Podcast
Questions and Answers
What should you do if steering feels unresponsive on snow or ice?
What should you do if steering feels unresponsive on snow or ice?
How are high-sided vehicles primarily affected in windy weather?
How are high-sided vehicles primarily affected in windy weather?
What should you do before entering fog?
What should you do before entering fog?
What is one key precaution to take while driving in fog?
What is one key precaution to take while driving in fog?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done when experiencing bright sunlight while driving?
What should be done when experiencing bright sunlight while driving?
Signup and view all the answers
Why should you not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced?
Why should you not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect can a rain spell have on the road surface during hot weather?
What effect can a rain spell have on the road surface during hot weather?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a recommended action when following a motorcyclist overtaking a high-sided vehicle in windy conditions?
What is a recommended action when following a motorcyclist overtaking a high-sided vehicle in windy conditions?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be considered when parking on a driving or cycle track?
What should be considered when parking on a driving or cycle track?
Signup and view all the answers
When parking on the offside during hours of darkness, which action is recommended?
When parking on the offside during hours of darkness, which action is recommended?
Signup and view all the answers
Which is a possible environmental concern of leaving a vehicle's engine running while unattended?
Which is a possible environmental concern of leaving a vehicle's engine running while unattended?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of leaving the vehicle in a dangerous position?
What is a consequence of leaving the vehicle in a dangerous position?
Signup and view all the answers
What should you be cautious of when boarding a patient on a stretcher?
What should you be cautious of when boarding a patient on a stretcher?
Signup and view all the answers
Which may be a reason to consider using hazard warning lights?
Which may be a reason to consider using hazard warning lights?
Signup and view all the answers
What should you ensure before exiting the vehicle?
What should you ensure before exiting the vehicle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential issue when parking on a central reservation?
What is a potential issue when parking on a central reservation?
Signup and view all the answers
What factors should not be considered when determining a safe driving speed?
What factors should not be considered when determining a safe driving speed?
Signup and view all the answers
Which condition is likely to distort your perception of speed?
Which condition is likely to distort your perception of speed?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be the main consideration when adjusting your driving speed?
What should be the main consideration when adjusting your driving speed?
Signup and view all the answers
In which scenario might you feel as if you are travelling much more slowly than you actually are?
In which scenario might you feel as if you are travelling much more slowly than you actually are?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about speed perception is correct?
Which statement about speed perception is correct?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one way to improve visibility when driving in slow-moving traffic?
What is one way to improve visibility when driving in slow-moving traffic?
Signup and view all the answers
Underestimating speed is likely influenced by which of the following factors?
Underestimating speed is likely influenced by which of the following factors?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor is NOT a human consideration that affects driving capability?
Which factor is NOT a human consideration that affects driving capability?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done if there is no physical barrier at an incident site when parking the ambulance?
What should be done if there is no physical barrier at an incident site when parking the ambulance?
Signup and view all the answers
When placing the ambulance at an incident, what is the purpose of the fend-off positioning?
When placing the ambulance at an incident, what is the purpose of the fend-off positioning?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done with the rear-facing blue or red lights upon arrival at an incident?
What should be done with the rear-facing blue or red lights upon arrival at an incident?
Signup and view all the answers
In an incident situation where the ambulance is responding to an incident in Lane 2 of a three-lane carriageway, where should the ambulance be positioned?
In an incident situation where the ambulance is responding to an incident in Lane 2 of a three-lane carriageway, where should the ambulance be positioned?
Signup and view all the answers
Which vehicle positioning method maximizes the visibility of rear-facing lighting?
Which vehicle positioning method maximizes the visibility of rear-facing lighting?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be the first action taken upon arrival at the incident scene?
What should be the first action taken upon arrival at the incident scene?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key guideline while positioning the ambulance in a high-traffic situation?
What is a key guideline while positioning the ambulance in a high-traffic situation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the recommended action if the scene involves multiple lanes?
What is the recommended action if the scene involves multiple lanes?
Signup and view all the answers
What personal characteristics can increase the risk of a collision?
What personal characteristics can increase the risk of a collision?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor is least likely to contribute to operational distractions while driving?
Which factor is least likely to contribute to operational distractions while driving?
Signup and view all the answers
How does time pressure affect driving behavior?
How does time pressure affect driving behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary benefit of training in hazard perception skills?
What is the primary benefit of training in hazard perception skills?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is not a recommended way to manage driving risks on a journey?
Which of the following is not a recommended way to manage driving risks on a journey?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect does familiarity with a vehicle have on driving safety?
What effect does familiarity with a vehicle have on driving safety?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following contributes the most to distraction during driving?
Which of the following contributes the most to distraction during driving?
Signup and view all the answers
What character trait might lead a driver to justify risky behavior?
What character trait might lead a driver to justify risky behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Driving in Adverse Weather Conditions
- Snow or Ice: Check your grip on the road surface by braking gently in a safe place. Unresponsive steering indicates loss of grip. Tyres are silent on ice.
- Windy Weather: High-sided vehicles are most affected by strong gusts. Strong winds can blow cars, cyclists, motorcyclists, and horse-riders off course, especially on exposed stretches, bridges, or gaps in hedges. Large vehicles can cause turbulence affecting cars, especially motorcyclists - maintain a safe distance when overtaking large vehicles.
