22 Questions
What should an employee do if a BSO vehicle becomes disabled with any part of it extending on the roadway?
Appropriately place warning flares and/or reflective traffic cones on the road
What should an employee do if they stop their assigned vehicle to assist a disabled motorist?
Use all operable visual warning devices on the vehicle
What should the deputy/employee do when pushing a disabled vehicle?
Put the vehicle in the lowest gear possible and push at the minimum speed necessary
What can deputies/employees do if leaving a vehicle in the roadway poses a serious safety hazard?
Allow the motorist the opportunity to select a towing service or request a BSO-approved tow truck
What is a requirement for using a push bar/push bumper to push a disabled vehicle?
The vehicle is disabled and creating an exigent safety hazard
What should the deputy/employee do after pushing a disabled vehicle?
Inspect the disabled vehicle and the agency vehicle for any new damage
When should BSO vehicles be used as a traffic control device?
When appropriate to protect lives or preserve evidence
Why would an employee use a push bar/push bumper to push a disabled vehicle?
To push the vehicle to an immediate place of safety onto the shoulder or curb of the road
What should the deputy/employee do if damage occurs to either vehicle during the push?
Immediately notify the shift supervisor
What should an employee do when assisting a disabled motorist?
Park the BSO vehicle in the safest manner possible to enhance the safety at the scene
When can an employee use a push bar/push bumper to push a disabled vehicle?
When the disabled vehicle is creating an exigent safety hazard
From which direction should the disabled vehicle be pushed?
From the rear
What is not permitted when assisting a disabled motorist?
Using a BSO vehicle to jump start the private vehicle
What should the deputy/employee use to warn other drivers when pushing a disabled vehicle?
All available visual warning devices
Under what circumstance would an agency vehicle be used to push a disabled vehicle?
To eliminate or reduce an exigent public safety hazard created by the disabled vehicle
Before pushing a disabled vehicle, what should the deputy/employee do?
Inspect the disabled vehicle and note any existing damage
What is one of the reasons why a disabled vehicle should not be pushed?
If the vehicle has sustained significant damage and is unsafe to push
What instruction should the deputy/employee give to the disabled vehicle operator?
Place the vehicle in neutral
What should the deputy/employee do if they have doubts about the disabled vehicle operator's ability to understand instructions?
Cancel the push and call a towing service
Why would a deputy/employee not push a disabled vehicle?
The sole purpose is to assist the motorist who is already safely off the roadway
What is a requirement for pushing a disabled vehicle?
The deputy/employee reasonably determines it is safe to push
When should a deputy/employee refer a disabled motorist to a towing service?
When the sole purpose is to assist the motorist who is already safely off the roadway
Study Notes
Stopping on Roadways
- If a BSO vehicle becomes disabled with any part of it extending on the roadway, employees will:
- Place warning flares and/or reflective traffic cones on the road
- Use all operable visual warning devices on the vehicle
Assisting Motorist
- When stopping to assist a disabled motorist, employees will:
- Use all operable visual warning devices on the vehicle
- Immediately notify Communications of the disabled vehicle's description, location, and other pertinent information
- Park the BSO vehicle in the safest manner possible to enhance safety at the scene
- Utilize issued traffic warning devices as appropriate on the roadway
- Not use a BSO vehicle to jump start the private vehicle
Disabled Vehicles Posing a Safety Hazard
- If leaving the vehicle in the roadway poses a serious safety hazard, deputies/employees may:
- Physically push a vehicle to clear the roadway
- Allow the motorist to select a towing service or request a BSO-approved tow truck
- Use a push bar/push bumper if their vehicle is specially equipped and meets the requirements
Use of Push Bars/Push Bumper
- Agency vehicles equipped with push bars/push bumpers may be used to push disabled vehicles to an immediate place of safety onto the shoulder or curb of the road, provided:
- The vehicle is disabled and creating an exigent safety hazard
- It is in the best interest of public safety to push the vehicle rather than wait for a tow truck
- The disabled vehicle can be safely pushed a short distance without significant likelihood of damage to either the agency's vehicle or the disabled vehicle
Procedures to Push a Disabled Vehicle
- Employees will:
- Inspect the disabled vehicle and note any existing damage
- Determine if the disabled vehicle may be safely pushed a short distance without significant likelihood of damage to either vehicle
- Instruct the disabled vehicle operator in the procedures to be followed prior to, during, and after the push
- Activate all emergency lighting equipment
- Push the disabled vehicle from the rear
- Bring the push bar/push bumper to rest against the bumper of the disabled vehicle
- Put their vehicle in the lowest gear possible and push the disabled vehicle at the minimum speed necessary to safely move the disabled vehicle
- Inspect the disabled vehicle and the agency vehicle, noting any new damage to either vehicle
- If damage occurred to either vehicle during the push, notify the shift supervisor and complete an Incident/Damage Report (BSO RP#68)
Use of Vehicle as Traffic Control Device
- BSO vehicles should be used as a traffic control device when appropriate to protect lives or preserve evidence
- Employees will use all available visual warning devices
This quiz is based on the Sheriff's Policy Manual, specifically on the procedures for stopping on roadways, including disabled vehicles and assisting motorists.
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