Keeping Pace with the Maintenance of Your Water/Wastewater Systems

In life, we have to take care of ourselves physically and mentally. If we are exercising and eating right, it helps keep us physically fit which also helps us stay mentally fit, because we are not worrying about getting sick. Same goes for the distribution and collection systems for our water/wastewater. We must keep them fit (in good working condition). If we don’t then our systems sooner or later begin to fail. This creates headaches and other pains we must deal with down the road. Issues like water line breaks, sanitary sewer overflows, and low water pressure while fighting a fire.

It is important to have a plan. To develop a maintenance schedule, provide the appropriate equipment, and to train workers to do the job correctly and safely. Part of the problem with our infrastructures today is we have not been vigilant and put forth a constant effort to keep our systems up-to-date and in good working order. It is easy to complete a project or reach a goal and then back off and take a breather. When we spend months or years focused on completing a task, it is only natural to want to relax a bit. But relaxing puts that next deadline or goal in jeopardy. Pretty soon we are operating in “catch up” mode and instead of spending our time keeping our systems maintained and working smoothly, we are simply putting band-aids on little hurts and not curing the debilitating disease that is beginning to consume our systems.

Water/Wastewater jobs are challenging, and the work never ends. There just isn’t time to take it easy. Emergencies are inevitable, there will be ruptured water lines and sewer backups. Best case scenario, you get a little behind in your schedule, worst case, you get caught up in a perpetual game of chasing problems and never get back into a proactive mode. Face it, there will never be time to kick back and relax without consequences. But with a functioning maintenance system in place, the difficult days will be the ones where you hope you can only stay on track, and the easy days are ones you may have a chance to make some progress. Take advantage of those days and persevere on, procrastination never fixed anything. Make the decision to start working on consistently maintaining and updating your water/wastewater systems.

Winterizing Vacant Property

We all know Oklahoma’s weather can be unpredictable and last winter is a perfect example.  On October 27, 2020, much of the state experienced an extremely devastating ice storm. I’ve lived in Oklahoma most of my life and have never seen an ice storm of this magnitude that early in the season. In February of 2021, we had 2 weeks of subfreezing temperatures and many of our cities and towns experienced record sub-zero temperatures for multiple days. Then, on April 21, 2021, Oklahoma experienced a record-setting cold front from the Arctic which again was not typical.  So, why am I reminding my readers of this unusual weather? As I mentioned, Oklahoma weather is unpredictable and that’s why we must be prepared for it, especially in preparing our vacant buildings for winter weather.

OMAG’s Municipal Property Protection Plan (MPPP) limits coverage for buildings if they are vacant. Please see the below language from page 21 of the MPPP limiting coverage for vacant buildings.  You will notice that sprinkler leakage and water damage are not covered if a building is vacant. 

3. Vacancy a. If the building or leased premises where loss or damage has occurred has been vacant for more than 60 consecutive days before that loss or damage occurs, OMAG will not pay for any loss or damage caused by any of the following, even if they are Covered Causes of Loss;

(1) Vandalism;

(2) Sprinkler leakage;

(3) Building glass breakage;

(4) Water damage;

(5) Theft, or

(6) Attempted theft.  

b. Buildings under construction or renovation are not considered vacant.

c. With respect to a Plan Member, vacant shall mean 70% or more of its square footage is not rented or used to conduct customary operations.

d. With respect to a tenant, vacant shall mean 70% or more of the rented space shall contain enough business personal property to conduct customary operations.

e. Vacant property will be valued at actual cash value.

You can avoid frozen pipes and water damage by taking some simple steps to winterize properly, especially vacant buildings.

Start at the exterior of the building and do the following:

• Shut off the water at the street- most water meters are close to the sidewalk or street, make sure your utility department shuts off the water at the meter.

• Open your lowest faucets on your property -This is most likely an outside spigot or in a basement. Remove any hoses, drain these faucets first, and keep them open until you have drained the rest of the building’s system. After everything is drained, give the exterior spigots an extra layer of protection with insulation or a bib cover.

• Give some attention to water heaters – Turn off the gas or electrical service to the water heaters. After turning off the water heater, drain it completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Drain the water system – drain all toilets, toilet tanks, and other pipes, making sure there is as little water in the system as possible. Open the spigots for showers and sinks, starting at the uppermost level and systematically working your way downwards to the lowest level of the building (Those low-level faucets you opened earlier. This will help the draining process.).

