trucks in reverse

[ltdanfireman]

what is your departments policy on backing up truck this year our department has had two accidents while backing up. one was on the fireground and one at the station. since these accdients there has been a strict policy that anytime a truck is placed in reverse there will be a backer. if you get caught without one you are in trouble and if you hit something you are suspended until you sit off the damage luckly the backing accident i had caused no dmage but the other engineer caused 1500 worth of damage to the engine the accident i had was we passed the house up that was reported to be on fire you couldn't see the smoke at first becouse the wind was blowing hard when we realized we passed the house i placed the truck in reverse and started backing up when we got closer you started seen the smoke in the back of the house and the officer was in my mirror instead of stopping i kept on backing becouse i didn't remember seeing any cars but i frogot the mailbox that was there and the truck found it and pushed it over at least there was no damage but it very easily could have been a person or car that i hit and the chief is right that there is no excuse for this you can bet that it won't happen again when i am driving or ridding the seat. the reason we passed the fire was we had a vicinity address that was a block awy from the actual fire

[TheWeave]

As fir a risk management and liability issue, you or your department are kidding yourselves if you do not have a policy that requires a person on the tailboard or backing up the vehicle. Most vehicle codes have a clause in them that require all personnel (emergency or not) to drive with "due regard and safety for others". This means all persons on the road or highway, in other vehicles, on bikes, motorcycles, pedistrians, and including those in your vehicle. If you do a negligent act or the omission of an act, that causes property damage or physical harm to anything or someone, your department is liable for monetary costs, and you (the driver) may be held criminally responsible (yes that means jail time). This is no joke...There has been 6+ cases in the USA where drivers of emergency vehicles (responding to emergencies, driving code) have been sent to jail for their actions behind the wheel. Soooo, if you move a vehicle backwards and hit something or someone, you as the driver and the captain/LT. can be found guilty because there was an action you could have taken to prevent this (a backup person) which you omitted. Most departments have this policy in place (weather it is followed or not is up to the driver and captain/LT.) and when not followed the driver and captain/LT. are taking full responsibility for all actions. The bottom line here, is a statement you made like, 'I could have hit person and seriously injured them or killed them', and you would have to live with that, no one else but you....Do the right thing, and everything will be good.
One caution advise, don't let people step off the vehicle while it is moving, and make sure they have a safe area to exit the vehicle and get on the tailboard or backup location...watch for the traffic, and use your red lights when ever you are backing up to bring more attention to your vehicle...Safety first.

TheWeave.
rweaver@lacofd.org :)

[daveman069]

Why risk causing unnecessary damage to a department vehicle and/or other property by backing without one? We will use 2, manpower permitting, 1 for both sides of the truck

[FlyingKiwi]

Check the road rules for your state.

Down here you hit something when in reverse, you are automatically in the wrong, it is SOP for at least one person to guide the truck when in reverse.

As per TheWeave's comments for everything else except absolute no-no to riding the tailboard.

Last comment is that the ditch you don't see is the ditch that puts your truck "Off-Duty"