.
2. Apparatus/vehicle drivers and Officers should be aware of the Opticom system’s
functionality and limitations.
3. Proceed with caution through a green light created by use of an Opticom. Other
drivers may be confused or not see the sudden change in the light status. Be
prepared to stop if right of way is not yielded.
J. Driving in Bad Weather:
1. Fog, rain, snow, ice, and other poor weather conditions require extra caution
while responding and increased situational awareness on the part of all responding
crew members. Responding apparatus should slow to a safe speed that is
applicable to the weather conditions present, even if the speed needed to maintain
safety is below the posted limit. Notify dispatch if response is limited or delayed
due to poor weather.
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IMPORTANT trapped in a house fire, etc.)occupants known (i.e. choking patient, cardiac arrest, .will knowingly negatively impact life safety responderswhere a delayed response by
sin extreme caseis only Driving around a guarded railroad crossing :
2. Special attention should be given to daily vehicle inspections when poor weather
is expected. This includes but is not limited to:
a. Having a clean windshield
b. Proper windshield wiper operation and condition of the wiper blades
c. Proper defrost operations in the climate control systems
d. Proper tread on tires for heavy rains
K. Railroad Crossings:
1. Unguarded or Unmarked Railroad Crossing:
a. Apparatus responding emergency traffic shall come to a complete
stop short of the crossing and turn off the audible
warning devices.
b. The driver and Company Officer shall ensure that it is safe to proceed
before crossing the railroad tracks (no audible or visual sign that a train is
approaching) and only then continue normal emergency response.
2. Guarded Railroad Crossing with Arms Down:
a. Apparatus responding emergency must notify dispatch of the delay and re-
route around the blocked crossing.
b. Members will not drive around down crossing arms except in
critical and justifiable life safety calls for service. If required, the
following strict guidelines will be followed:
i. All members of the crew must agree that it is safe and
responsible to proceed. If any member of the crew feels that it is
unsafe to cross the tracks, then you will not do so.
ii. With a clear field of view in both directions of the train tracks, the
apparatus will stop while the entire crew visually looks and listens
for an approaching train.
iii. If there is no sign (either visually or audibly) of a moving train
then the apparatus can proceed so long as they can safely pass
around the down crossing arms without damage to either the
responding unit, personal property, or the crossing arms.
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VI. Non-Emergency Response & Routine Driving Safety
1. All personnel, when driving apparatus/vehicles in the non-emergency mode, shall
be mindful of posted speed limits and shall obey all State and local traffic laws.
2. Headlights should be on whenever an apparatus or vehicle is in motion.
3. If a change from non-emergency to emergency driving is required, then use extra
caution after turning on all audible and visual warning devices to help ensure that
surrounding motorists do not panic at the sudden change in status. If stopped in
traffic at an intersection, it may be necessary to delay warning device activation
and response until the light has changed and the apparatus is through the
intersection.
4. During driver training/driving practice, if the unit is dispatched to a call, (either
emergency or non-emergency) the unit will pull over as quickly as it is safe to do
so and the crew will swap positions so that the member driving to the emergency
response is certified by the department to make the response.
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