• Don’t forget the laundry, garage, basement – bathrooms and kitchens will be the primary target areas but be sure you attend to all rooms with running water. Also drain any exterior water lines, like sprinkler systems. It might even be good to blow out the lines with compressed air after the lines have been emptied.

• Pour environmentally safe, biodegradable antifreeze into drains – it is recommended to use the type of antifreeze used in boats or RVs. It will help any remaining water in P traps to resist freezing. Treat toilet bowls, tanks, and sinks or any other drains in the facility.

• Tape the toilets shut and post “do not use” signs – So people won’t inadvertently use them, tape the toilet lids shut and post signs (Caution: Winterized- do not use).

• If you leave the heat on… - be sure the temperature is set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you leave the heat on, you should still turn off the water and drain the system. Winter storms frequently knock out power for days and could cause pipes to freeze.

• What to do if you leave the water on (say if you’re doing renovations or have the property up for sale) – insulate pipes on exterior walls, crawl spaces, and attics. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate around un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances. Let warm water drip or gently stream (depends on how cold and how long the freeze is) overnight to keep pipes from freezing.

• During extreme cold spells inspect the property daily – walkthrough the property looking for damage or potential problems that could lead to pipes freezing and water damage.

If you have questions about your coverage contact Chris Webb, OMAG Director of Underwriting cwebb@omag.org or 1-800-234-9461 ext.1442.

Peace Officer/Dispatcher Background Investigation Forms

Backgrounds are among the most important investigations a law enforcement agency will ever conduct. The way in which a background investigation is conducted can make the difference between hiring an individual who will truly protect and serve versus someone who may cause harm to oneself, the agency, and society. 

Background investigations are also among the most challenging investigations to conduct. They must be comprehensive if they are to lead to informed hiring decisions. Past misconduct and other signs of unsuitability must be uncovered so that dangerous or otherwise unfit candidates are screened out. At the same time, inquiries into past performance must stay within the tight parameters of fair employment practices. Furthermore, the areas investigated and the evaluation of the resulting information must be treated consistently across all candidates.

To assist departments with background investigations, OMAG has forms available which can be utilized to conduct thorough background investigations for Police Officers/Dispatchers.  Forms can be located and downloaded from the OMAG website at https://www.omag.org/peace-offer-background-forms.   The forms can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format or fillable PDF format. The forms can be edited to put your department’s name at the top of each form.  Just copy the link to your browser and it will take you directly to the background investigation forms listed below.

• Advisement Regarding the Use of Credit Information for Employment Purposes 

• Advisement Regarding False Statements

• Authorization Advisement to Conduct a Pre-Employment Peace Officer Background Investigation

• Authorization To Release Information for Employment – Public Safety Dispatcher

• Authorization to Release information for Employment-Police Officer

• Background Investigative Check List-Police 

• CLEET - Department CLEET Records Request

• CLEET - MMPI Form

• CLEET - Release of Information 4-15-20

• CLEET - Notification of Employment 12-12-19 

• Conditional Job Offer 

• Cover Letter for Reference Checks

• Cover Letter to Landlords 

• Cover Letter to Past Employers Supervisors

• Employment Query Letter

• Inquiry Letter for Selective System

• Interview Questionnaire for Neighborhood Reference Checks

• Introduction and Table of Contents

• Personal History Statement and History-Word writeable format

• Personal History-Dispatcher_02-18_UNPROTECTED

• Police Background Check Cover 

• PSD-Authorization to Release information for Employment-Dispatcher

• PSD-Background Investigation Checklist

• Questionnaire for Reference Checks Questionnaire for Past Employers Supervisors  

If you have any additional questions, please contact OMAG Law Enforcement Specialist Billy Carter at wcarter@omag.org, phone (405) 919-4516 or Kevin McCullough at kmccullough@oma.org, phone (405) 657-1408 .

Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice

To prevent slips, trips, and falls, employers should clear walking surfaces of snow and ice, and spread deicer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. In addition, the following precautions will help reduce the likelihood of injuries:

• Wear proper footwear when walking on snow or ice is unavoidable because it is especially treacherous. A pair of insulated and water-resistant boots with good rubber treads is a must for walking during or after a winter storm. Keeping a pair of rubber over-shoes with good treads which fit over your street shoes is a good idea during the winter months.

• Take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction when walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway. Test your footing before committing your whole weight in a step. Be mindful of “black ice” (a thin sheet of ice on a surface that may not be visible to the naked eye).

