Section 704

 The driving portion of this course will be performed with a field examiner.

 Over confidence in one’s driving ability  Inability to recognize a dangerous situation  False sense of security because of a good driving record.  Misunderstanding of apparatus capabilities  Lack of knowledge about how to operate the controls of the apparatus in an emergency.

 Once the vehicle is moving, accelerate gradually.  Avoid over throttling or lugging. Lugging occurs when the throttle application is greater than necessary for a given set of conditions.  Adopting proper operating habits can significantly reduce drive train damage and extend apparatus service life.

 Braking the apparatus to a standstill should be performed smoothly so that the apparatus will come to an even stop.  You should consider the weight of the apparatus, condition of the tires, brakes and road surface.  An abrupt halt can cause a skid, injury to firefighters and mechanical failure.

 Are activated when pressure is released from the accelerator.  They provide most of the necessary slowing action. Allows for the limiting of the service brakes for emergency & finals stopping.  Both devices save wear on the service brakes and make the apparatus easier to manage on hill & slippery roads.

 Shut the engine down rather than leave it idling for a long period of time.

 Never attempt to shut down the engine while the apparatus is moving.  Never shut down immediately after a full load operation. Shutting off the engine without a cooling off period results in an increase in engine temperature. Allow the engine temperature to stabilize before shutdown.  A hot engine should be idled until it has cooled, generally an idle period of 3 to 5 minutes is recommended.

 The driver must always assure the safety of all personnel riding the apparatus.  All riders on the apparatus should be seated with the cab and wearing their seat belts before the apparatus is in motion.

 Aim high in steering  Get the big picture  Keep your eyes moving  Leave yourself an “out”  Make sure others can see and hear you

 Visual lead time – refers to the driver scanning far enough ahead of the apparatus for the speed it is being driven to ensure that appropriate action can be taken.

 Total stopping distance is the sum of the driver’s reaction and the vehicle braking distance.  Reaction distance is the distance the vehicle travels while a driver is transferring the foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal after perceiving the need for stopping.  Braking distance is the distance the vehicle travels from the time the brakes are applied until the apparatus comes to a stop