What are brigades doing about training appliance drivers for emergency response??????????
I know CFS undertakes "basic training" with new appliances and I know some brigades have in-house formal tests and stages.
What does your brigade do?
How would your drivers stand up in court if challenged as emergency response drivers?
Should CFS have a course and teach emergency response driving - after it's one of the very few skills we need for every incident
The problem with teaching people priority driving is that once taught, people will push the limits. By teaching Defensive driving only, CFS are covering their own donkey.
Any new drivers should be assessed by the brigade at normal training sessions. How they conduct themselves driving normally is always a good indicator of what their skills will be like in other situations.
Valid points.
Is there actually a require-ment to be "Emergency Response Trained" tho.
Undestandably P1 is a must, but i thought Emergency Response Training is a specialist course.?
There is no actual requirement to be "trained" for driving P1, it has generally been left up to brigades to make there own judgements on how to assess drivers capabilities.
In saying that, last i heard the powers that be were looking at another 2 driving courses. In addition to defensive driving (with new appliances) they're looking at off road (4WD) and something else that i cant remember......
Update is Defensive Driving course yes for new appliances like the recent 34's, and the answer to a CFS 4WD course.....NO
Direct from the CFS Defensive Driving Instructors as CFS dont want them to teach it :wink:
There was a story in the last Volunteer about a 4wd course they are waiting to see if they get the money to put one driver per brigade through the course
What is happening currently is a Driver Development Course for all brigades who have received the new Isuzu 750 34 appliances,which goes on TAS :-)
4x4 driving course..that would be worthwhile