Tankers account for the largest number of firefighter crash deaths of all types of fire department vehicles. This report examines the various causal factors that have been identified as problematic for tankers and their drivers.
Tankers account for the largest number of firefighter crash deaths of all types of fire department vehicles. This report examines the various causal factors that have been identified as problematic for tankers and their drivers. It also provides a compilation of all locatable incident reports of fire department tanker crashes involving firefighter fatalities for the period 1990 through 2001.
Drive to Survive: The Art of Wheeling the Rig provides an in-depth examination of fire apparatus vehicle dynamics. This is not your average “driver training” textbook. Fire apparatus operators must understand how a vehicle maneuvers at roadway speed, and more importantly…why does it crash? Just as a doctor cannot heal the human body without a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, an emergency vehicle operator cannot safely drive a fire apparatus without an in-depth knowledge of vehicle dynamics. Drive to Survive goes beyond talking about pump operations, aerial operations, and preventative maintenance; it fills in the gaps between vehicle dynamics and crash causation. After 15 years of training and research, Chris Daly developed a training program combining his fire service and crash reconstruction training experience. This book provides an in-depth knowledge of topics required in the following NFPA standards: --NFPA 1002 “Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications” --NFPA 1451 “Standard for Fire and Emergency Service Vehicle Operations Training Programs” --NFPA 1500 “Standard on Fire Department Occupational Health and Safety Program” Fire apparatus operators will learn the limits of driving an emergency vehicle and will understand that no matter how long they have been driving or how good they think they are, at some point physics will take over and the vehicle will lose control. We can reduce the number of emergency vehicle crashes throughout the world by addressing key issues and providing emergency vehicle operations course (EVOC) instructors with methods to convey these concepts. Concepts you learn in this book relate to more than just driving a fire apparatus. These principles apply to anyone who drives a vehicle, including your family members and loved ones.
The purposes of this report include: 1- documenting all fatal crashes involving fire department tankers since 1990; 2- analyzing the causes and common factors associated with these crashes; 3- highlighting pertinent case histories that show examples of the problem; 4- providing information on reducing the frequency of these crashes and minimizing their severity/impact when unavoidable crashes occur; and 5- providing example procedures and checklists to assist departments in reducing the likelihood of tanker crashes.
From Book's Introduction: 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.