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Police Driving
Hosted by NRLO Director
of Training, Captain Chuck Mantkus
"Law Enforcement Driver
Training" 
Written by
Captain Travis Yates
Team Leader
Tulsa Police Law
Enforcement Driver Training Unit
Tulsa, Oklahoma
INDEX: 8 About Captain Travis Yates 8
Introduction 8 Police Vehicle
Inspections
INTRODUCTION
I would like to
begin by thanking the National Reserve Law Officers Association for
the chance to discuss Law Enforcement Driver
Training topics. I have the utmost respect for
Reserve Officers and am very humbled to have this
opportunity. 
The driver training aspect of
Law Enforcement is a very important topic. Not only do Police
Departments fight more civil litigation involving collisions and
pursuits than anything else, vehicle related incidents are the
number one cause of Police Officer injuries and the second leading
cause of deaths.
For the most part, training in
this field has been ignored by Police agencies. Expense,
manpower and attitude are just some of the obstacles. It is
important to note that you don't need a driving track and cones to
get this training. Driving is an attitude and the mental
aspect of this Law Enforcement act is the most important. Due
to that, reading and thinking about what you do behind the wheel,
will make you a safer Officer. 
In the near future, I will be
publishing articles over various driving issues. It is my
sincere hope that these articles will assist you in your duties at
being as safe as possible. I welcome suggestions for future
articles or simply questions that you need answered.
Until then, stay safe
& God bless.
Captain Travis
Yates...........
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INDEX
Police Vehicle
Inspections
Tires
Emergency Equipment Exterior Interior Under the
Hood
Trunk Leaving
the Station
Conclusion
Written by
Captain Travis Yates
Team Leader
Tulsa Police Law
Enforcement Driver Training Unit
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Inspections of
Police cars can be one of the most tediuous things an Officer can
do. Despite this, regular inspection of the vehicle is one of
the most important things that can be done to promote Officer
driving safety. In almost every instance, a Reserve Officer is
driving a vehicle that they know very little about. This makes
the practice of Police vehicle inspections even more
important.
Tires
Tires are
listed first and are the most important. Tires are the center
of your driving safety and the only item on a vehicle that touches
the roadway. If you could pinpoint one item that is the most
vital to your safety, it is your tires. Although very
important, they are easy to check.
Tire tred is vital for
traction and puncture resistance. One way to quickly measure
this is to use a penny. Insert the penny into the tread depth;
when the top of Lincoln's head is visible, you should replace the
tires. In addition, the sidewalls should be checked for
cuts. A cut could result in a blowout. The over inflation or
under inflation of a tire can both be very dangerous. It can
sometimes be deceiving to check tires visually so a tire guage
should be used. You should always check your tire pressure
while they are cold, before you have driven on them. The
manufacturer of your Police vehicle or your garage can advise you of
the proper tire
pressure.
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Article
Emergency Equipment
Officers should turn on their lights and siren prior
to the beginning of their shift to ensure they work properly.
Headlights can be checked at the same
time.
Exterior
Officers should check for body damage on the
vehicle. If it is found, it should be immediately reported to
the supervisor. It may also be necessary to clean the
windshield or windows during this time. Obstructed windows can
be exasperated at night and is dangerous at all
times.
Interior
Prior
to starting the engine, check all warning lights,
including the ABS and airbags. Adjust the seats and mirror and
check the instrument panel. The brake pedal should be
checked. If it feels "spongy," the vehicle should be taken out
of service; and the braking system should be inspected by a
mechanic. If the steering wheel contains excessive play or
makes noises while turning, it should be turned over to a mechanic
as well. All items inside the vehicle should be secured.
A collision at 50 mph will cause anything inside the vehicle to
travel at the same speed. Being struck in the head by a metal
citation book could lead to serious
injury.
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Under the Hood
The fluid levels should be checked on a regular
basis. The oil, brake fluid and anti-freeze are some of the
most important items to check for your safety.
Trunk
The trunk is an important tool to the Law
Enforcement Officer. All gear should be secured. The
movement of equipment in the trunk while driving could cause an
unexpected shift in rear weight. Ensure that the fire
extinguisher is fully charged and the first-aid kit is
up-to-date. The emergency fuel shut-off and radio equipment
should be easily
accessible.
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Leaving the Station
Once you have completed the stationary inspection, you
are not done. When you drive off, it is important to note a
few items:
-
You should listen to any
unusual sounds.
-
Test your brakes before
leaving the parking lot.
-
Your care should always
brake in a straight line.
-
Your steering should not
wander from side to side.
Conclusion
The
pre-operational check can be accomplished in a short period of
time. It is as important as your firearm inspection, and one
thing is certain. You will drive your Police car each day you
go to work. By spending a few minutes properly inspecting it,
you can increase the operational efficiency, reduce repair costs
and, most important, prevent collisions. Vehicle inspection is
the core of a safe work environment for Law Enforcment
Officers.
*************************************************************
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Captain Travis Yates is a
Team Leader with the Tulsa Police Law Enforcement Driver Training
Unit in Oklahoma. He is a nationally recognized driving
instructor and a certified instructor in tire deflation devices and
the pursuit intervention technique. Captain Yates has a Master of
Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State
University. He moderates policedriving.com, a web site
dedicated to Law Enforcement driving issues. In addition, he
owns centexweb.net which is a web site hosting business designed to
assist Law Enforcement Officers with their hosting
needs.
Go to "PoliceDriving.com"
now:
http://www.policedriving.com
See streaming video/audio and example
photographs
showing sample driving scenarios. NRLO
recommends this site.
PoliceDriving.com is a must see web
site!
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About Captain Travis Yates: Captain Travis Yates is a Team Leader with the Tulsa Police
Law Enforcement Driver Training Unit. He is a nationally
certified driving instructor and a certified instructor in "tire
deflation devices" and the "pursuit intervention technique."
Captain yates has been with the Tulsa Police Department since
1993. He has a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice
from Northeastern State University. He operates the most
extensive web site available on the topic of Law Enforcement Driver
Training www.policedriving.com .
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MARCH,
2004 Updated MAY, 2004
NATIONAL RESERVE LAW OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX
6505 SAN ANTONIO, TX
78209
(210) 805-8917 FAX (210)
804-2463 | 