• Use your door or the roof of your vehicle when getting in and out. Avoid parking on ice if possible.

Winter Driving

Although employers cannot control roadway conditions, they can promote safe driving behavior by ensuring workers: recognize the hazards of winter weather driving, for example, driving on snow/ice covered roads; are properly trained for driving in winter weather conditions, and are licensed (as applicable) for the vehicles they operate. Drive safely during the winter:

• Slow down, take your time, leave earlier than normal

• Begin slowing at intersections earlier than normal

• Avoid stopping or parking on hills or inclines

• Take corners slower than normal

• Turn into skids and avoid using the brake

• Give plenty of space between your vehicle and others and stop where you can completely see the tires of the vehicle in front of you at stop signs/stop lights

Employers should set and enforce driver safety policies. Employers should also implement an effective maintenance program for all vehicles and mechanized equipment that workers are required to operate. Crashes can be avoided. Employers should ensure properly trained workers inspect the following vehicle systems to determine if they are working properly:

• Brakes: Brakes should provide even and balanced braking. Also check that brake fluid is at the proper level.

• Cooling System: Ensure a proper mixture of 50/50 antifreeze and water in the cooling system at the proper level.

• Electrical System: Check the ignition system and make sure that the battery is fully charged and that the connections are clean. Check that the alternator belt is in good condition with proper tension.

• Engine: Inspect all engine systems.

• Exhaust System: Check exhaust for leaks and that all clamps and hangers are snug.

• Tires: Check for proper tread depth and no signs of damage or uneven wear. Check for proper tire inflation.

• Oil: Check that oil is at the proper level.

• Visibility Systems: Inspect all exterior lights, defrosters (windshield and rear window), and wipers. Install winter windshield wipers.

An emergency kit with the following items is recommended in vehicles:

• Cellphone or two-way radio

• Windshield ice scraper

• Snowbrush

• Flashlight with extra batteries

• Shovel

• Tow chain

• Traction aids (bag of sand or cat litter)

• Emergency flares

• Jumper cables

• Snacks

• Water

• Roadmaps

• Blankets, change of clothes

Winter Work Zone Traffic Safety
Workers being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment lead to many work zone fatalities or injuries annually. Drivers may skid or lose control of their vehicles more easily when driving on snow and/or ice-covered roads. It is, therefore, important to properly set up work zones with the traffic controls identified by signs, cones, barrels, and barriers to protect workers. Workers exposed to vehicular traffic should wear the appropriate high visibility vest at all times so that they are visible to motorists. Workers should also remain vigilant regarding their surroundings while working in work zones. Pay attention to what is going on around you and where you are stepping.  Identify potential safety hazards and correct or avoid them.

What You Should Know About Winter Dehydration

Many people associate dehydration with sweltering summer days, or overexertion in hot and humid climates. Dehydration isn’t limited to hot weather, however. You can still get dehydrated in cold weather. Here are some things you should know about winter dehydration, and tips to stay hydrated year-round.

Winter dehydration

Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly. While there are a number of factors that affect how much water you need in a day, the average adult needs roughly 100 ounces of water on an average day.

It’s possible to get dehydrated when it’s cold outside, just like it’s possible to get dehydrated when it’s hot outside. In fact, staying hydrated during the summer months can sometimes be easier than staying hydrated in the winter.

Some people get less thirsty in cold weather, so they drink less water in the winter than in the summer. Being less thirsty doesn’t mean that you’re better hydrated, however.

We tend to sweat less in cold weather. Your body still loses moisture in cold weather, but without sweat as an indicator, you might not realize you need to drink water to replenish fluids.

Since people don’t necessarily associate dehydration and cold weather, they may be less likely to make a point to stay hydrated during the winter than during the summer.

Your body loses moisture all day, every day, through respiration, perspiration, urination, and bodily function, regardless of the temperature outside. Of course, temperature can affect the rate at which you lose water. Other factors – such as activity level, diet, and your health – also affect how quickly your body loses moisture.

Tips for staying hydrated in cold weather

Drink water and replenish fluids, especially after or during physical activity.

Don’t rely on thirst to tell you when you need to drink water. Make a point to drink a certain amount of water each day.

Eat your fruits and vegetables! You can get water from the foods that you eat. Not only are fruits and vegetables good for you, but they also help you stay hydrated.

If you find it difficult to drink water when it’s cold outside, drink warm beverages like decaffeinated hot tea, herbal tea, or hot cider.

