Before leaving quarters, the company officer is responsible for verifying that certain requirements have been met, including:

* The driver is alert and aware of the destination
* The apparatus bay door is open completely, and all crew members are in place and safely belted.

When responding in EMERGENCY status, fire department vehicles may exceed the posted speed limit, but shall be regulated at all times by existing road and traffic conditions.

When normal road conditions are compromised by weather (wet, fog, etc.) disrepair, or any other negative/hazardous conditions, fire department vehicles should react prudently to the conditions encountered.

Unless all traffic lanes can be accounted for by the driver during an emergency response, fire department vehicles must come to a rolling stop at all negative right-of-way situations (red lights, intersections, stop signs, railroad tracks.)

The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call upon approaching a red light or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety but may proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal. At other times drivers of authorized emergency vehicles shall stop in obedience to a stop sign or signal.

The speed limit for vehicles responding to an emergency call shall not exceed ten (10) miles per hour above the posted speed limit in commercial and residential areas and not to exceed fifteen (15) miles per hour above the posted speed limit on highways.

RULE OF THUMB: IF YOU CAN'T SEE, STOP!

No apparatus shall be backed unless appropriate personnel, (spotter) is in position to direct the rearward movement in a safe manner. Spotters are not required for autos and light trucks, but the shall use extreme care in backing.

In the case that a vehicle must be backed without spotters the driver shall exit the apparatus and complete a 360 degree trip around the vehicle to look for hazards and obstacles. The driver should back the apparatus only as much as necessary to complete the maneuver. This method should only be used when absolutely necessary.

During an emergency response, fire vehicles should avoid passing other emergency vehicles. If unavoidable, the passing arrangement should be conducted through radio communications.

We must respond and react according to the conditions encountered. Neither poor road conditions, nor inclement weather, nor the actions of others relieve the driver in the slightest degree of the responsibility to drive safely.

The unique hazards of driving on or adjacent to the incident require the driver to use extreme caution and alertness, and also requires that a prudent speed be utilized for the conditions encountered, in order to react to the unexpected.

When driving apparatus to the incident, drivers must resist the tendency to drive hastily or imprudently. This tendency is mostly due to the urgent nature of incident operations.

Drivers must consider the dangers their moving vehicles pose to incident personnel and spectators who may be preoccupied with the emergency, and inadvertently step in front of or behind a moving vehicle.

Drivers must also be aware of the potential that exists for vehicle accidents on or near the incident due to the distractions caused by the emergency.

The Driver/Operator shall disengage the Jake Brake or other auxiliary braking system (if the apparatus is so equipped) when driving on slick pavement.

Upon approaching a rail crossing the following precautions should be followed:

In a non-emergency response mode upon approaching an unguarded railroad crossing the driver and company officer shall observe the warning system for operation, open the windows of the vehicle, activate emergency flashers, bring the vehicle to a complete stop prior to entering the crossing area, listen for a train warning signal and observe all directions for on-coming train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train approaching, the driver may proceed across the rail crossing.

In an emergency response mode upon approaching an unguarded railroad crossing the driver and company officer shall observe the warning system for operation, open the windows of the vehicle, turn the siren off, bring the vehicle to a complete stop prior to entering the crossing area, listen for a train warning signal and observe all directions for on-coming train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train approaching, the driver may proceed across the rail crossing. An exception to turning off the siren would be when the rail crossing is at a four way intersection (ie. Crosstown). At crossings of this nature, the hazards associated with automobile traffic at an intersection, dictates that the driver and company officer use extreme caution when proceeding through the intersection and leave the warning siren activated in order to clear automobile traffic from the intersection.

At no time should the apparatus cross a rail crossing when the warning signals are activated, unless the company officer exits the apparatus, walks to the crossing and observes for train traffic. The company officer may enter the apparatus only after the apparatus has crossed the tracks.

No loose equipment shall be in the cabs of emergency apparatus. All loose items must be secured so they will not interfere or distract the Driver/Operator in any way, to make the operation of the vehicle unsafe. This includes PPE. Driver/Operators should store their PPE in a compartment or jumpseat location.

There shall be no food or drink for immediate consumption in the cab of the apparatus at any time the apparatus is in service.