Professional Police Driving Flashcards
Kinetic energy
energy of motion.
Negative weight shift
front wheels weak traction, easier than rear wheels due to weight shift. Less force needed to turn wheel.
Weight transfer when vehicle brake is jabbed
Longitudinal, weight is transferred to front wheels
Neutral steer
when all wheels lose traction at same time and the vehicle slides sideways.
Correct way to correct an over-steer
get off brakes and acceleration
counter steer in the direction you want to travel
Code Two Response
Means a request for police service where the immediate rapid response or arrival of police units will reduce the probability of serious injury, damage or loss of property. Common code-two responses include bomb threats and animal bite in progress
**No more than 10 mph over the speed limit
Pursuit: Roof-Mounted Vehicle with and without Lights
when one with roof-mounted light arrives- even motorcycles.
Primary vehicle
Means an emergency vehicle driven by the officer initiating a pursuit or another emergency vehicle that takes the lead vehicle position in a pursuit.
Abandon Persuit
Means the voluntary withdrawal from a pursuit by the primary vehicle driver, the secondary vehicle driver, or by any additional officers who are authorized by the managing supervisor to engage in the pursuit.
Caravan
Means operating emergency vehicles in a line or alongside each other in a pursuit.
Code One
Means a request for police services that does not present an actual and immediate potential for serious injury, damage or loss of property. An example of a code-one call would be an officer dispatched to take a report about a theft that is not in progress or a report of a minor accident (no injuries).
Rammming
Means deliberate contact with a violator’s vehicle by an emergency vehicle to force the violator’s vehicle off the roadway.
Emergency Vehicle
Means a marked police vehicle or a marked police motorcycle equipped with emergency warning devices (warning lights and sirens), or a command response vehicle.
Persuit: following distance
4-8 Car Lengths
3-4 Seconds
Correct road position for a right hand turn
Left-hand side of the road
APEX
The highest point (midpoint) of a turn
Early apex
is when the vehicle is steered so it is CLOSEST to the INSIDE of the curve BEFORE reaching the apex
Rules of the road
Same rules as drivers
Conditions an Officer may be held Liable
Negligent or wrongful act or omission by an employee of the entity.
Limitations of Emergency Equipment
Headlights reduce visibility of emergency headlights
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 motorists vehicle reduce effectiveness of sirens.
High density urban/business structures cause siren sound deflection
Pre-Shift Inspection
Prevent traffic collisions due to faulty equipment
maintain operational efficiency of the vehicle
Provide a sense of confidence in the vehicle
Proper Vehicle Operation Techniques
Seat adjustment
mirror adjustment
foot placement
hand placement
Components of Defensive Driving
Driver attitude
driver skill
vehicle capability
driving conditions
Contributing factors to Traffic Collisions
Over-confidence self-righteousness impatience preoccupation peer pressure
Contributing factors to Law Enforcement collisions
Unsafe speed for conditions right of way violations left hand turns backing-MOSTLY parking
How Fatigue Affects Driving
Fatigue lowers visual efficiency
fatigue causes longer perception time
fatigue causes longer decision/reaction time
Advantages of using a seatbelt
reduced chance of injury or death if involved in a collision
better vehicle control
compliance with applicable statutes or policy
proper placement of lap belts and head rests
Traffic conditions that affect driving
traffic density speed of vehicles type of vehicles pedestrians animals
Conditions that influence stopping distance
driver vehicle road weather speed
Stopping Distance: Sequence of components
perception of danger
decision/reaction
braking
