Driving Emergency Vehicles

1. Driving Emergency Vehicles Beliefs Misconceptions Consequences

3. Why Am I Here? • To ask each of you to recognize that it is within their power to reduce accidents and fatalities by 25% by the end of this presentation. • To share knowledge about the human element that sits behind the wheel of vehicles on the road today. • To minimize risk of civil and or criminal actions against you while acting as an emergency vehicle operator.

4. Topic Categories .. • Attitude & Belief • Misconception & Consequence • Responsibility, Licensing • Liability, Civil and Criminal Charges • Impact of Accidents • Seat Belts • Intersections • MGL and Emergency Vehicles

5. Thinking Process Attitude & Beliefs Misconceptions Consequences

6. Attitude .. Outcome • What role does ATTITUDE have on OUTCOME • The way we think, feel and act. • How we act to the world around us. • It determines the quality and effectiveness of all of our thinking, emotions and behavior.

7. Belief A car, van, SUV, pickup truck or FIRE TRUCK all operate with the same principles so if you can drive one you can drive them all. I have driven rental truck when I moved or helped others move so yes I have truck experience. I am a quick learner and adapt easily so this will be a breeze.

8. Conception • Driving a fire truck is exciting and easy. • They wouldn't let me do it if they did not think I could • I know that I am very capable. Just show me how. • Power Steering, Automatic Transmission, ABS Brakes. Misconception • Technology makes up for lack of knowledge and experience. • Lights and siren open roadway environments . • Well maintained or regularly checked. • Easy to handle.

9. Consequence • Increased risk for accidents, incidents, fatalities. • Increase in civil, criminal and vicarious liability

10. Airline Pilot & Emergency Vehicle Operator

11. See the Parallels

12. Beliefs Misconceptions Consequences

13. Attitude Toward Experience • Age v. Experience • Age – 19 • Total Experience – 2 years • Recently added a CDL certificate • Age 30 • Total Experience 13 years • Non CDL

14. Belief Age difference and total years driving make the 30 year old a better selection? 19 is simply to young whether licensed with a CDL or not. Other thoughts?

15. Misconception Older does not mean better or more experienced Younger does not mean incapable

16. Consequence Mistrust the young Expect that the older adapts more quickly

17. They Can ..We Can

19. Benchmark

20. Situational Awareness • A higher level of conscientiousness • Reading your environment • Foresee problems • Prevent problems from occurring

21. Responsibility • Do Not Strive to beat the first due company to the call. • DO Not get mad at the officer for correcting your driving • STOP at every intersection • Never Back up without someone watching you. Thanks to firefighterclosecalls.com

22. Responsibility • Do Not drive when not feeling well or emotionally upset • Do Not drive while taking drugs whether prescription or other that can impact your ability to drive Thanks to firefighterclosecalls.com

23. Responsibility • Drive according to the actual road condition reported rather than the reported fire conditions.

24. Licensing Responsibility Civil & Criminal Charges Licensing

25. Licensing Licensing

26. Licensing Responsibility • Valid Massachusetts License • In your possession at all times • No suspensions or revocations • No Convictions – DWI etc • Is a CDL a State requirement? • If you are involved in an incident or accident what standard are you held accountable to?

27. Bottom Line … Class D

28. Licensing Responsibility

29. How Do We Fix It • Your Vehicle • Vehicle Dynamics • Acceleration / Deceleration • Effects of Speed / Braking While Straight • Effects of Speed / Braking While Turning • Engine Retarder Systems • Understanding of the Braking System • Rules of the Road • Liability

30. What do you know? • What role does vehicle frame and associated components play in vehicle dynamics? • What are the tread depth for front and rear tires?

31. Your Vehicle • Engine generally do not fail • Vehicle components generally fail

32. Your Vehicle Tires • Provide the required surface area traction to properly distribute balance over the length, width and height of the vehicle. • Proper inflation and thread are important. • Front tread 4/32 inch - Rear 2/32 inch.

33. How Do We Fix It • Vehicle Dynamics • Acceleration / Deceleration • Effects of Speed / Braking While Straight • Effects of Speed / Braking While Turning • Engine Retarder Systems • Understanding of the Braking System • Rules of the Road • Liability

34. What do you know (continued) • Two things happen when you approach a curve going to fast. What are they? • What role does the braking effect of the engine retarder system have on overall brake effectiveness? • What is Brake Fade?

35. Air Brake System PULL TO SETBRAKE • Pull • Air is RELEASED • Push • Air is INSERTED

36. Anti-Lock Brakes • ABS • How do they effect stopping distances? • What can you expect when using them?

37. Training & More Training • In the station with the apparatus • On the road • In the classroom

38. Civil and Criminal Charges Civil & Criminal Charges

39. Unfortunately, the story continues … • California • Texas • Oklahoma • North Carolina • Indiana • Wisconsin • Ohio • Texas • Georgia

40. How Responsible Are You? • Ambiguity stops when asked for YOUR license and you have to fill out the accident reports. • You are named in criminal and or civil complaint. • You face citations by the investigating agencies.

41. Fear Factor – Reality Check • We are willing to sign away liability and our life for fun every time we do something with risk. • We need to fully understand the risk.

42. The story continues … November 2006 • Pleads Guilty • Receives 3 years • Voluntary Manslaughter • 84 MPH • Personal Vehicle • Brush Fire • Passing in no pass zone • Blind Hill • Strikes head-on

43. St. Louis - October 2008

44. St. Louis - October 2008

45. Unfortunately, the story continues … • Guilty • Vehicular Manslaughter • 90 Day Jail – Suspended • 2 Years Probation • $750.00 fine • 90 License Suspension • 30 Job Suspension

46. Unfortunately, the story continues … • Pleads Not Guilty • Vehicular Manslaughter • Killing Another Firefighter • Driving To Fast – Rain • Failed To Ensure Firefighters were belted • Still Pending

47. Award • The jury's verdict, returned Thursday, awarded $1.8 million in damages. But because it found Becerra to be 30 percent responsible for the accident, the court must reduce the award to roughly $1.2 million. State law, however, puts a $500,000 limit on the amount of damages a local government can pay.

48. Reference • Chief’s Corner • April 2008 • Chief John Bales

49. Criminal Warrant • County Prosecutor Charles Koop authorized negligent homicide charges against firefighter Cory Carlton, 26, the fire truck driver who allegedly sped through a stoplight March 8 and struck a sports utility vehicle driven by Matthew Garrisi … • … "There was clearly enough evidence, in my opinion to seek a criminal warrant based on the information that we have," said Koop. A statement of probable cause against Carlton Antrim alleges he drove "without due regard" for the safety of others and operated the fire engine at an "immoderate" rate of speed in a "reckless manner." • … Grand Traverse County sheriff's investigators said it appeared Carlton went through a red light at the intersection.

50. Sunday, April 20, 2008 • A 27-year old Queens woman was killed on Saturday when the car she was driving and a fire engine collided at an intersection in South Jamaica. The accident took place about 9:45 a.m. The woman, Angela Johnson, was driving a 1995 Nissan southbound on 155th Street. The fire apparatus was westbound on 111th Avenue with its lights and sirens on as it responded to a fire. Firefighterclosecalls.com