Unit position during accidents....

[Daver]

Me personally I have never trained any of my rookies to reenter their vehicle during accidents. Park the unit well behind the accident, specifically in the far left lane, giving a longggggg buffer.
I walk to the front of the accident vehicles and advise the victims to do the same. I look for a place to get to when the next set of accidents start to occur due to the looky-loos. I will get all the info and do the report later.
What do you all do on the road and why...?
Go to this web page and see the pics.


Daver
http://www.geocities.com/davehelm71/accident.html

[lazycop]

Interstate accidents: That works if you have a good place to stand, but what if you dont? It often takes 30 min or more for a wrecker, more if several cars get pulled. These people drive like nuts, if my car is to far back they will drive between it and the vehicles in the accident. Also we usually send 2 units on interstate accidents. Gets things done faster so you can get out of there.

[Daver]

Interstate accidents: That works if you have a good place to stand, but what if you dont? It often takes 30 min or more for a wrecker, more if several cars get pulled. These people drive like nuts, if my car is to far back they will drive between it and the vehicles in the accident. Also we usually send 2 units on interstate accidents. Gets things done faster so you can get out of there.
__________________________________
We usually don't have enough cars for multiple units but whoever is in the rear is the unlucky one.
Our wreckers are contracted to be there in 20 min. or less, does that always happen?? No!
I am only referring to accidents that happen against that median wall. I walk all the way to the front, three car lengths ahead of the furthest car. Any other lanes, no. If I have ot the shoulder and up near a tree line with the people involved in the accident.
We also have the HERO units who are funded by the state. These folks are LIFE SAVERS!! They can pull a acar if we have to.

Remember to check the link above. :D

[lazycop]

Yeah thats just nasty. I hate the interstate for that and so and many reasons. The problem I have is the accidents usually occur near an on/off ramp and are spread out 200'. I also work at night. The goofs will see the blue lights and go right around the squad cars and cut between or right in front of the accident vehicles, trying to get on/off the ramp. I try not to be around those cars if possible, the only option usually is in the squad car/drunk magnet. Lose-lose situation

[21blue28]

Accidents scenes are dangerous, no doubt about it.

However, I don't see much wrong with being in a patrol car. To be rear ended vs. being run over?????? If I had a choice, let me be in the car. And if you are talking about an accident in a residential area or downtown, the speed should be low enough that you should be reasonably okay. If I have to be in the car for a while I will buckle up just to keep from being thrown around if hit. Think about this: 20 MPH wreck in a car. Get out and look at the damage ...... get hit standing there by a car going 20 MPH, hope you have good health insurance.

Look at all the videos of officers hit on the side of the road (or near misses). Ouch.

For me, it ends up being like CQB. No matter how good or safe you are, it is dangerous and you may/will get hurt no matter what you do.

[P036]

You need to understand how you can use your department policy to help you. I block off at least one lane to the traffic side for slower moving traffic. On an Interstate I will close down the entire road in one direction if that is what it takes for me to be safe. It is not the most popular thing and I don't do it unless necessary. Citizens can wait for me to finish the job.

[mcsexplorer]

If Im the only unit then I will block the lane or lanes in which the accident is in,ya civs will be mad but it keeps me and looky-loos safe.And if I have some traffic cones or flares(for at ngiht) then I would use those....

[Long Gun]

Accidents scenes are dangerous, no doubt about it.

However, I don't see much wrong with being in a patrol car. To be rear ended vs. being run over?????? If I had a choice, let me be in the car. And if you are talking about an accident in a residential area or downtown, the speed should be low enough that you should be reasonably okay. If I have to be in the car for a while I will buckle up just to keep from being thrown around if hit. Think about this: 20 MPH wreck in a car. Get out and look at the damage ...... get hit standing there by a car going 20 MPH, hope you have good health insurance.

Look at all the videos of officers hit on the side of the road (or near misses). Ouch.

For me, it ends up being like CQB. No matter how good or safe you are, it is dangerous and you may/will get hurt no matter what you do.


If you are out of the car, you have better use of your senses, and the more experienced you are, you more you should see things coming. No one is perfect, but you have a better chance of "seeing it coming" out of the car. Even if you see it coming from the car, you have little time to react.

Yes, I know what happens when you are hit out of the car. A Rocklin PD officer was struck and killed by a DUI while laying out a flare pattern.

[Long Gun]

If Im the only unit then I will block the lane or lanes in which the accident is in,ya civs will be mad but it keeps me and looky-loos safe.And if I have some traffic cones or flares(for at ngiht) then I would use those....

I'm with you and PO36. Block off what you need. Enough injury/ damage hapened with the original accident, I won't be part of the "next" one if I have anything to say about it. The FD will usually help out with their mammoth trucks with all those lights, and help keep a lane clear while you work the scene. Measurements can be taken later.

[Long Gun]

Wasn't an accident at first, but is a good example.

http://www.bartlow.org/videos/oshp.wmv