Code-3 driving tips

[Tacit Blue]

I ran code-3 with my partner yesterday. He was driving, I was the EMT in the passenger seat. We had to respond to a E.R. call.

I know the basics. We go through a EVOC class,etc. Slow before the intersection, check left/right use wail and horn before entering the intersection, Pass on the left.

Any other tips from seasoned LEOs?

[ptmn]

Yup, have an extremely important tip that even some of my officers forget...code 3 driving doesn't always mean fast driving. It all depends on the conditions: wet or dry road, ped or vehicular traffic, capabilities of the driver, capabilities of the vehicle, lighting conditions, conditions of the roadway, type of call, etc...

Sometimes I'll drive only 35 mph if it is an extremely crowded road with a posted 25 mph speed limit. At only 35 miles per hour, it gives drivers time to hear my siren, see my lights, assess the situation and pull to the right.

There should be a constant balance test of risk vs rewards when it comes to how fast you push your vehicle while rolling code 3. As long as you understand that the most important thing is to arrive at the scene where you are needed. If you are turning and burning code 3, but you get in a collision due to your speed, then you do absolutely nothing for the officers on scene that requested you. It is sometimes better to drive a little slower in order to ensure that you arrive at the scene safely.

There are times that you will need to turn and burn code 3, but again, it should be a constant balance test to justify your speed.

[Tacit Blue]

Good points! for us ambulance crews we have paitent's in the back so, we can only go over 10 MPH over the speed limit per company policy. That doesn't always happen though

I do agree, speed means nothing if you never reach your destination...

[Spanky8601]

Keep a high visual horizon.

Learn to drive with your brain and not the brake application.

[Ubermcoupe]

Yup, have an extremely important tip that even some of my officers forget...code 3 driving doesn't always mean fast driving. It all depends on the conditions: wet or dry road, ped or vehicular traffic, capabilities of the driver, capabilities of the vehicle, lighting conditions, conditions of the roadway, type of call, etc...

...

Bingo!

My biggest concern going lights/sirens is making sure someone doesn’t hit me. Most drivers are idiots. In fact, because you have lights/sirens it attracts them like bugs to a bug light.

When I was instructing I emphasized clear and calculated driving: looking ahead, pedestrian awareness, avoiding tunnel vision, etc. Driving fast was always last, and usually only accomplished when the roads were wide open.

Like all things, driving is a skill - a perishable one. Keep working at it and clock as much time driving as you can.

Be Safe

Good points! for us ambulance crews we have paitent's in the back so, we can only go over 10 MPH over the speed limit per company policy. That doesn't always happen though

I do agree, speed means nothing if you never reach your destination...

Remember, just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.

[rcslotcar]

Always slow down or stop before entering an intersection. At the evoc class they may have shown the distance when other veh's hear your siren. It will amaze you how close you get to other veh's before they hear you. Some dummies just plain stop others panic and you really have give them some space. Remember the patient's life isn't worth yours. It also does no one any good if you t/c and no one makes it to the hospital. Several years ago I cited an ambulance driver that ran thru a red light in the rain. He almost t/c'd another car. I followed him to his call and cited him there. I was later called into the station to talk with the W/Sgt. and ambulance comp. supervisors. They came in to thank me for citing him as he had prior problems. They said they would check the hub meters, and were ready to fire him as he was too much of a liability. Just use common sence and be safe.

[IrishJoe3]

Remember, everyone else's IQ drops by about 50% as soon as they hear sirens. Drive accordingly.

[Rockit]

Know your personal limits and abilities. Just because someone else feels comfortable coming out of a turn a bit drifty doesn't mean you have to follow.

[CBR_rider]

An old, salty cop told me when I first started; "You'll be a veteran when you can drive code-3 and not spill your coffee." Took me a few years, but eventually I got there. While sometimes I do drive fast enough to spill any beverages about the cabin; I only do so with good reason. My biggest tips:

1) Don't exceed your limits!

2) Don't exceed the limits of your vehicle! Inspect your vehicle before every shift, know how far the body can roll before it tips, how good the brakes work, does it have ABS/traction control, good tires, etc.

3) Keep a high visual horizon and avoid getting siren syndrome.

4) Work as a team. If you have someone riding up front, have them help clear intersections. When I work as a double unit, whoever is passenger clears the right side of intersections/watches for hazards unless they are looking at a map or getting critical info. Driver's job is solely to drive.

[CinnamonBear723]

Best advice about code 3 driving is don't drive code 3

[smokeyfs]

Driving code three is fun but a huge responsibility. Always remember that with lights and sirens you are asking the drivers around you for permission to pass them or go through a red light. Doesn't mean they have to let you do it in a sense.

[JAWS]

Most of the lawsuits I've seen involving an ambulance / LEO occur at intersections. Now that I think of it, I've never had a case involving the fire department... Wonder why that is.

Anyway, much of the time it's the code 3 driver either not realizing that someone doesn't see or hear them and rolling the intersection too quickly, or with some LEOs, just chirping the siren before heading through an intersection instead of leaving it on.

[1911su16b870]

There is no such thing as Code 2 1/2.

Put out Code 3 on the radio, lights and siren, and let the powers that be shut it down if they want to.

[CinnamonBear723]

Just remember that even though you are driving code 3 with ur hair on fire, its better to get there slow then not at all

[9M62]

#1 rule.

You can't help if you crash and never make it to the scene.

Slow down, a matter of 10 or 30 seconds isn't going to change anything -- and if it would, odds are you wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.

Moral of the story? Slow down.