Team Driving Policy

All drivers must have a full driving licence with relevant vehicle classes to drive team vehicles and a minimum of one year’s driving experience since passing a driving test. All convictions and endorsements must be reported to the Team Leader or Training Officer when received, although they will not automatically exclude a person from driving team vehicles.

Drivers are reminded they are ambassadors of the team and therefore driving style must not bring the team into disrepute. The driver is ultimately responsible for the control of the vehicle, its load and passengers. If the driver chooses to claim legal exemptions and have an incident, they must be able to readily and proportionately justify their actions.

It is encouraged that all team drivers to achieve category 2 as minimum, plus as many as possible category 1. Training and assessment is not compulsory, but preferred, and the following conditions apply.

  1. Blue Light approved

  2. General approved

  3. Trainee

 

1. Blue Light Approved

Can drive on blue lights when necessary.

All full team member drivers, having undergone recognised training and approval for blue lights (phase 2, blue light). Re-assessment is planned on a three-yearly basis.

Will normally drive on rescues from Lowfold in case blue lights are required, even if initially they are not.

Trainee team members may take part in training theory sessions, but not go through the on-road training and assessment until they achieve full team membership.

 

 

2. General Approved

All full team member drivers having undergone recognised training and approval (phase 1, non-blue light). Team members may undergo phase 1 training with no compulsion to progress to phase 2. Team members attending rescues in their own vehicles are encouraged to participate to this level as a minimum.

Can drive on searches and other non-blue light situations. Will surrender drivers seat if blue lights become necessary.

 

3. Trainee Driver

All trainees and team members must complete a formal vehicle familiarisation session on the team vehicles before driving as a trainee driver. This session will be organised and undertaken by the Training Officer and Vehicle Manager (normally outside of normal team training).

All team members, whether full, trainee and probationary not having received appropriate training, or not having reached designated standard. Encouraged to drive in non-rescue situations to gain experience and practice.

On rare occasions, can drive on a rescue without blue lights only when no category 1 or 2 driver is available and if authorised by TL (or DTL) on the rescue.

 

4. Non-Driver

No wish to drive team vehicles and/or doesn’t hold a driving licence and does not generally use personal vehicle to attend rescues. Non-drivers are also encouraged to complete the formal vehicle familiarisation session.

 

5. Insurance Declaration

All drivers are required to declare any points or driving convictions that they have on an annual basis. This will be requested by the Vehicle Manager or a member of the Committee. The fact an individual has points or convictions doesn’t necessarily mean the driver can no longer drive a team vehicle.

It is suggested that all team members declare to their own insurance company that their vehicle is used as part of their volunteer role within the team.

 

6. Fitness to drive

It is the responsibility of the driver to declare themselves not fit for driving. If a driver feels tired they should not drive. If a driver requires corrective lenses for driving, they must have these with them at all times. Vehicles must not be driven when the driver is under the influence of drugs, some prescription medicines (check packaging) or alcohol. Drivers are reminded that alcohol can remain at illegal driving levels the morning after an evening drink. If a driver has had an alcoholic drink during the day, they should not drive a team vehicle on that day.

 

7. Vehicle checks

All vehicles maintenance is arranged by the Vehicle Manager and others acting on their behalf. Vehicles undergo a quarterly safety check by an external mechanic. Additionally, vehicles will have an annual MOT where appropriate.

Any faults noted by drivers should be reported to the Vehicle Manager and a note should also be documented on the vehicle white board. If a vehicle is unsafe/unusable to use the driver should also make this clear by leaving a note in the unsafe/unusable vehicle as well as reporting to the Vehicle Manager and Team Leadership.

Before driving, all drivers must ensure that the vehicle they are about to drive is safe and legal to do so. A laminated pre-drive check sheet is made available to all drivers. Each driver is personally responsible for the road worthiness of the vehicle they drive.

 

8. Refuelling

Vehicles should be refuelled and the fuel level maintained above half a tank. This should be done following each use, if a local fuel station is open. If fuel level is low and there wasn’t an opportunity to refill, then this should be noted on the vehicle white board.

 

9. Vehicle Loading

Drivers are responsible for making sure that the payload including that on the roof rack is secured and safe. All loose, personal equipment (bags, boots, ice axes etc) must be stowed in the load space rather than the passenger compartment. This is to reduce serious injury if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

 

10. Off Road

All drivers are encouraged to undergo an external off-road driving course, arranged by the team. Team members without this formal training should not attempt to drive off-road. Trainees with at least 6 months as a probationer may do this course too. Renewing this experience is left to the confidence of individual drivers.

Inexperienced drivers may gain off-road driving hours whilst accompanied by a pre-approved (by the Committee) team member with significant off-road driving experience. This is limited to agreed routes.

 

11. Vehicle Recovery

Only those who have been on a team approved recovery and winching course should attempt simple recovery of the vehicles and must only use the equipment provided. For all other situations the Team Leadership must be informed and an external recovery company will be arranged to carry out the recovery.

 

12. Driving Logs and Vehicle Cameras

All team members and trainees are encouraged to keep a record of their driving experiences within the team on the centrally held record.

Each vehicle is fitted with a forward-facing dash mounted camera. The footage from the cameras will be accessed by the Committee and Team Leadership in cases to protect individuals in case of an accident, where the LAMRT driver is not at fault. Drivers should be aware that the footage may be used as evidence against the driver if requested by a solicitor acting on behalf of the claimant, insurance company or the police. The video captured is not routinely monitored or used to critique team member’s driving. Occasionally, with the driver’s prior consent the images may be used for training or promotional purposes.

 

13. Use of Blue Lights/Warning Equipment

Drivers must only use blue light warning equipment when life or limb is threatened, or significant physiology harm/stress may be experienced by a casualty.

Road traffic act exemptions are no longer available to the team and should not be used even when driving on blue lights.

The driver should be the one who operates the emergency equipment and in some cases may ask the passenger to activate/deactivate emergency equipment on their behalf.

 

14. Concerns

If a team member is at all concerned with the driving standard of another team member this should be reported immediately to the Team Leadership. In extreme circumstances a report may need to be made directly to the police.