RISK MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE

Transcription

1 RISK MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE SUBJECT: OPERATION OF CITY & PERSONAL VEHICLES R 8.0 DRIVING RULES & REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE: 02/96 REVISED: 1/4/16 I. PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to outline the rules and regulations for the operation of a Cityowned vehicle or personal vehicle in the course and scope of employment. Included in the procedure are specific instructions for a variety of scenarios a City employee may encounter while driving a City vehicle or a personal vehicle on City business. These rules and regulations are designed to prevent employee injuries, vehicle accidents, and damage to City property. II. SCOPE This procedure applies to all City employees, including part time employees, temporary employees, and volunteers. The procedure also applies to sworn police officers and firefighters. III. DEFINITIONS Driver: includes driver and/or operator. Driving: includes driving and/or operating. Incident: a situation whereby a City vehicle or personal vehicle on City business is involved in a breakdown, accident, vandalism or other act that involves the loss of City property or property damage. Vehicle: includes motor-driven vehicles and motor-driven equipment. IV. PROCEDURE It is the procedure of the City that no employee shall operate a vehicle for which he/she does not have the appropriate Texas Driver s License credential. Drivers are responsible for driving safely and ensuring that City vehicles are not damaged. R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 1 of 6

2 V. PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING ANY VEHICLE ON CITY BUSINESS In order to operate a City or personal vehicle of any type, an individual must have completed the following: A. Obtain a valid Texas driver s license within 90 calendar days of being hired. A driving permit or occupational license is not, for the purposes of this procedure, a driver s license, and an employee with a driving permit or occupational license is not authorized to drive for the City. B. Departments and/or supervisors will provide Risk Management Division with the following information in order for the employee to be eligible to operate any vehicle on City business. This information is required when a new driver is hired, a driver transfers from another department, and upon drivers license renewal. 1. Employee s Name 2. Employee s Payroll ID Number/ County / Temp / Volunteer 3. Driver s License Number 4. Driver s License Classification 5. Restrictions 6. Endorsements 7. Date of Birth 8. Driver s License Expiration Date 9. Department Name / Division C. Register for and complete the Defensive Driving course offered by the City staff within 60 working days of being hired, and every three years thereafter. Attendance records for the Defensive Driving course are maintained by the Human Resources Department. D. Read and understand City driving rules and procedures. E. Train as needed in the maintenance and use of vehicle(s) especially heavy equipment and off-road vehicles. F. Before the initial use of a City vehicle each day a pre-trip inspection form must be completed. The driver must perform an inspection of the vehicle identifying damage, inoperable lights, loose hardware, tire condition or any other factor which might create an unsafe condition. Any deficiency encountered will be documented and reported to a supervisor immediately. It is the supervisor s responsibility to ensure that corrective action is taken. Mileage and service dates shall be reviewed to determine if the vehicle is due for preventative maintenance. G. All employees driving in the course and scope of their employment will comply with all applicable laws of the State of Texas and City Ordinances as well as the following regulations of the City of Corpus Christi. VI. Parking A. City vehicles are prohibited from NO PARKING zones except in emergency situations. R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 2 of 6

3 B. In general, City vehicles shall not be left unattended with the key in the ignition. The only exception is when a City employee is responding to an emergency call that poses a serious public safety threat, ie; police & fire emergencies, hazardous chemical spills, gas leaks, traffic control, etc. Department Director may override this provision if deem unsafe. C. Employees should engage the parking brake and lock all doors prior to leaving a vehicle parked. D. Employees who occupy a metered parking space will pay the meter for the duration of the stay. VII. Use of Traffic Cones When Parking A. In order to eliminate backing vehicle accidents, drivers of all City vehicles will be required to place a traffic cone at either the front and/or rear of the vehicle while it is parked. Departments may also implement their own backing program aimed at eliminating vehicle accidents. If the City vehicle is parked in a parking spot, the cone shall be placed within 12 inches of the rear bumper. City vehicles parked in parallel parking spots will place the traffic cone at either the front or rear of the vehicle. 1. Parking situations are defined as, but not limited to, work sites, break/lunch stops, and all parking lots. 2. The purchase of traffic cones will be the responsibility of the departments. The cones should be 28 tall. Double stripe traffic cones are an inventory stock item at the City warehouse and can be procured with a warehouse requisition form. All Motor Pool vehicles must have a traffic cone in each of the vehicles. It will be the responsibility of the City employee assigned to the vehicle to place the traffic cone in the appropriate location. 3. Exceptions to the requirements of section VII include, but are not limited to: City vehicles that are stopped while the engine remains on and the driver stays in the vehicle, vehicles that are parked at the final destination of the work day, City vehicles that are backed into a parking spot, privately owned vehicles on City business, unmarked City vehicles, City vehicles parked inside work zone traffic control barriers, Animal Care officers in pursuit of stray animals, and public safety vehicles that are equipped with emergency lights. VIII. Driver Safety A. Seat belts will be worn at all times. B. Doors will not be removed from any vehicle nor will they be tied open. C. Turn signals will be in working order and utilized by drivers in ample time to warn oncoming or following vehicles of their intent. D. Vehicles in motion, day or night, will use headlights, not just parking lights, when visibility is limited. R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 3 of 6