- Fog: Before entering fog, check mirrors and slow down. Be prepared for patchy fog even if signs indicate clear roads. When driving in fog, use lights as required, maintain safe distance, be able to stop within clear visibility, use wipers and demisters, be aware of drivers without headlights, do not accelerate to escape a close following vehicle, check mirrors before slowing down, use brakes to warn drivers behind, stop in the correct position at junctions with limited visibility, listen for traffic and emerge positively, and avoid using front or rear fog lights unless visibility is severely reduced.
- Hot Weather: Keep your vehicle well-ventilated to avoid drowsiness. Road surfaces can become soft or slippery after rain. These conditions affect steering and braking. Slow down or stop if dazzled by bright sunlight.
Parking Considerations
- Double White, Red, or Yellow Lines: Parking within these areas is prohibited.
- Engine Running: Leaving the engine running while unattended is an offense. Consider PPE when exiting, vehicle security (run-lock), potential engine overheating, fumes, noise, and environmental impact.
- Parking on the Offside: Parking on the offside during hours of darkness is an offense. Ensure PPE when exiting, leave sidelights illuminated, consider hazard lights, be aware of the danger of vehicle lockers and doors, and remember the side step may intrude into the path of vehicles.
- Parking on a Driving or Cycle Track: Parking on a driving or cycle track is an offense. Ensure PPE when exiting, consider obstruction to pedestrians and cyclists, potential damage to vehicle and infrastructure, and the use of hazard lights. Be aware of high kerbs and potential issues with tail lifts or ramps.
- Parking on a Central Reservation: Parking on a central reservation is an offense. Ensure PPE when exiting, consider obstruction to pedestrians, proximity to high-speed traffic, potential damage, ground stability, and issues with the tail-lift or ramp. Consider using hazard lights. Some local authorities advocate activating emergency vehicle visual warning lights.
Parking at Scenes Where the Ambulance is First to Attend
- Incidents Confined to the Hard Shoulder: Stop 50 meters before the incident, turn wheels towards the nearside (hard shoulder) unless obstructed, switch off forward-facing blue lights and headlights, keep rear-facing lights and hazards on, keep rear doors close for visibility, and stay behind the barrier when walking towards the incident.
- Incidents on the Main Carriageway: Refer to your local ambulance service procedures for vehicle placement.
- In-Line Positioning: Vehicle is parallel to the carriageway, maximizing rear-facing lighting and markings.
- Fend-in Positioning: Vehicle is angled, pointing front end towards the nearside, acting as visual reinforcement of the cone taper.
- Fend-off Positioning: Vehicle is angled, pointing front end towards the carriageway, filling the lane and acting as visual reinforcement of the cone taper.
- General Guidelines: Stop 50 meters before the incident, turn wheels in a safe direction, and stop in a position allowing maximum visibility of rear warning lights and markings.
Incident Lane Positioning
- Incident in Lane 1: Position in Lane 1, do not intrude into Lane 2.
- Incident in Lane 2 (three or more lanes): Position in Lanes 1 and 2 at a fend-off/in angle. Do not intrude into Lane 3.
Speed Management
- Speed and Perception: Speed affects perception and judgment, impacting hazard anticipation. Adjust speed based on visibility, situation complexity, and stopping distance. Drive safely within stopping distance.
- Safe Speed Factors: Driving capability, awareness of human factors (tiredness, stress, peer pressure), vehicle capabilities, and road and weather conditions.
- Underestimating Speed: Factors affecting speed perception: difference in forward and side vision detail, engine, road, and wind noise, ride evenness, perception of 'normal speed', road width and enclosure, and height off the ground.
- Speed Perception Distortion: After exiting a fast road, allow time for normal speed perception to return. Low visibility distorts speed perception. Smoother, quieter, or more powerful vehicles may lead to underestimating speed. Wide open roads make speed seem slower.
Maintaining Safe Distance
- Visibility: Closer proximity reduces visibility, especially behind vans or lorries.
- Slow-Moving Traffic: Drop back slightly for better visibility.
- Motorways and Fast-Moving Roads: Increased view is required due to curvature, gradient, lane position, other vehicle size and position, and vehicle height.
Being Careless, Reckless, or in a Hurry
- This contributes to over 1 in 6 collisions.
Driving Task Levels
- Human Factors: Personal characteristics that affect collision risk (attitude, emotions, mood, tiredness, stress).
- The Journey: Purpose, decisions, preparation, route selection, distractions.
- Traffic Situations: Hazard perception, safe navigation, situational awareness.
- Vehicle and Vehicle Control: Understanding vehicle limitations, familiarization, vehicle fitness, risk associated with unfamiliar vehicles.
Human Risk Factors for Emergency Services Drivers
- Distraction due to Multi-tasking: Radio, in-vehicle technology, operational tasks, and passengers can be distracting.
- Driving Stress: Increased vulnerability due to failure to focus on safe driving.
- Operational Stressors:
- Time Pressure:
- Purpose of the Journey:
- Noble-Cause Risk Taking:
- Red Mist:
- Distraction due to Multi-tasking: Demands on attention from the radio, in-vehicle technology, operational tasks, and passengers can be intrusive.
- Vulnerability: Increased vulnerability if you fail to focus on the primary task of driving safely.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz covers essential safety tips for driving in various adverse weather conditions, including snow, ice, wind, and fog. Learn how to assess grip on the road, manage vehicle control in windy conditions, and drive safely in limited visibility situations. Enhance your driving knowledge to stay safe on the road regardless of the weather.
