MILTON FIRE DEPARTMENT Page 1 of 5

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1 Page 1 of 5 PURPOSE To establish a Standard Operating Guideline designated driving classifications, promote safe driving practices when responding to emergencies, backing up vehicles and non-emergency driving. Operate vehicles in a safe and professional manner consistent with existing laws and department policies and guidelines. POLICY Designated Classifications All personnel responsible for driving/operating emergency vehicles will be individually designated to operate vehicles at a specific classification. Those five classifications are: Class 1 / Non-driver (Recruits in training) Class 2 /Light vehicle (Rescue Vans, Support Units, Cars) Class 3 /Heavy vehicles (Tankers, Heavy Rescue Vans) DZ / air brake equipped Class 4 / Pumping Apparatus (Pumpers) DZ / air brake equipped Class 5 / Aerial Apparatus (Aerials) DZ / air brake equipped Certain restrictions may be placed on drivers within a specific classification. These individuals will be identified on the Emergency Vehicle Operators list with: 1. A rider will be attached to the driver/operator classification of individuals assigned to operate towed apparatus. This rider will be identified with a (TA) after the driver/operator s classification. 2. A rider will be attached to the driver/operator classification of individuals restricted from driving/operating Pumper 11. This rider will be identified with an (R) after the driver/operator s classification. 3. No individual will operate vehicles above the classification for which they have been designated. The only exception to this will be recruits who are training to acquire a designation/upgrade or existing staff wishing to upgrade their designation. These individuals will be identified with: (T) indicating Training in Progress or (E) indicating Evaluation Pending, beside their name.

2 Page 2 of 5 Licensing 1. All Milton Fire Department Fire Suppression and Training employees shall be in possession of a valid Class DZ license. 2. Training Division employees may be recognized as Signing Authorities through the Ministry of Transportation and responsible for the Driver Certification Program. 3. The Signing Authorities shall be responsible for the program delivery including such things as; obtaining driver information in the form of driver abstracts, upgrades, renewals, Z endorsements, road tests and driver s license applications. 4. Any Milton Fire Department employee whose license is revoked, expired or under suspension for any reason shall notify the Deputy Chief immediately in writing, specifying the terms and conditions of the suspension or loss of driving privileges. 5. No employee of the Milton Fire Department shall drive any department vehicle if his/her license is revoked, expired or suspended. 6. The employee s supervisor shall be notified in the event of the loss of driving privileges and shall be responsible to ensure that the individual does not operate any emergency vehicles. 7. Upon reinstatement, the employee shall immediately produce for the Deputy Chief, the original copy of the re-instated driver s license. 8. The loss of driving privileges may be cause for punitive and/or corrective action as per the Town driving policy. Drivers must employ defensive driving strategies at all times. Road, weather conditions and actions of others, does not relieve the drivers of their responsibility to drive safely. The unique hazards of driving emergency vehicles require drivers to use extreme caution and to be alert at all times. Emergency response procedures include the following: 1. Before operating any vehicle, drivers must ensure that there are no collision or other visible hazards in the vicinity of the vehicle. 2. All compartment doors must be kept closed unless there is a specific and necessary reason for the door to be open. 3. All passenger doors of vehicles must be kept closed whenever the vehicles are parked in the station, unless there is a specific and necessary reason for the door to be open. Whenever it is necessary for the passenger doors to be open, the person leaving the door open will assume responsibility for closing the door before the vehicle is moved.

