Toronto Fire Services Driving Conduct (Non-Emergency) PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE DRIVING CONDUCT (NON-EMERGENCY) Date Issued: December 8, 2020 Rescinds: April 11, 2018 Section: Apparatus File Code: A-DRV(C) PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel realistic and attainable care and control goals for the apparatus drivers for non-emergen...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE DRIVING CONDUCT (NON-EMERGENCY) Date Issued: December 8, 2020 Rescinds: April 11, 2018 Section: Apparatus File Code: A-DRV(C) PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel realistic and attainable care and control goals for the apparatus drivers for non-emergency driving operations. RESPONSIBILITY Any TFS personnel acting as a driver or potential driver must be thoroughly familiar with their apparatus and with the laws and rules governing its operation. Company Officers are responsible for ensuring that each member of their crew assigned the responsibility of driving are adequately trained and drives in a safe and proficient manner. Drivers of TFS vehicles in non-emergency situations are responsible for all fines/charges issued on TFS vehicles. Where the driver cannot be determined, fines are the responsibility of the staff persons in the vehicle, or the Captain or Acting Captain of the section where the vehicle is assigned (who is responsible for keeping a vehicle log). GUIDELINES 1. Driving Conduct 1.1. At no time shall a driver compromise the safety of the crew or the public. 1.2. TFS apparatus drivers shall be in complete control of their vehicle at all times and shall operate at a rate of speed that is prudent to traffic, weather and the activity around them. 1.3. Defensive driving shall be practiced by all TFS personnel. 1.4. Headlights shall be kept on at all times while driving. 1.5. Drivers shall operate apparatus in a manner that respects the care and mechanical preservation of the vehicle. 1.6. Drivers shall obey the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). 1.7. Drivers shall obey municipal traffic regulations and signage except as allowed by the Highway Traffic Act. 1.8. Drivers shall be knowledgeable of the effect of weight and speed of their apparatus as related to braking and total stopping distance. 1.9. Drivers shall be considerate of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. 1.10. Drivers must be knowledgeable of proper guidelines to be followed if involved in a collision. All required TFS reports of the incident shall be completed upon returning to the fire station. File Code: A-DRV(C) Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 1.11. When an emergency situation exists that requires apparatus to relocate (e.g. fill-in, etc.) it shall be done in a non-emergency mode. 1.12. “During non-emergency travel, emergency warning lights shall not be used.”1 1.13. Sirens shall not be used during non-emergency travel. 1.14. Drivers shall drive within the posted speed limit and at a rate of speed prudent to traffic, weather and conditions around them, while maintaining complete care and control of their apparatus. 1.15. Drivers shall be knowledgeable of the handling characteristics of large heavy fire apparatus in comparison to cars and light trucks. 1.16. Drivers shall use the auxiliary braking system (i.e. transmission retarder, engine brake, etc.) if the apparatus is so equipped and shall follow all apparatus manufacturer recommendations for such operations. 1.17. Apparatus shall be parked so the unit is driven forward rather than reversed. 1.18. Drivers shall do a circle check of their apparatus before putting their apparatus into motion from a parked position. 1.19. When backing into a fire station, Standard Operating Guideline A-BACK – Backing Up Toronto Fire Service Apparatus shall be followed. 1.20. The driver shall always leave the fire apparatus in a state of readiness (i.e. fuel, equipment, etc.). 1.21. Drivers of TFS or City vehicles should be aware that any related fines/charges are the responsibility of the driver or, where the driver cannot be determined, they are the responsibility of the staff persons in the vehicle, or the Captain/Acting Captain responsible for keeping a log of drivers. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS A-BACK – Backing Up Toronto Fire Service Vehicles A-COL(O) – Collisions – Occurrence and Reporting A-DRV(E) – Driving – Emergency Responding G-POSA – Positioning Apparatus 1 National Fire Protection Association, Inc., NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, (2007 Edition), 8.2.5. File Code: A-DRV(C) Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE RELATED CITY POLICIES Vision Zero Road Safety Plan Automated Speed Enforcement Red Light Cameras Fleet Safety Policy and Procedures File Code: A-DRV(C) Page 3 of 3