FDLE EOT
Exterior vehicle inspection - answer Conduct a quick visual examination of the vehicles
body and undercarriage and look for the following: scratched paint, dents or more
obvious signs, and missing or broken light covers
Tires and rims - answer Look for embedded objects that can deflate or blow out a tire.
You should not pull out the object
Under the hood - answer Hoses, wires, and belts are essential for the safe operation of
the vehicle and should be inspected each day before operating the vehicle. Belts should
be checked for fraying, cuts, cracks, and gouges. Check hoses for dry rot, cracks,
holes, bulges, and leaks. In addition, check wires for fraying, corrosion, cracked or
missing insulation, and exposure.
Under the hood - answerCheck the battery for proper operation. The inspection should
include terminal connections, water level, and signs of damage to the battery's exterior.
Interior vehicle inspection - answerBefore and after every shift and after every transport,
check under the back seat for possible weapons or contraband a suspect may have left
in the car
Interior vehicle inspection - answerTest communications equipment to make certain that
radio transmissions can be made and received. Test emergency equipment.
Trunk - answerLong and protruding equipment must be stored across the width of the
trunk (side to side not front to back)
Vision (topic) - answerVision supplies approximately 90 to 95 percent of incoming data
to a driver and helps with detecting and avoiding hazards.
Acuity - answerSharpness of vision
Depth perception - answerAbility to judge distance and perceive space to determine
how far away an object is.
Peripheral vision - answerAbility to see above, below, and to the sides
Color vision - answerability to distinguish colors
Night vision - answerAbility to see clearly in darkness
, Vision (topic) - answerOther factors, including vehicle speed and glare from the sun or
other lighting sources, may also have an impact on your ability to see
Hearing - answerDriving with the windows down also helps to alert you to other
emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and police or other emergency
vehicles responding to the same scene.
Observation skills - answerDriving at or below the posted speed limit is helpful for
observing and responding appropriately to the environment. To improve awareness,
make adjustments to your meal times and lifestyle so that you will be more alert on the
job. Some adjustments include eating smaller meals frequently throughout the day and
getting sufficient sleep before a shift.
Observation skills (2) - answerSome temporary factors can weaken a drivers
observation skills. These include stress, emotions, fatigue, and frequent shift changes.
Prescription and over the counter drugs and poor driving habits can also have an effect
on observation skills and reaction times, resulting in inattention, loss of control, and
even crashes. Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart
conditions, or epilepsy may also impair observation skills.
Road and weather conditions - answerWhen you cannot avoid striking or driving over an
obstacle, try to strike it at a slight angle with free rolling tires. If two or more vehicle tires
roll from a paved surface onto an unpaved surface, you should not attempt to return to
the paved surface by abruptly turning the steering wheel. This can cause the vehicle to
flip or cross several traffic lanes. Instead, decelerate and steer as straight as distance
allows. After reducing speed, firmly grip the wheel and steer smoothly and steadily back
onto the roadway.
Weather (tires) - answerThough they are designed to disperse water, tires sometimes
hydroplane.
Proactive driving skills - answerOfficers should be especially careful at intersections, as
they represent the single greatest threat to safe vehicle operation.
Proactive driving skills (2) - answerSome frequently occurring crashes include the
following: sideswipes, right angle collisions at intersections, collisions with fixed objects,
accidents caused by improper backing, head on collisions, read end collisions:
Avoiding head on collisions - answerDriving to the right gives the other vehicle more
space and puts you in position to drive off the road if necessary. Finally you can drive
off the road to avoid the collision.
Reduce injury during a collision by striking: - answerSoft objects, objects moving in the
same direction, or a fixed object. If you cannot avoid hitting a fixed object or an
oncoming vehicle, you should hit the object with the side of the vehicle rather than head
on, glancing off the object or vehicle.