Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 4 - Operating Emergency Vehicles
Test Review

No notes are taken from steps or the practical driving exercises that appear in this chapter. Practical driving exercises are best studied by use of the pictures in the chapter and copyrights prohibit them to be displayed on FireNotes.

  • The major causes of fire apparatus collisions include improper backing, reckless driving by the public, excessive speed of apparatus, lack of apparatus driving skill, and poor apparatus design/maintenance.
  • Backing accidents are the most common cause of apparatus damage.
  • Reckless driving by the public consists of failure to obey traffic regulations, failure to yield to emergency vehicles, excessive speed, unpredictable behavior (panic upon seeing apparatus), and inattentiveness.
  • Air brake systems take longer to activate and stop a vehicle than hydraulic/mechanical brake systems.
  • Factors that contribute to collision that involve driver error include overconfidence, inability to recognize dangerous situations, false sense of security (because of good driving record), not understanding apparatus capabilities, and lack of knowledge on operation of apparatus controls.
  • Homebuilt water tenders (tankers) have a high incidence of serious collisions.
  • Statutes regarding emergency response may exempt apparatus in areas such as speed limit, direction of travel, direction of turns, and parking.
  • The multi-position, rotary battery switch is most common on modern fire apparatus.
  • Starter switches may be in the form of a key, toggle switch, or push-button.
  • Never attempt to start an apparatus moving while it is in a high or drive gear (manual transmission).
  • On sharp curves or when turning corners, shift standard transmissions into a lower gear before entering the curve or intersection.
  • Engine rotation faster than rated rpm can cause valves to hit pistons, increased oil consumption, damage requiring overhaul, and injector plug seizures.
  • When accelerator pedals are partially depressed on an automatic transmission, the engine will upshift at lower engine speeds.
  • Lugging occurs when the throttle application is greater than necessary for given conditions.
  • Engine rpm should not be allowed to drop below peak torque speed if lugging occurs.
  • Automatic transmission downshift automatically to prevent lugging, while manual transmissions must be downshifted manually.
  • Momentary lugging when ascending steep grades is unavoidable but can be minimized by using lower gears.
  • Engine brakes and retarders are applied when the accelerator pedal is released.
  • On manual transmission, the clutch should not be disengaged until the last few feet of travel when braking.
  • Shutting down an engine after a full load without a cooling off period will cause an immediate increase in engine temperature due to lack of coolant circulation which can damage heads, exhaust manifolds, and turbochargers.
  • NFPA 1500, in regards to use of seatbelts, provides exemptions for providing patient care in the back of an ambulance, loading hose on apparatus while moving, and when performing training for personnel learning to drive the tiller portion of tractor-drawn aerial apparatus.
  • All apparatus must be equipped with an alarm system that activates when the apparatus is backing.
  • Defensive driving skills include anticipating other driver's actions, estimating visual lead time, knowing braking/reaction times, knowing evasive tactics, and a knowledge of weight transfer.
  • Intersections are the most likely place for a collision involving an emergency vehicle.
  • Fire apparatus must come to a complete stop at stop signs and lights at all times.
  • Visual lead time is the scanning ahead of the road, in proportion with the speed being driven, to assure that appropriate actions can be taken if needed to avoid a collision.
  • Visual lead time interacts directly with reaction time and stopping distances.
  • Total stopping distance is the sum of driver reaction distance plus vehicle braking distance.
  • Reaction distance is the distance the apparatus travels while the driver perceives the need to stop and transfer the foot to the brake.
  • Braking distance is the distance the apparatus travels from the time the brake is applied until the apparatus is at a complete stop.
  • The most common causes of skids (driving to fast, weight shifts, anticipating obstacles, improper brake use, improper tire maintenance) involve driver error.
  • Interaxle differential locks are a type of auxiliary braking system found on tandem axle apparatus which allow for a difference in speed between the two rear axles, while providing pulling power from each axle to maintain better traction for each axle.
  • Interaxle differential locks should be in the unlocked position during normal operating conditions.
  • Automatic traction control (ATC) helps improve traction on slippery roads by reducing drive wheel overspin and does not require the driver to activate ATC with a switch.
  • Bridge surfaces, Northern slopes of hills, shaded spots, and areas where snow is blowing across the road are the first places to become slick in freezing weather.
  • Civilian drivers respond better to warning devices that change pitch often.
  • White lights on apparatus can be readily distinguished during the day, therefore, headlights should be on when responding.
  • High beam headlights should not be used while responding as they will tend to drown out other warning lights.
  • Large quantities of warning lights in conjunction with scene lighting can overpower the effectiveness of reflective trim on PPE, causing personnel to become less visible at night.
  • Opticom™ systems are a common system of controlling traffic signals by use of emitters (special strobe lights) on apparatus that activate sensors mounted on traffic lights which cause all lights to be red expect for the approaching apparatus.
  • Written tests for drivers may contain state/local driving regulations, departmental regulations, hydraulic calculations, operational pumping questions, and SOPs.