4 E. Drivers will ensure that windows, headlights, taillights, and wipers are clean and in operating order at all times. F. Tailgates will be up and locked when vehicles are in motion. If a vehicle s function requires that the tailgate remain open, a red flag will be attached to the outward corners of the gate. G. In all cases, including the loading of trucks, compliance with State law and the condition of the vehicle is solely the driver s responsibility during operation of the vehicle. H. If a vehicle does not have a tailgate but is loaded, the driver of the vehicle will ensure that the load is secure and that overhangs are properly marked in accordance with State law. I. Drivers hauling loose materials (dirt, rock, etc.) will take appropriate action in order to prevent falling debris. Tarps or tie-downs will be used at all times when hauling debris. J. A card indicating the City s status as a self insured municipality shall be present in all City vehicles to verify State law requirements for financial responsibility. IX. Special Equipment A. Special equipment such as hi-lifts, high rangers, graders, mowers, cranes, or any unit which has a special device added for specific kinds of work, may require formal training and instruction prior to use by a driver. This special training will be provided by the department and include the following: 1. Explanation and demonstration of all control devices. 2. Explanation and demonstration of all safety equipment. 3. Maintenance items such as fuel, water, oil or other minimum operating needs of the unit. 4. Demonstration of operation of the unit or special equipment. 5. Instruction in driving to and from or on and off trailers, parking procedures, and method of shut down and securing. 6. A report of this training will be maintained in the employee s department. B. Passengers will ride only in seats designated for passengers. C. When backing, operators of special equipment will look around and if available, have another person guiding them. D. Heavy construction equipment will travel at less than 25 mph without exception. This equipment will use the right hand lane except when a left turn is required. Headlights will be on at all times while the vehicle is in motion. A chase vehicle using its emergency lights will also accompany this equipment, if one is available. R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 4 of 6

5 X. General A. In accordance with City Ordinance, Section 53-16, use of hand held cell phone while driving is prohibited, unless using a hands free device such as; speakerphone, voice activated features, Bluetooth, etc. Employees shall park the vehicle in a lawful manner and location before they make a call using a hand-held cell phone. Employees cannot text, talk, or otherwise hold a cell phone while driving. This does not apply to electronic devices used by sworn police officers and firefighters In the event of an emergency. Employee may use a hand held cell phone while driving to contact 911. B. All employees who drive in the course and scope of their employment are required to report within one working day a suspension or revocation of his/her license, or a driving while intoxicated conviction or probation regardless of whether the violation was committed on or off the job, to his/her supervisor who will in turn immediately advise the Risk Management Division of this fact. Failure of an employee to report a change in license status, or driving while intoxicated conviction or probation within one working day shall result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. C. The Risk Management Division shall check an official driving record with the Texas DPS at least annually on the employee s date of birth. D. Upon receiving a DWI conviction or probation an employee shall be immediately suspended from driving status for six (6) months. A second DWI conviction or probation will result in permanent suspension of the employee s driving privileges. This shall be in addition to any discipline rendered under the City of Corpus Christi s Civil Service Board Rules and Regulations. The supervisor or Department Director is required to notify Risk Management. E. Upon receiving a driver license suspension for any reason, employees shall be immediately prohibited from driving any City-owned vehicle or personal vehicle in the course and scope of employment. Upon reinstatement of driver license, employees may be eligible to drive again. F. When the driver does not have a clear view of the entire area behind the vehicle, backing of large vehicles such as crew trucks, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, etc. will be done with the assistance of a guide, if available. If a second person is in the vehicle, he/she will get out and guide the vehicle using appropriate hand and voice signals. G. Riding on the sides (except refuse/recycling vehicles), toolboxes, tailgates, roofs of any truck or vehicle, standing in the back of any truck, or riding in the bed of pickup trucks is prohibited. H. Drivers will direct their attention to driving safely. Necessary inspections of streets, trees, signs, etc, while driving will be done with care. This also applies to the use of radio communication systems unless prohibited by law. I. During periods of limited visibility or any time windshield wipers are in use, the headlights will be on. R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 5 of 6

6 J. Trailers will be fastened securely to hitches. Safety pins and pintle locks will be used. Safety chains will be crossed under the hitch and securely fastened before moving the vehicle. K. All items transported either in a truck or trailer, which may move around during transport, will be secured. L. Number of passengers must be proportion to seat belts. M. City vehicles are to be used for official business only, not for personal use. Transportation of private citizens, unless as a part of an official or authorized function, is prohibited. N. Commercial-sized vehicles (larger than pickups) should not be driven in the extreme left lane of the expressways except when passing or when hazardous traffic require it. (Emergency vehicles are excluded). O. All City employees, unless job specific, will not wear any radio headset or like device while operating a City-owned vehicle or personal vehicle in the course and scope of employment. (e.g. I-Pods, MP3 players, etc.). P. City installed equipment (e.g. Cameras, Two Way Radios, Backing Sensors, etc.) shall not be tampered, modified and/or destroyed. XI. PROCEDURE UPDATES This procedure shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the Safety Advisory Board (S.A.B.). Revisions to the procedure shall be approved by the Safety & Risk Manager and by the City Attorney. XII. CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS PROCEDURE Failure to comply with this procedure will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. XIII. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCEDURE Questions regarding this Procedure shall be directed to the Safety & Risk Manager, or designee, who may be contacted at 361/ R 8.0 Operation of City & Personal Vehicles Driving Rules & Regulations Page 6 of 6