Professional Police Driving

Front 1

•Failure to drive with due regard for the safety of others.
•An agency when it has not adopted a written policy on police pursuits.
•A negligent or wrongful act or omission by an employee of the entity.
•When not in immediate pursuit of actual or suspected violator or responding to a bonafide emergency.

Back 1

conditions under which an officer or law enforcement agency may be held liable for deaths, injury, or property damage which occur while in an emergency vehicle being operated under emergency conditions.

Front 2

•The Conditions under which a pursuit may be initiated and when it should be terminated.

•The manner in which emergency equipment (light and siren) should be used.

•Pursuit procedures.

Back 2

issues which are usually addressed by a law enforcement agency's pursuit policy

Front 3

•Headlights reduce visibility of emergency lights.
*Surrounding environmental conditions reduce effectiveness of lights.
•As speed of vehicle increases, effectiveness of audible warning devices decreases.
•Audible devices are less effective in heavy traffic.
•Distractions inside motorist's vehicle reduce effectiveness of sirens.
•High density urban/business structures cause siren sound deflection.

Back 3

the effectiveness and limitations of emergency equipment and vehicle equipment.

Front 4

•Prevent traffic collisions due to faulty equipment.
•Maintain operational efficiency of the vehicle.
•Provide a sense of confidence in the vehicle.

Back 4

three basic objectives of a pre-shift vehicle safety inspection.

Front 5

•Mechanical check

•Interior check

•Exterior check

•Required inventory

Back 5

components of a pre-shift vehicle inspection.

Front 6

•Seat adjustment
•Mirror adjustment
•Foot placement
•Hand placement

Back 6

the techniques of proper vehicle operation.

Front 7

•Hand positioning
•Shuffle steering
•Evasive steering
•Counter steering

•Unavoidable collisions

Back 7

proper steering techniques for various aspects of vehicle operation.

Front 8

•Driver attitude
•Driver skill
•Vehicle capability
•Driving conditions

Back 8

components of "defensive driving".

Front 9

•Over-confidence
•Self-righteousness
•Impatience
•Preoccupation

•Peer pressure

Back 9

factors which may contribute to traffic collisions.

Front 10

•Unsafe speed for conditions
•Right-of-way violations
•Left-hand turns
•Backing

•Parking

Back 10

driving movements or activities most frequently contributing to law enforcement collisions.

Front 11

•Fatigue lowers visual efficiency
•Fatigue causes longer perception time
•Fatigue causes longer decision/reaction time

Back 11

reasons why "fatigue" is a physiological condition which poses a threat to safe driving.

Front 12

•Reduced chance of injury or death if involved in a collision
•Better vehicle control
•Compliance with applicable statutes and/or policy
•Proper placement of lap belts and head rests

Back 12

advantages of using seat (safety) belts when driving a vehicle.

Front 13

•Traffic density
•Speed of vehicles
•Type of vehicles
•Pedestrians

•Animals

Back 13

traffic conditions that affect safe vehicle operation.

Front 14

•Driver

•Vehicle

•Road

•Weather

•Speed

Back 14

conditions which influence the overall "stopping distance" of a vehicle.

Front 15

•Turning radius increases as speed increases and decreases as speed is reduced.
•Traction limits may be exceeded as speed increases.
•Weight transfer increases as speed increases.

Back 15

effects of speed upon a turning vehicle.

Front 16

•Perception of danger
•Decision/reaction
•Braking

Back 16

proper sequence, the components that make up total stopping distance.

Front 17

(A) a fire department or police vehicle; (B) a public or private ambulance operated by a person who has been issued a license by the Texas Department of Health;(C) a municipal department or public service corporation emergency vehicle that has been designated or authorized by the governing body of a municipality;(D) a private vehicle of a volunteer firefighter or a certified emergency medical services employee or volunteer
when responding to a fire alarm or medical emergency;
(E) an industrial emergency response vehicle, including an industrial ambulance, when responding to an emergency,
but only if the vehicle is operated in compliance with criteria in effect September 1, 1989, and established by the Texas Industrial
Fire Training Board of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; or(F) a vehicle of a blood bank or tissue bank,
accredited or approved under the laws of this state or the United States, when making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs, medicines, or organs.

Back 17

"Authorized emergency vehicle"

Front 18

In operating an authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision of this subtitle;
(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the operator does not endanger life or property; and(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.

Back 18

§ 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT.

Front 19

(a) In this section, " police escort" means facilitating the movement of a funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles 2.12(1)-(4), Code of Criminal Procedure.(b) Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is: (1) responding to an emergency call;
(2) pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the
law;
(3) responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;
(4) directing or diverting traffic for public safety
purposes; or
(5) conducting a police escort.

Back 19

546.002. WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE.

Front 20

Except as provided by Section 546.004, the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle engaging in conduct permitted by Section 546.001 shall use, at the discretion of the operator in accordance with
policies of the department or the local government that employs the operator, audible or visual signals that meet the pertinent requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.

Back 20

546.003. AUDIBLE OR VISUAL SIGNALS REQUIRED.

Front 21

(a) A volunteer fire fighter who operates a private vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle may engage in conduct permitted by Section 546.001 only when the fire fighter is using visual signals meeting the pertinent requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.
(b) An authorized emergency vehicle that is operated as a
police vehicle is not required to be equipped with or display a red light visible from the front of the vehicle.
(c) A police officer may operate an authorized emergency vehicle for a law enforcement purpose without using the audible or
visual signals required by Section 546.003 if the officer is:(1) responding to an emergency call or pursuing a
suspected violator of the law with probable cause to believe that:(A) knowledge of the presence of the officer will
cause the suspect to: (i) destroy or lose evidence of a suspected felony; (ii) end a suspected continuing felony
before the officer has obtained sufficient evidence to establish grounds for arrest; or(iii)evade apprehension or identification
of the suspect or the suspect's vehicle;or(B) because of traffic conditions on a multilaned roadway, vehicles moving in response to the audible or visual signals may:(i)increase the potential for a collision;or (ii)unreasonably extend the duration of the pursuit; or
(2) complying with a written regulation relating to the use of audible or visible signals adopted by the local government that employs the officer or by the department.

Back 21

546.004. EXCEPTIONS TO SIGNAL REQUIREMENT.

Front 22

A provision of this
subtitle applicable to an operator of a vehicle applies to the operator of a vehicle owned or operated by the United States, this
state, or a political subdivision of this state, except as specifically provided otherwise by this subtitle for an authorized
emergency vehicle.

Back 22

542.002. GOVERNMENT VEHICLES.

Front 23

This chapter does not relieve
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from:(1) the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate
regard for the safety of all persons;or(2)the consequences of reckless disregard for the
safety of others.

Back 23

546.005. DUTY OF CARE.