Emergency Response Route Selection

Study Notes

Avoid roads with heavy or uncooperative traffic patterns, such as commercially zoned areas
Avoid areas with slow-moving or large vehicles, such as tractor-trailers or farm equipment
Avoid areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as school zones, busy intersections, bus loading and unloading zones, and parked cars
Avoid slow-moving traffic conditions, such as construction zones, special entertainment events, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and rough pavement roads or roads that have potholes, multiple bumps, and non-paved surfaces
Select roads with acceptable line-of-sight conditions, avoiding roads with hills and curves, poor visibility at intersections, or poor visibility due to parked vehicles
Consider one-way streets, which offer the advantage of avoiding oncoming traffic but the disadvantage of approaching all vehicles from the rear

Emergency warning devices, such as headlights, emergency flasher lights, and sirens, enhance the officer's ability to maneuver in traffic and reduce the risk to self and others
Headlights are more discernible than traditional red or blue overheads in the daytime
Emergency flasher lights are helpful in daylight
Sirens are often required by statute, regardless of the time of day, when engaged in emergency driving
Emergency lights and sirens are not a substitute for caution and utilization of mastered driving skills

Weather conditions:
Overcast or cloudy days: sirens are heard sooner
Clear days: siren audibility dissipates into the atmosphere
Fog: sound carries through moisture with minimal loss of decibels at close range, but dissipates at greater distances
Inclement weather: reduces the value of lights and sirens, making driving skills critical
Vehicular traffic conditions:
Increasing traffic noise reduces siren audibility
Large vehicles, such as heavy trucks and buses, decrease the effectiveness of sirens
Location:
Residential areas: sirens are less discernible
Large trees and hedges absorb sound, reducing siren effectiveness
Tall buildings block, deflect, or tunnel sound transmission, reducing siren value
Flat open areas: sirens can be heard at a greater distance
Pedestrian traffic conditions:
Emergency lights may not adequately warn pedestrians
Sirens offer greater warning to pedestrian traffic
Great care and caution must be taken in areas congested with foot traffic
Speed control is the preferred response in areas with pedestrian traffic