04-23 Driver Training Program

04-23 Driver Training Program The Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 is committed to providing prompt and professional emergency care to the residents of our Fire Protection District. The qualified emergency driver is an integral part of the team.

04-23 Driver Training Program Safe and sensible driving is essential for the delivery of our members to calls. The risk of causing an accident or being involved in one, in order to save a few minutes of travel time can never be justified.

04-23 Driver Training Program The Driver Training Program was developed in 2004 to improve the skills and safety practices of all Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 qualified drivers. As a non-emergency driver you are qualified to do one thing, practice.

04-23 Driver Training Program It is strongly encouraged that you practice as often as possible. You can practice under the supervision of any qualified emergency driver/officer with the Chief’s Office permission. You should become thoroughly familiar with this guideline, as it serves as the basis for emergency driving practices.

04-23 Driver Training Program Each driver shall progress through the levels of driving at his/her own pace. Yes, it’s true the Fire Company needs drivers, but we want good, safe ones.

04-23 Driver Training Program Qualificationsand Driving Levels

04-23 Driver Training Program Minimum Qualification Members wishing to become a driver must meet certain minimum requirements. The member must hold a valid driver’s license, and have a clean driving record.

04-23 Driver Training Program The member must be 18 years of age to enter the Driver Training Program. The Fire Company uses the NYS Motor Vehicle “LENS” (License Enforcement Notification System) program to verify all Fire Company members driver’s license.

04-23 Driver Training Program Members who reside outside the State of NY, shall obtain a drivers abstract from their home state at their own cost. When completed, such paperwork will be submitted to the Chief’s Office. This shall be repeated every three (3) years thereafter.

04-23 Driver Training Program Levels of Driving Training Non-Qualified Drivers Must be supervised by an officer or qualified driver with Chief’s Office permission. He/she may not operate apparatus with lights or siren. He/she may only drive the apparatus at drills or driver training details.

04-23 Driver Training Program Levels of Driving Training Qualified Drivers May operate the apparatus under any conditions. May Supervise any other non-emergency drivers with Chief’s Office permission.

04-23 Driver Training Program Any driver convicted of any alcohol-related crime shall have his/her driving privileges suspended for one (1) year from time of conviction. It’s the members responsibility to report said conviction to the Chief’s Office. Failure to report conviction shall result in permanent loss of driving privileges and member could be put on Probation.

04-23 Driver Training Program Any member who has his/her drivers license suspended or revoked must report this to the Chief’s Office. You need not divulge the reason for suspension/revocation, unless it’s alcohol- related. The Fire Company just wants to know if you are suspended or revoked.

04-23 Driver Training Program It’s the members responsibility to report said incident, if member fails to notify the Chief’s Office of any change in their license status, there driving privileges will be lost for three (3) months and they could be put back on Probation. If you don’t have a valid license, don’t drive any Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 vehicles.

04-23 Driver Training Program Accidents Involving Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 Vehicles An “accident” is any incident that results in damage to any property or any injuries to any person during the operation of a Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 vehicle.

04-23 Driver Training Program IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, YOU MUST STOP!

04-23 Driver Training Program If you are involved in an accident enroute to a call or detail, or returning from a call or detail, you must notify the Chief or Officer in Charge. This is especially important when responding to a call. The Chief or OIC shall determine what shall happen next.

04-23 Driver Training Program A Law Enforcement agency shall be notified for ALL accidents involving Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 vehicles. The Law Enforcement agency shall determine if a Police Report is needed.

04-23 Driver Training Program The following information shall be obtained from the other parties involved: –Name, phone, and address of other driver/owner –License Plate and description of other vehicle –Name of other vehicles insurance carrier and policy number –Description of damages to the other vehicle –Names of the occupants of the other vehicle –Names, address, and phone of any witnesses

04-23 Driver Training Program Be wary of any driver who cannot produce a valid drivers license, registration or insurance card. He/she may not have one. Let the Law Enforcement agency handle this!

04-23 Driver Training Program Documentation is needed in much greater detail than that required if you were to have an accident with your own vehicle. Document anything you can think of and even a few things you can’t think of. Every little bit helps. (Note: Camera’s are located in every vehicle)

04-23 Driver Training Program Duties of the Driver The driver must notify the Chief or in his/her absence, the next Senior Officer that an accident occurred. The driver must complete an incident report detailing the circumstances of the accident and provide it to the Chief, or in his/her absence, the Officer in Charge, prior to leaving the Firehouse.

04-23 Driver Training Program If the driver is injured, the incident report shall be completed at the earliest convenience. The driver is automatically suspended from driving duties, until the Chief’s Office review’s the incident. The Chief Officers will make every attempt to review suspensions within five (5) days.

04-23 Driver Training Program Duties of the Apparatus Officer or Qualified Driver The Officer in Charge is responsible to assure the driver reports the accident to the Chief or in his/her absence, any Chief Officer IMMEDIATELY!

04-23 Driver Training Program The Officer in Charge is also responsible to make sure the driver completes the written report of the circumstances of the accident prior to leaving the Firehouse. Passengers in Fire Company owned vehicles must also fill out an incident report.

04-23 Driver Training Program Duties of Chief Officers The Chief Officers must receive the written report from the driver. They shall make arrangements for any tow agencies, if necessary. Make arrangements for repairs or decide, with Board of Director’s approval, whether to make repairs to the vehicle.

