LEA 101 - Emergency Vehicle Operations

Number of Credits: 3
Emergency Vehicle Operations course is designed to meet the Maryland Police Training Commission training objectives. Minimum requirements are mandated by the state of Maryland for every entry level police officer in the safe operation of an emergency vehicle operated in the state of Maryland. Each student will be lectured and tested on each objective and evaluated via practical exercises specifically designed to answer the individual objectives. Course also includes laboratory hours for traffic and vehicle stops. Fifteen hours of classroom lecture, sixty hours of laboratory experience. Available to Police Academy Students only. Varies by week. Three Credits. Three billable hours.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Students must identify all components of MPTC Objectives #085 through #097.
Students must demonstrate MPTC Objectives #098 through #104.
Students must describe or demonstrate MPTC Objectives #425 & #426.

Course Requirements and Grading Procedures
70%- Student must pass minimum standards established by the Maryland Police Training Commission.
30%- Student must pass classroom exam.

MPCTC Objectives:
Objective 085
Identify the components and importance of defensive driving, such as attitude, skill, vehicle capability, driving conditions.
Objective 086
Identify driver attitudes or conditions which greatly contribute to the occurrence of traffic accidents, such as: over-confidence, self-righteousness, impatience, preoccupation, and fatigue.
Objective 087
Identify driving activities which most frequently contribute to collisions; backing up, parking, and left turns.
Objective 088
Identify qualities of a good driver, to include: driving within own limitations, maintains good physical condition. Uses mature judgment, has knowledge of rules of the road, is rested and alert.
Objective 089
Identify hazards of driving at night, such as reduced visibility and over-driving headlights.
Objective 090
Identify importance of knowing traffic conditions in all directions and all visible distances and the necessity of acting accordingly.
Objective 091
Identify conditions which affect the stopping distance of a vehicle, such as driver, vehicle, road and weather.
Objective 092
Identify in proper sequence the following components that make up total stopping distances: perception of danger, decision time, reaction time, braking distance.
Objective 093
Identify advantages and disadvantages to high-speed pursuit.
Objective 094
Identify elements of high speed pursuit, utilization and limitations of emergency equipment and pursuit tactics.
Objective 095
Identify circumstances of a police officer’s liability and exemption from liability when operating an emergency vehicle.
Objective 096
Identify differences of procedure for high-speed pursuit in a congested area vs. open road vs. off road
Objective 097
Describe or demonstrate the ability to regain control of vehicle experiencing a front wheel skid.
Objective 098
Demonstrate through driving exercises proper road position, weight transfer, throttle control, braking and steering accuracy both forward and backward while performing the following maneuvers: 90 degree turn, stopping, accelerating and decelerating, 180 degree turn, lane changes, serpentine of “S” curves.
Objective 099
Demonstrate the ability to maneuver a vehicle forward and backward in restricted space areas.
Objective 100
Demonstrate ability to safely operate and control a law enforcement vehicle, for example, during a controlled low or high-speed pursuit to include headlights, emergency lights, siren and communications equipment, and driving at night.
Objective 101
Demonstrate the techniques of accident avoidance by smoothly and rapidly displacing the vehicle left or right upon command.
Objective 102
Demonstrate proper procedure for operating a vehicle, for example, driving in rain during controlled and high-speed pursuit, pumping brakes when stopping, turning wheel in direction of skid, regard for reduced visibility, ice, and snow.
Objective 104
Be able to perform first line maintenance on patrol vehicle; i.e., replenish fluid levels, adding air to tires, washing vehicle, or changing a tire using the jack provided by the manufacturer.
Objective 425
Describe or demonstrate the ability to regain control of a vehicle experiencing a rear wheel skid.
Objective 426
Describe or demonstrate the ability to regain control of a vehicle experiencing an all wheel skid.
Objective 504
Identify the disadvantages of high-speed pursuit.#N/A