FEMA U.S. Fire Administration Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative: Apparatus Safety Devices, Traffic Control Measures, Highway Operations, Training

As traffic volume increases and the highway and interstate system becomes more complex, emergency responders face a growing risk to their personal safety while managing and working at highway incidents. The purpose of this report is to identify practices that have the potential to decrease that risk, as well as to reduce the number of injuries and deaths that occur while responding to and returning from incidents.

SECTION 1: INITIATIVE OVERVIEW * Introduction * Background * Methodology * Definition * Limitations * SECTION 2: AGENCY PROFILES * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection * Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue * Phoenix (Arizona) Fire Department * Plano (Texas) Fire Department * Sacramento (California) Regional Driver Training Facility * Salt Lake Valley (Utah) Area * West Valley Fire Department * Murray Fire Department * Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) * Ventura County (California) Fire Department * Virginia Beach (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department * Intelligent Transportation Systems * Commuterlink, Salt Lake City, Utah * Smart Traffic Center, Hampton Roads, Virginia * SECTION 3: APPARATUS SAFETY DEVICES * Introduction * Markings * Vehicle Striping * Other Markings * Restraints * Warning Lights * Electronic Monitoring Equipment * Backing Cameras * Recording Cameras * Onboard Computers * Recommendations for Apparatus Safety Devices * SECTION 4: TRAFFIC CONTROL MEASURES * Introduction * Optical Preemption * Training Personnel * Effects on Traffic * Data Analysis and Findings * Intelligent Transportation System, Traffic Control Centers * Recommendations for Traffic Control Measures * SECTION 5: HIGHWAY OPERATIONS * Introduction * Apparatus Placement * Training * Scene Lighting and Marking * Reflective Vests * Standard Operating Procedures * Effect on Highway Operations * Limitations * Recommendations for Highway Operations * SECTION 6: RESPONSE * Introduction * Priority Dispatch * Response Matrix * Volunteer Response in Privately Owned Vehicles (POV's) * Recommendations for Response * SECTION 7: TRAINING * Introduction * Human Factors * Driver Training Courses * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection * Sacramento Regional Training Facility * Ventura County (California) Fire Department * Driving Simulator * Technical Aspects * Training Sessions * Effects of the Training * Sharing Lessons Learned * Accident Investigation Reporting — The Green Sheet * National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality Investigations * Driver Requirements * Emergency Vehicle Maintenance * Recommendations for Training * SECTION 8: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS * Introduction * REFERENCES * APPENDICES * Appendix A: Public Comments on NFPA 1901 * Appendix B: UDOT Letter of Agreement for Optical Preemption * Appendix C: Highway Operations SOP's * Fairfax County Fire and Rescue * Phoenix Fire Department * Appendix D: Phoenix Fire Department Nature/Dispatch Codes * Appendix E: Response Matrices * Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue * Salt Lake Valley * Appendix F: AAA Best Practice for EMS Driving Outline * Appendix G: Driver Training Courses * CDFFP Vehicle Operations Course Objectives * Sacramento Regional Training Center Lesson Plan * Ventura County Fire Department Driving Course Descriptions * Appendix H: Sharing Lessons Learned * CDFFP Green Sheet * NIOSH Hazard ID * Appendix I: Driving Course Specifications * Appendix J: Manufacturer Contact Information * Appendix K: Acronym List