04-23 Driver Training Program If the Chief is not Officer in Charge, he/she shall be notified at the earliest convenience except if the accident has a fatality, and then the Chief and President shall be notified IMMEDIATELY!

04-23 Driver Training Program Vehicle and Traffic Laws Word and Phrases Defined Section 101 – Authorized Emergency Vehicle Every fire vehicle, ambulance, police vehicle, correction vehicle, civil defense emergency vehicle, environmental emergency response vehicle, sanitation patrol vehicle, hazardous materials emergency vehicle, and ordinance disposal vehicle of the United States armed forces.

04-23 Driver Training Program Section 113 – Driver Every person who operates or drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.

04-23 Driver Training Program Section 114-b – Emergency Operation The operation of parking of an authorized emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is engaged in transporting a sick or injured person, transporting a prisoner, pursing an actual or suspected violator of the law, or responding t, or working on assisting at the scene of an accident, disaster, police call, emergency operations shall not include returning from such service.

04-23 Driver Training Program Rules of the Road Section 1104 – Authorized Emergency Vehicles (a) The driver of authorized emergency vehicles, when involved in an emergency operation, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the provisions herein stated.

04-23 Driver Training Program (b) The driver of an emergency vehicles may: –Stop, stand, or park irrespective of the provisions of this title. –Proceed past a steady red light, a flashing red signal, or a stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. –Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he/she does not endanger life or property. –Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning in specified directions.

04-23 Driver Training Program (c) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle, the exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle while in motion by bell, horn, siren, electronic device, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipment with at least one lighted lamp so that from any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of five hundred feet form such vehicle, at least one red light will be displayed and visible.

04-23 Driver Training Program (d) An authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police, sheriff, or deputy sheriff vehicle, may exceed the maximum speed limits for the purpose of calibrating such vehicles speedometer.

04-23 Driver Training Program (e) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all person, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.

04-23 Driver Training Program (f) Notwithstanding any other law, rules, or regulation to the contrary, an ambulance operated in the course of an emergency shall not be prohibited from using any highway, street, or roadway, provided however, that an authority having jurisdiction over any such highway, street, or roadway may specifically prohibit travel thereon by ambulance if such authority shall deem such travel to be extremely hazardous and would endanger patients being transported thereby.

04-23 Driver Training Program Section 1144 – Operation of Vehicles on Approach of Authorized Emergency Vehicles (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

04-23 Driver Training Program (b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of any authorized emergency vehicles from the duty to drive with reasonable care for all persons using the highway.

04-23 Driver Training Program Section 1153 – Provisions Relating to Blind or Visually Impaired Persons (a) Every driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing or attempting to cross the roadway when such pedestrian is accompanied by a guide dog or using a cane which is metallic or white in color or white with a red tip.

04-23 Driver Training Program (b) No person, unless blind or visually impaired, shall use on any street or highway a cane which is metallic or white in color or white with a red tip. (c) This section shall not be construed as making obligatory the employment of the use of a guide dog or a cane or walking stick of any kind by a person blind or visually impaired.

04-23 Driver Training Program Section 375 – Blue Light One blue light may be affixed to any motor vehicle owned by a member of a volunteer fire department, or on a motor vehicle owned by a member of such persons family, or by a business enterprise in which such person has a proprietary interest or by which he/she is employed, provided such member has been authorized in writing, to affix a blue light, by the Chief Officer of such service as designated by members thereof. Such member of a volunteer fire service may display such blue light only when engaged in an emergency operation.

04-23 Driver Training Program Note: A blue light is a courtesy light only. You have no special rights or privileges when using one. You must obey all vehicle and traffic laws and only should be using the blue light within the Town of Brunswick. You’re responsible for your driving actions!

04-23 Driver Training Program Non-Qualified Driver Training Checklist To be promoted to a qualified driver, a member must contact the Chief Officer who will meet with the candidate and complete the following:

04-23 Driver Training Program Photocopy drivers license. Verify that it is a valid drivers license in NYS, this shall be done using the program NYS Lens. Out of state members must provide the Chief Officer a drivers abstract for which they have been licensed in.

04-23 Driver Training Program Give member a thorough overview of apparatus. This includes location of the ignition switch, start button, and whatever else is needed to drive the vehicle. Take member on a short ride, showing member how to drive the vehicle.

04-23 Driver Training Program After the member feels comfortable driving the vehicle, a road test will be given using the Hartford Defensive Driving Checklist. All drivers shall be qualified on FR-4 and U-4 first, and then move on to driving the fire apparatus.

04-23 Driver Training Program If the member successfully passes the road test, he/she will move on to pump operations. If member fails the road test, more practice is needed.

04-23 Driver Training Program Qualified Driver Training Checklist To be promoted from a non-qualified driver to a qualified driver, a member must contact the Chief’s Office, who shall meet the candidate and complete the following:

04-23 Driver Training Program Member provides documentation of at least three (3) times he/she has successfully pumped with testing fire apparatus. Member successfully passes the maneuvering test. If member fails the test, more practice is needed.

04-23 Driver Training Program Member is oriented on the proper procedure for lights and siren response. After all the steps are completed successfully, CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a qualified driver or re- qualified driver of the Brunswick Fire Company No.1.

04-23 Driver Training Program Questions?