Always have water with you. A reusable water bottle can help keep you hydrated year-round. If you normally carry water with you during the summer, continue the habit through the winter.

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks that can cause dehydration.

Recognize the signs of dehydration. This can help you remember to drink more water and stay hydrated. Thirst, dark-colored urine, dizziness, fatigue, and dry skin can all indicate dehydration.

The Importance of Law Enforcement Driver Training (LEDT)

Traffic crashes are consistently at the top of OMAG’s list of more costly claims.  As the number of crashes increases, injuries and fatalities increase.  In the modern patrol vehicle, officers find themselves distracted by radios, cellular phones, laptop computers or mobile communications terminals, in-car video systems, siren boxes, and lighting controls, as well as the constant search for traffic violators and criminal behavior. 

Police Officers arguably spend more time driving than any other single task. Sadly, the statistics that reflect the line of duty law enforcement deaths as a result of crashes doesn’t change much from year to year. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), there are nearly 41 officers killed each year in vehicle-related incidents. The unfortunate facts are that the roads are a dangerous place, and many police officers aren’t the expert drivers they would like to think they are. As budgets are evaluated and reduced, funds dedicated to training are typically the first to be cut.

OMAG has a history of helping members address high liability and safety issues through training videos, policy development, workshops, classroom training, practical driver training, and online training. It is because of this commitment to reduce risk and promote safety that OMAG partnered with OSU-OKC’s Precision Driver Training Center in 2006. This top-notch training program aids officers in recognizing their own skill level, the performance their vehicles are capable of, and the effect that environmental factors can have on vehicle operations.

As OMAG received reports on the quality of the training from course participants, we expanded the program to include not just police officers, but any member employee who operates a municipal vehicle. In recent years, the PDTC has trained municipal employees assigned to public works, water/wastewater, EMS, and fire service, as well as law enforcement. The offered courses are beneficial for refreshing and renewing perishable driving skills, as well as improving an individual’s driving techniques. OMAG pays the cost for any OMAG member to attend the PDTC program, which includes the use of an OSU vehicle and hotel stay for those who must travel over 60 miles to the training facility. OMAG members can find more information on OSU’s Precision Driver Training Center at OMAG.org.

About the author:

Kevin McCullough is a Law Enforcement Specialist and has been involved in public safety for over 40 years. McCullough is a nationally recognized instructor and has been teaching emergency vehicle operations and law enforcement driver training since 1988.

Have a 360 Degree Policy Before Your Employees Drive

A utility crew discovered a young boy in the wheel well of their truck while conducting a “Circle of Safety” walkaround. It is unthinkable what could have happened if they had gotten in the truck and drove off without doing the required walkaround inspection. By taking 30 seconds to walk around your vehicle looking for hidden and unseen hazards you can protect yourself, the municipality’s assets, and possibly another person’s life.

In the past 3 years Oklahoma municipalities have had 166 claims filed against them for damage to property or persons injured due to improper backing. It is the second most common claim filed against insured municipal vehicles. The sad fact is all of them could have been prevented if cities and towns had a policy and procedure to perform a 360-degree walkaround before getting in a vehicle and driving away. Just a few seconds of looking for potential hazards can prevent a backing accident or maybe save the life of a curious child.

The “Circle of Safety” procedure is a safe practice any driver can follow to ensure the area around their vehicle is safe before departing. Simply walk all the way around your vehicle and check the clearances to the side, in front, behind, and above. When backing into a parking space or work area, look for obstacles such as poles, other vehicles, drop-offs, and trash cans or buildings. Prior to departing, make sure to check if any pedestrians may have entered your path of travel. Whenever possible, back into a parking space or driveway to increase visibility when departing or pull through to a space that leaves your vehicle pointing out. If you must park the vehicle in a position that requires backing, leave the vehicle positioned to maximize visibility to the rear and critical areas adjacent to the vehicle. And finally, always check under your vehicle and around the wheel wells just in case a curious child has gotten stuck in there. This is no joke.  Each year in the United State, 2,400 children are backed over.

Understanding and Avoiding "Failure to Yield" Accidents

Right-of-way laws and regulations are in place to ensure cooperation among drivers and to assist in a smooth, safe flow of traffic on private and commercial roads. People who know, understand, and apply these rules in their driving tend to be more courteous and able to use common sense in dangerous traffic conditions.

Sadly, failing to yield to a person with the right-of-way is the number 1 cause of vehicular liability claims for Oklahoma municipalities insured by OMAG.

