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EMERGENCY DRIVING SKILLS, PART 1 - THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW

NCJ Number
67969
Author(s)
ANONYMOUS
Date Published
Unknown
Length
51 pages
Annotation
PART I OF A FIVE-PART SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE ON EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVING SKILLS, DIRECTED PRIMARILY TO MARYLAND POLICE OFFICERS, FOCUSES ON PURSUIT DRIVING AND LEGAL ISSUES.
Abstract
IT OPENS WITH A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF TWO-WAY RADIOS DURING PURSUITS. MARYLAND LAW PERTAINING TO POLICE JURISDICTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN FRESH (OR 'HOT') PURSUIT, TO TYPES OF VEHICLES AUTHORIZED FOR EMERGENCY USE, AND TO EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH VEHICLES IS SUMMARIZED. SITUATIONS IN WHICH FRESH PURSUIT BY POLICE IS JUSTIFIED ARE THEN DESCRIBED, AND DETAILED GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING SUCH PURSUITS ARE PRESENTED. THE GUIDELINES PERTAIN TO PROPER OPERATING CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS, MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISPATCHER AND VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE FLEEING VEHICLE, REMAINING ALERT AND IN CONTROL OF THE PURSUIT VEHICLE, KEEPING IN MIND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND DECIDING TO ABANDON A PURSUIT. THE REPORT CLOSES WITH A SUMMARY OF MARYLAND COURT CASES DEFINING THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF OPERATORS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES. EACH SECTION INCLUDES AN ANSWER-KEYED QUIZ. A PRETEST/POSTTEST COVERING ALL OF PART I IS ALSO PROVIDED. FOR PARTS II-V, SEE NCJ-67970-73.