High Liability Vehicle Inspection PDF

Unit 1: Vehicle Inspection 1 Lesson 1: Exterior, Under the Hood, and Interior Vehicle Inspection Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will know guidelines for properly inspecting your assigned vehicle. Operating a motor vehicle in a law enforc...

Unit 1: Vehicle Inspection 1 Lesson 1: Exterior, Under the Hood, and Interior Vehicle Inspection Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will know guidelines for properly inspecting your assigned vehicle. Operating a motor vehicle in a law enforcement setting is a dynamic and challenging task. The ability to drive in emergency mode, communicate with dispatch, and remain aware of the actions of other drivers presents complexities not experienced in normal driving. This course is designed to help officers under- stand a vehicle’s limits, as well as their personal limits. An officer’s awareness of the effects of physiological and psychological stressors on their driving is critical. Officers should also understand how the public views them as drivers. This course will help you develop the skills required to operate a motor vehicle safely. The Basics of Vehicle Inspection There are guidelines for properly inspecting your assigned vehicle. During an inspection, you will check the proper fluid levels, hoses, electrical wiring, belts, and tires. You should also inspect the vehicle interior and exterior. Most agencies have an inspection form that all officers are required to complete when they use an agency vehicle. The form helps officers remember what equipment must be inspected and allows them to report failing equipment. Each agency has its own policies or procedures for handling failing equipment. Some agencies may require officers to complete a report detailing the problem. Others may require officers to handle some problems themselves, such as changing a tire or a bulb or adding fluids, or to notify a particu- lar shop that will repair the vehicle. The comments section on the inspection form is useful for all these purposes. Exterior Vehicle Inspection It is essential to inspect a vehicle before taking control of it and operating it on the road. You will drive your law enforcement vehicle in extreme conditions, unlike the conditions in which you would drive a personal vehicle. Therefore, before using the vehicle, you must locate any potential problems so they can be repaired. For personal safety, perform inspections before and after every use of the vehicle. When you fail to inspect a vehicle properly, you may miss potential safety hazards. Failing to complete an inspection may violate agency policies. There is potential for liability if something happens because of a vehicle problem, espe- cially if inspection and correction could have prevented that problem. Chapter 1 Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations / 3 Before using a vehicle, inspect its exterior to identify any damage. Conduct a quick visual examination of the vehicle’s body and undercarriage and look for the following: scratched paint that may be the result of contact with an object or intentional damage dents that are more obvious signs of contact with another object, perhaps a vehicle missing or broken light covers that can present a hazard to other drivers and may be a traffic violation damaged or malfunctioning emergency equipment, such as a siren, light bar, or other emergency lights that could prevent operating the vehicle in emergency mode broken or cracked glass that could injure you and impair vision broken or cracked mirrors that could impair vision a dirty windshield that could impair observation ability foreign objects, such as tree limbs and road debris trapped under the vehicle, that could cause serious problems if they strike one of the vehicle’s moving parts foreign objects on the undercarriage other than natural objects or road debris, for example, a potentially harmful device such as an explosive. (If an explosive or other harmful device is de- tected, back away from the vehicle and contact the appropriate personnel as designated by your agency’s policies and procedures.) fluid leaks visible on the ground under the vehicle Tires and Rims Inspection of the vehicle’s exterior also includes its tires and rims. Tires should be checked for uneven wear that may result from improper balance or alignment, over inflation, or under inflation. These problems can make a vehicle difficult to handle. Tire inflation is measured by PSI (pounds per square inch). Proper PSI en- sures tires are inflated at or above the manufacturer’s recommended level. You can find the recommended PSI on your vehicle’s doorjamb. If tire wear bars are even with the tread surface, the tires will not dissipate fluids. Embedded foreign objects can deflate or blow out a tire. Do not pull out the object; instead, have the dealer or maintenance personnel handle the removal. The dealer or maintenance personnel should also look at any bulges on the sidewall. Cuts in a tire can cause a blowout and should be observed and ad- dressed. You should also inspect the rims on the vehicle for dents, cracks, or damage to the bead. If the front tire fails, the vehicle may lose traction. You may have difficulty steering, feel vibration in the steering wheel, and feel the vehicle pulling in the direction of the affected tire. If the rear tire fails, the vehicle may also lose traction and pull in an unpredictable direction. ; HL111.1. Check the operational readiness of the exterior