StudiGuide 19: Vehicle Operations in Law Enforcement

Prepare for the California POST Written Exam: This StudiGuide course is designed to help police academy cadets master the material for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) written examinations. Gain a comprehensive understanding of critical concepts to boost your chances of passing.

Vehicle Dynamics & Skid Control:

• Longitudinal vs. Lateral Weight Transfer: Clearly distinguish between these crucial vehicle dynamics concepts.
• Vehicle Skid Types: Identify and describe the causes of various vehicle skids, including:
  • Understeer skid
  • Oversteer skid
  • Locked-wheel skid
  • Acceleration skid
  • Centrifugal skid

Emergency Vehicle Operations & Pursuit Procedures:

• Emergency Warning Devices: Identify factors that can limit the effectiveness of a vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens.
• Road Hazards: Recognize potential hazards associated with different road conditions.
• Physiological & Psychological Factors: Understand how physiological and psychological factors can impact a peace officer's driving performance.
• Speed & Peripheral Vision: Learn the effect of speed on a driver’s peripheral vision.
• Siren Syndrome: Understand the effects of siren syndrome on drivers and officers.
• Emergency Response Objectives: Grasp the core objectives of emergency response driving.
• Penal Code 13519.8 Vehicle Pursuits: Review the legal requirements of vehicle pursuits as outlined in California Penal Code 13519.8.
• Non-Law Enforcement Drivers: Understand the statutory responsibilities of non-law enforcement drivers when encountering emergency vehicles.
• Vehicle Hydroplaning: Learn the causes and contributing factors of vehicle hydroplaning.
• Pursuit Termination: Recognize conditions that warrant terminating a vehicle pursuit.
• Controlled Intersections: Understand guidelines for safely entering controlled intersections during emergency response.
• Freeway Driving Hazards: Identify potential hazards of freeway driving and learn appropriate preventative actions.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluate the risk to officer and public safety versus the necessity of apprehension.
• Legal Framework: Understand the statutes governing peace officers operating law enforcement vehicles, including the Rules of the Road and Liability.

Essential Driving Skills:

• Intersection Safety: Demonstrate appropriate actions to prevent intersection collisions.
• Reverse Maneuvers: Demonstrate proper actions to prevent collisions when backing up.
• Braking Techniques: Master proper braking methods.
• Roadway Positioning: Learn proper roadway position and the three essential reference points for turning maneuvers.
• Distraction Management: Develop proper techniques for recognizing and coping with distractions while driving a law enforcement vehicle.
• Steering Techniques: Practice proper two-handed shuffle steering.
• Throttle Control: Achieve proper throttle control.
• Spring Loading Mitigation: Learn to mitigate the effects of spring loading.
• Safety Belt Importance: Understand the importance and proper use of safety belts in law enforcement vehicles.
• Communications Equipment: Learn the proper use of communications equipment.
• Emergency Warning Devices: Master the use of emergency warning devices available on law enforcement vehicles.

Following Distance & Collision Avoidance:

• Safe Following Distance: Determine a safe following distance when following another vehicle.
• Offensive Intervention Tactics: Discuss common offensive intervention tactics.
• Vehicle Inspection Components: Understand the components of a vehicle inspection.
• Perception & Reaction Time: Discuss how perception and reaction time affect a vehicle’s total stopping distance.

Agency Policies & Speed:

• Agency Policies: Explain the importance of agency-specific policies and guidelines regarding emergency response driving.
• Turning Maneuvers & Speed: Understand the primary effects of speed on a vehicle during a turning maneuver.

Note: Content from this written examination will also appear on your Mid-Course and End-of-Course Proficiency Tests.