Defining Failure to Yield – When a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian has the right-of-way, it simply means they have the right to proceed before another vehicle. We encounter situations every day in which we yield to vehicles with the right-of-way at four-way stops, intersections, stop signs, left turn lanes, crosswalks, yield signs, traffic circles, and more. Failure to yield is when a driver does not allow a vehicle with the right-of-way to proceed and this sometimes results in an accident.

If a driver fails to yield to you when you have the right-of-way, you should do everything in your power to avoid a collision. You can prevent failure to yield accidents and exercise proper caution by knowing the traffic laws, staying alert to your surroundings, and practicing courteous driving even when others make a mistake.

Ways to Prevent Failure-to-Yield Accidents – The best way to avoid causing or falling victim to a failure-to-yield accident is to know the laws and do your part to prevent them. You can stay out of harm’s way by:

• Slowing down – this gives you more time to react to someone failing to yield. Reduce your speed when approaching an intersection, crosswalk, or yield sign.

• Check the intersection before entering – even when you have the right-of-way, look before you enter because you can’t always trust other drivers to yield to you.

• Drive defensively – be aware of the cars in front of you, behind you, to the sides, and even the vehicles in the immediate vicinity on other roads. If you are keeping an eye on other drivers, you can spot the ones that aren’t driving safely and actively avoid them.

• Don’t run red or yellow lights – when approaching an intersection always slow down and cover your brake; avoid being tempted to accelerate and run through an intersection when the light turns yellow.

• Allow the intersection to clear before entering when the light turns green – many times vehicles will be turning left still or running through a yellow light, so don’t be tempted to jackrabbit out into the intersection as soon as you get a green light.

• Eliminate all distractions while driving – leave your cell phone alone, turn down the music, and stay focused on your driving responsibilities.

Driving is a very dangerous and complex activity. When you are behind the wheel you are responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of everybody else. Stay alert and focused on this very necessary but often taken for granted skill – it  could be what keeps you or someone else alive.

Eleven Steps to a Healthy Sanitary Sewer Collection System

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”- Benjamin Franklin. For far too long we in Oklahoma have been ignoring our sanitary sewer systems. Just like our personal health, if we do not practice a proactive approach to maintaining our aging systems, we will encounter costly consequences to our sewer systems sooner or later. If we take measures to maintain our sewers, we can minimize costly repairs and rehabilitations. It is time to stop putting “band aids” on our sewer lines and get them in shape. Here are 11 steps to help you get started on your sanitary sewer line maintenance program.

1. Use Global Information System (GIS) mapping to understand your system. An effective sewer maintenance program revolves around knowing the location of all infrastructure, pipe sizes, length and depth of lines, types of pipe and materials used in manholes. Accurate GIS mapping can help track completed rehabilitation and replacement work, but it begins with identifying exactly where manholes and lamp holes are located.

2. Inspect manholes on a schedule. Depending on the size of your system and staff availability, this may be once a year or every other year. Inspecting manholes will alert you to issues such as excessive debris and blockages, structural issues, and inflow and infiltration sources. Keep records using manhole inspection forms to track maintenance and rehabilitation needs.

3. Perform Draw Down Tests if you have lift stations. The test verifies proper pump performance and should be conducted annually at every lift station to identify issues with floats, isolate excessive grease, and confirm check valves are functional. You might want to check the Air Relief pits to make sure the ball valves are operating efficiently while you are doing the tests.

4. Verify your municipality has an ordinance requiring grease traps at businesses. Restaurants, gas stations, car washes, and other businesses that discharge fats, oils, and grease (FOG) should install a grease trap to avoid clogging the sewer system. Perform random inspections to ensure proper installation and maintenance of grease traps.

5. Do construction observations on sanitary sewer installations for new developments. Sanitary sewers that are not properly bedded are a major problem that leads to further problems for the municipality down the road. Offset frames and covers, chimney damage, and broken pipe are just a few problems resulting from improper new construction. Make sure your sewer mains are identified prior to trenching, drilling, or boring projects to avoid conflicts with your system. Before a developer passes new infrastructure on to the municipality, make sure to perform mandrel testing on sewer mains, and vacuum tests on manholes to confirm proper construction. Also conduct a warranty inspection prior to the warranty expiration to verify whether issues with materials or workmanship have developed during the warranty period.

