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Emergency Response Driving

Desired outcome

For all employees who drive using blue lights and claim any legal exemptions for a fire and rescue service purpose, to have been trained in a consistent way so that they drive safely, in line with the requirements of their role and in accordance with relevant legislation.

For all response driver training instructors and assessors to be qualified in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Activity

Service Delivery

Business Area(s)

Response

Date approved
Date issued
Review date
Reference number
FSD-RSP01

What is required to meet the fire standard

A fire and rescue service must:

  1. Comply with legislation and guidance that applies to emergency response driving
  2. Adopt and align their emergency response driver training to the NFCC Emergency Response Driver and Instructor Framework
  3. Adopt and align their emergency response driver instructor training to the NFCC Emergency Response Driver and Instructor Framework
  4. Ensure that records of driver competency and refresher training are kept and maintained
  5. Ensure that their driver training provision is periodically independently quality assured

A fire and rescue service should:

  1. Ensure that both managers who are responsible for emergency response driving and those working as driving instructors, contribute to the continual improvement of driver training standards by communicating, sharing learning and experiences with the NFCC network of fire and rescue service driving instructors and centres through:
    1. Engaging on the NFCC Workplace online forum
    2. Supporting the national Driver Training Advisory Group (DTAG) through regional structures
    3. Considering appropriate representation at relevant national events and conferences

Expected benefits of achieving the fire standard

  1. Improved road safety for the public and employees evidenced by:
    1. Reduction in the number of low and high-speed collisions when responding
    2. Reduction in injuries
    3. Defined route to competency by alignment to the framework and improved driver safety
  2. Compliance with related legislation, guidance and DfT Codes of Practice which supports:
    1. Interoperability through collaboration of blue light resources
    2. Opportunity for intra-service driver training provision
    3. More efficient transfer of appropriately trained and competent personnel between services

Linked qualifications, accreditations or fire standards

National Occupational Standard – FF9

Fire Standards

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Note Please contact the Fire Standards team within the NFCC for any queries or support with regards to this Fire Standard [email protected]

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