standard operating procedure college station fire department

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
COLLEGE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: Responding Vehicles SOP: 500.1.10
CATEGORY: Emergency Response Operations PAGE: 1 of 1
APPROVED BY:
Chief, Fire Department DATE: 3/99
To assist the operator of a fire department vehicle during assignments that may require emergency
response.
GENERAL:
During any emergency response it must be kept foremost in the mind of the driver that safety of the
response vehicle crew and the public are top priority.
OPERATING PROCEDURES/EMERGENCY DRIVING REGULATIONS
1. Always consider weather and road conditions when determining operating speed of a vehicle.
2. Fire department vehicles responding emergency traffic will not exceed 10 miles per hour over the
posted speed limit. Per City Ordinance, in the Northgate area, vehicles will not exceed the posted
speed limits(Ladder trucks should be operated at speed less than posted speed limits since the weight
requires additional stopping distance.)
3. Fire department vehicles responding emergency traffic will not exceed the posted speed limit through a
green light at an intersection.
4. Fire department vehicles responding emergency traffic will come to a complete stop at all blind
intersections (an intersection without clear visibility in all directions), and at intersections which the
vehicle has a red traffic light.
5. If multiple apparatus are responding to an alarm, units are to travel single file at least 150 feet apart,
or at a safe distance in accordance with traffic and weather conditions.
6. Vehicles responding emergency traffic should pass other vehicles on the left at all times, allowing
traffic to move to the right.
7. Upon approaching a school bus that is loading or unloading students, emergency vehicles must stop
until the bus resumes motion, the lights stop flashing, or the bus driver signals the emergency
apparatus to proceed. School Zone speed limits shall be strictly observed.
rev: 4/94,re#’d 11/02