of the vehicle 4 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2 Under the Hood A good-looking exterior does not guarantee proper vehicle operation. Do not drive your vehicle without also checking under the hood. Make sure that all vehicle fluids are at the manufacturer’s recommended levels before driving the vehicle. The fluid levels you should check include: engine oil transmission fluid brake fluid power steering fluid coolant reservoir windshield washer fluid Hoses, wires, and belts are essential for the safe operation of the vehicle and should be inspected each day before operating the vehicle. Check belts for fraying, cuts, cracks, and gouges. Examine hoses for dry rot, cracks, holes, bulges, and leaks. Check wires for fraying, corrosion, cracked or missing insulation, and exposure. ; HL111.2. Check the fluid levels, hoses, wires, and belts The communications and emergency equipment installed in a law enforcement vehicle puts a tremendous strain on the battery. Check the battery for proper operation. The inspection should include terminal con- nections, water level (if applicable), and signs of damage to the battery’s exterior. Interior Vehicle Inspection Before using a vehicle, inspect its interior. This is essential to ensure safe operation while driving. For ex- ample, loose items like briefcases, flashlights, and coffee cups travel at the same speed as the vehicle. If you must stop abruptly, unsecured items become severe hazards in the vehicle. Make sure all equipment is stowed and properly secured. ; HL111.3. Inspect the interior of the vehicle to make sure that items are functioning and secured properly Always check seats for tears or other damage. Before and after every shift and after every transport, check under the back seat for possible weapons or contraband a suspect may have left in the car. Check seat belts for fraying and binding and make sure the clasps lock properly. Test headlights, interior lights, turn signals, and hazard flashers to ensure that they operate normally. Also check the rearview mirror to see if it is se- curely attached or if it is cracked or broken. ; HL111.4. Inspect the rear seat compartment to locate all visible damage, weapons, and contraband Test communications equipment to make certain that you can make and receive radio transmissions. Make sure that manual or electric windows and door locks operate properly. Observe gauges for visible damage Chapter 1 Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations / 5 and see if they react properly to input. The gas and battery gauges should move when the vehicle is turned on. Test emergency equipment (horn, siren, and light bar) to ensure it works properly. After the initial inspection, start the vehicle’s engine, and check windows and doors for proper operation. Be aware of unusual sounds, smells, or other indicators that may warrant further inspection of the vehicle. While the vehicle is running, look under it (standing to the side of the vehicle, not in front of it) to check for leaks that may not be apparent when the engine is not running. After completing this check, you can turn off the engine. ; HL111.5. Start the vehicle to check for operational readiness Rear Cargo Area/Trunk Open the rear cargo area, trunk, or truck bed and inspect its contents. Inside should be a spare tire, vehicle jack, tire tool, and assorted equipment for use on duty (usually issued by your agency). Ensure that all the rear cargo area contents are properly restrained; shifting equipment may damage the vehicle or change the way it handles. Long and protruding equipment (long guns, long-handled tools, and equipment) must be stored across the width of the rear cargo area (side to side, not front to back). This will eliminate protrusion into the passenger compartments or the gas tank in a rear-end collision. 6 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2 1 Unit 2: Proactive Driving Skills Lesson 1: Hazard Detection and Observation Skills Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will understand and develop enhanced observation and driving skills to assist in operating the vehicle. Enhanced observation and driving skills will help you when driving agency vehicles and carrying out your duties. While you cannot predict every driver’s actions or what hazards you may encounter, you must be prepared to react. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s guide, Countermeasures That Work, lists the following tips you should follow to prevent accidents: Learn to recognize driving situations that can be hazardous. Assume other drivers will make errors. Adjust speed, position, direction, and attention to be able to maneuver safely if a hazard develops. Scan far enough ahead to be able to react safely to approaching situations. Scan frequently to the side and rear for passing or approaching vehicles. Scan thoroughly before changing speed or direction. ; HL121.1. Identify driving tips for preventing accidents Be prepared to react to another driver’s actions or to road hazards. You must use your senses to detect and verify a potential hazard or problem. If you determine that a safety hazard exists, pull the vehicle off the road to a safe location and notify dispatch (also known as the public safety telecommunicator). Always follow your agency policies and procedures for handling a vehicle problem. ; HL121.2. Detect potential hazards through the use of the senses Chapter 1 Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations / 7 Vision Vision supplies about 90% to 95% of incoming data to a driver and helps with detecting and avoiding haz- ards. Several components of vision may affect the ability to operate and control a vehicle: acuity—sharpness of vision depth perception—the ability to judge distance and perceive space to determine how far away an object is peripheral vision—the ability to see above, below, and to the sides (a person who is in a station- ary vehicle and who has good peripheral vision can see about 180º from side to side) color vision—the ability to distinguish colors night vision—the ability to see clearly in darkness ; HL121.3. Identify the importance of vision in identifying potential hazards Environmental and physical conditions, alertness, and aging are factors that affect vision. You should get your eyesight checked regularly and correct any vision problems with lenses before operating any vehicle. Other factors, including vehicle speed and glare from the sun or other lighting sources, may also have an impact on your ability to see. Window tinting in law enforcement and other vehicles can reduce general visibility. Keep in mind that approaching a vehicle with heavily tinted windows is a safety hazard for law enforcement. You may frequently encounter a variety of road hazards. Pedestrians crossing streets at unlikely points may require a driver’s immediate action. Bicyclists and motorcyclists share traffic lanes with other vehicles and sometimes fall. Skateboarders and roller skaters can also experience falls. Striking large animals poses obvious risks to vehicles and drivers, as does suddenly stopping or swerving to avoid smaller animals, which may cause worse damage than hitting them. Animals most active at dusk or night, such as opossums, rac- coons, and armadillos also present risks. Improperly parked vehicles that block the roadway and vehicles that suddenly pull into traffic or obstruct vision are other dangers. Roadway obstructions and surface flaws or damage, and debris or fluid, are safety threats. ; HL121.4. Describe encountered hazards Hearing The sense of hearing helps you locate the source of sounds that may indicate a problem with a vehicle, a suspicious incident, or a crime. Several factors can make the source of a sound difficult to find, such as whether the driver’s windows are open or closed or whether there are surrounding buildings. When you are unsure where a noise is coming from, visually scan the surroundings to help you locate the source and direction of the sound. Driving with the driver’s side window down helps you hear and see hazardous situ- ations, such as people who need help, crimes in progress, or suspicious activity. Driving with the window down also helps alert you to other emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and law en- forcement responding to the same scene. 8 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2 Smell You can use your sense of smell to detect many problems. If you detect an unusual odor while operating a vehicle, determine whether the odor is coming from the patrol vehicle or from outside. Look for smoke or other indicators of the odor’s source. If the odor is not as readily identifiable as smoke, gasoline, or pro- pane, exit the vehicle and call for additional resources to investigate. Unusual odors may indicate unusual hazards. You should be clear of those hazards before continuing to investigate. Be aware that a fire can start if the vehicle is left running while parked over a grassy area for an extended period of time. This is usually caused by the extreme heat from a catalytic converter. The odor of bitter smoke is usually the first sign of a grass fire. Touch Touch can help you detect problems that affect vehicle operation and control. For example, if you feel the steering wheel vibrating excessively, the vehicle may have a steering or tire problem. If the steering wheel pulls in one direction, the vehicle may have an alignment problem. What you feel in your hands, feet, and other parts of the body provides feedback about the vehicle’s handling. When you are driving and sense something unusual, you should determine whether it is a safety concern by applying the brake pedal to verify that the brakes work, checking the steering, and looking for smoke or signs of an engine fire. Observation Skills Several techniques can enhance your ability to be a keen observer aware of your surroundings. Driving at or below the posted speed limit is helpful for observing and responding appropriately to the environment. Making adjustments to your meal times and lifestyle will help you be more alert on the job. Some adjust- ments include eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day and getting enough rest and sleep before a shift to avoid drowsy driving. ; HL121.5. Describe techniques that can enhance or impede awareness Some temporary factors can weaken a driver’s observation skills. These include stress, emotions, fatigue, and frequent shift changes. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs and poor driving habits can also have an effect on observation skills and reaction times, resulting in inattention, loss of control, and even crashes. ; HL121.6. Identify temporary factors that may impact observation Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, or epilepsy may also impair observation skills. ; HL121.7. Identify medical conditions that may impact observation Chapter 1 Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations / 9