6. Establish a routine cleaning and jetting program on sewer mains. This process will remove debris buildup and attached deposits to ensure your system is flowing properly and capacity is not being compromised. Jetting and cleaning at least 30% of your system annually so that all lines have been cleaned on a 3-year rotational basis will save a lot of headaches down the road.

7. Perform closed circuit television (CCTV) inspections. After cleaning and jetting, conduct CCTV inspections of the sewer mains to identify leaks or defects in the pipe system.

8. Conduct sump pump inspections. These residential inspections will identify connections to the sewer system. Have an ordinance prohibiting illicit sump pump connections.

9. Perform smoke testing. Smoke testing is a quick and efficient method for detecting storm water connections, roof drain connections, or defective sewer laterals, all of which are contributors to inflow & infiltration (I&I).

10. Conduct wet weather inspections. These can provide valuable information on how precipitation and groundwater conditions affect the flow in your system. Manholes may appear in good condition when it is dry, but they may exhibit leaking joints, missing mortar, and in-flow lid leaks in low-lying areas during wet-weather inspections.

11. Prepare an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Manual for your sanitary sewer system. An O&M Manual will contain information on your maintenance schedules, identify how to report sanitary sewer overflows, have an emergency contact list, and spell out inspection procedures which can be helpful when training new sewer staff.  It provides invaluable references for both sewer maintenance workers and administrators when it comes time to budget for repairs, rehabs, and rebuilds.

It is time to stop wasting your time “putting out fires” on all the repairs required due to past negligence.  Maintaining a sewer system takes time and commitment, but just like eating right and exercising helps keep a heart healthy, performing sanitary sewer maintenance regularly will greatly improve the health of your sewer system. And we all know preventing a problem saves time and costs less than fixing it after an SSO event happens.

5 Defensive Driving Strategies

In the past decade road rage incidents have increased in the USA by 600%. People are getting downright nasty on America’s roadways. We all make mistakes while driving and we can’t control what other people do on the roadway. However, we can control what we do on the roadway. Let’s look at 5 Defensive Driving strategies to stay safe while driving, and perhaps keep from losing our cool and raging on somebody.

1. Space Management – Be aware of what’s going on all around you: What’s in front of you, behind you, to the sides of you, above you, and under you. Keep your eyes moving looking a block or two ahead of you and looking in your side and rearview mirrors. Notice low hanging branches or signs, bumps and potholes, and traffic coming up to intersections from other streets. See and make mental notes of potential hazards.

2. Situational Awareness – Identify potential hazards and formulate a plan to deal with them should a situation arise. Since you have managed the space around your vehicle you should be able to see potential hazards and can make decisions to keep you from becoming involved in an accident. Things like changing lanes, slowing down or turning down another street can help you avoid the hazard. Staying focused on your driving situation can save your life or the lives of others.

3. Mapping & Tracking at Intersections – Looking at other vehicles’ situations while sitting at or approaching an intersection can protect you and others from having to deal with a traffic accident in an intersection. Notice turning lanes, sidewalk crossings, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, people distracted by phones or passenger conversations. Give yourself extra space between you and the car in front of you by stopping where you can completely see their tires touching the pavement. Wait a few seconds when the light changes and give the opportunity for the intersection to clear before entering it. Proceed slowly with your eyes scanning for potential danger, like a child running out into the street or a car in the wrong lane deciding to make a left turn. Again, focus on your driving and making plans for the unexpected.

4. Parking – Where should you park and how do you park? Avoid parking close to stores and building entrances, as there is usually too much going on there with vehicles, pedestrians, loading and unloading, and cars vying for that closest parking spot. Instead, park away from entrances and walk in: it’s safer for you and your vehicle. Avoid parking next to someone that has parked crooked and made a tighter space for your vehicle. Use pull through parking if you can so that your first move out of the parking space when leaving is forward. If you can’t pull through into a space, consider taking the time to back into a space, again so your first movement when leaving is forward. Backing into a space when you are not in a hurry makes it much easier to leave when heading out on a call or just being in a hurry to get home.

5. Attitude – “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself,” is a good way to prepare yourself for the responsibility of driving before you take off. When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you are in charge and totally responsible for your attitude, actions, and what is going on with your vehicle and in your vehicle. Get your emotions in control. Know your vehicle is in good working order, make sure you and your passengers are buckled up properly, and control unruly children or mischievous adults while your vehicle is stopped. That vehicle is a weapon that can kill you and/or others in just a moment of distraction. Take the job of driving seriously.