3 Page 3 of 5 4. Vehicles equipped with safety bars must have bars in the down position and personnel are to be seated prior to the vehicle leaving the station. 5. Personnel must use seat belts. 6. The person in charge of the vehicle must ensure the station doors are fully open before the vehicle is put in motion. 7. Headlights, flashing lights, light bars, etc., must be turned on prior to leaving the station unless responding on a Code-2 (no lights and siren). 8. Sirens and air horns shall be used with discretion, depending upon the time of day, weather conditions and the nature of the emergency. Siren use must never compromise the safety of the responding crew. 9. Posted speed limits may be exceeded when responding to emergencies, providing conditions are such that higher speeds may be accomplished safely. Regardless of speed and driving conditions, adequate stopping distances shall be maintained at all times. 10. Drivers shall exercise extreme caution when approaching intersections, reducing speed to the posted speed limit and being prepared to stop to avoid collisions. The existence of signal pre-emption shall not be taken as a guarantee of safe access to any intersection. 11. Fire department vehicles responding to an emergency may proceed through a red light, providing lights and sirens are operating, the vehicle comes to a full stop at the intersection and then proceeds with due caution providing all other traffic has yielded the right of way. 12. Driver shall not drive around traffic islands or barriers into opposing lanes of traffic, except: a) Where vehicle collisions or accidents prohibit access to the intersection otherwise. b) Where traffic is such that opposing lanes are clear and the driver has an unrestricted view of the intersection. 13. In circumstances where the emergency vehicle operator faces a red traffic signal and cannot access the intersection because of vehicular traffic, the operator shall silence sirens and horns until such time as a green traffic signal permits other vehicles to yield in a safe manner. 14. Drivers must be assigned to emergency vehicles whenever possible. Non-emergency response procedures include the following: 1. All department vehicles must adhere to the Highway Traffic Act at all times. 2. Headlights must be turned on whenever vehicles are traveling on the road. 3. Seatbelts must be worn.

4 Page 4 of 5 Backing up procedures include the following: 1. Avoid backing up where possible. Where backing up is required, always use a minimum of one spotter. 2. Before backing up the vehicle, the driver shall ensure that a spotter(s) is in place and the mirrors are properly adjusted. 3. The spotter shall be safely positioned on the driver s side at the rear of the vehicle and in the driver s view at all times. The spotter shall use recognized hand signals. 4. Before backing up the vehicle, the driver shall ensure that emergency and four-way emergency flashers are activated. 5. Whenever the driver looses sight of the spotter, the vehicle shall be immediately brought to a complete stop. 6. When reversing during poor visibility, spotters shall use a flashlight to increase visibility of the spotter. A portable radio may be necessary for communications under extreme conditions. 7. A spotter shall guide the vehicle from the rear until it is safely stopped. 8. Passenger vehicles and Support Units shall be backed into parking spaces wherever possible. 9. It is recognized that under certain circumstances it will be necessary to request traffic to stop in order to safely maneuver emergency vehicles. Firefighters have no legal authority to direct traffic and should not attempt to stop traffic unless it is absolutely necessary to the safe maneuvering of the vehicle. 10. When backing up into the station, always stop the vehicle at the entrance of the building to attach the exhaust hose. You may then continue backing in the vehicle. Vehicle Clearances It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure adequate vehicle clearances on all 6 sides of the vehicle by assigning spotters. Wheel Chocks Wheel chocks shall be used on Class 3, 4 and 5 vehicles whenever the driver parks the vehicle and leaves the cab, except in the fire station.

5 Page 5 of 5 Vehicle Accidents The driver of a vehicle involved in a collision or an accident must report the incident without delay to the immediate supervisor. The immediate supervisor must fill out an accident report and submit the report to the Deputy Chief within 24 hours of the incident. Any driver involved in three at fault accidents within any 12-month consecutive period will be required to participate in retraining at the individuals designated classification. General Driver/Operator Guidelines 1. The driver must ensure that the vehicle is always turned OFF when refueling. 2. Never leave a vehicle that is running, unattended, unless authorized to do so by your supervisor. 3. Report all unsafe conditions in equipment on your vehicle, without delay, to your supervisor. 4. Always maintain your vehicle in a clean and tidy condition. 5. The No Smoking bylaw will apply when driving or riding in fire department apparatus. 6. Always exit the station at a slow and safe speed allowing the exhaust hose to release. RESPONSIBILITY 1. It shall be the responsibility of the officer in charge of each vehicle to ensure that the provisions of this policy are observed. 2. Every vehicle operator is responsible to operate the vehicle in accordance with this policy and the Highway Traffic Act. 3. Firefighters assigned to a vehicle shall be responsible for assisting the driver of the vehicle, until the vehicle is safely at rest. 4. Spotters will be held responsible for any collision involving areas of a vehicle not in the driver s line of sight.