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2.20 – Accident Procedures
When you're in an accident and not seriously hurt,
you need to act to prevent further damage or injury.
The basic steps to be taken at any accident are to:
Protect the area.
Notify authorities.
Care for the injured.
2.20.1 – Protect the Area
The first thing to do at an accident scene is to keep
another accident from happening in the same spot.
To protect the accident area:
If your vehicle is involved in the accident, try to get
it to the side of the road. This will help prevent
another accident and allow traffic to move.
If you're stopping to help, park away from the
accident. The area immediately around the
accident will be needed for emergency vehicles.
Put on your flashers.
Set out reflective triangles to warn other traffic.
Make sure other drivers can see them in time to
avoid the accident.
2.20.2 – Notify Authorities
If you have a cell phone or CB, call for assistance
before you get out of your vehicle. If not, wait until
after the accident scene has been properly
protected, then phone or send someone to phone
the police. Try to determine where you are so you
can give the exact location.
2.20.3 – Care for the Injured
If a qualified person is at the accident and helping
the injured, stay out of the way unless asked to
assist. Otherwise, do the best you can to help any
injured parties. Here are some simple steps to follow
in giving assistance:
Don't move a severely injured person unless the
danger of fire or passing traffic makes it necessary.
Stop heavy bleeding by applying direct pressure to
the wound.
Keep the injured person warm.
2.21 – Fires
Truck fires can cause damage and injury. Learn the
causes of fires and how to prevent them. Know what
to do to extinguish fires.
2.21.1 – Causes of Fire
The following are some causes of vehicle fires:
After Accidents. Spilled fuel, improper use of
flares.
Tires. Under-inflated tires and duals that touch.
Electrical System. Short circuits due to damaged
insulation, loose connections.
Fuel. Driver smoking, improper fueling, loose fuel
connections.
Cargo. Flammable cargo, improperly sealed or
loaded cargo, poor ventilation.
2.21.2 – Fire Prevention
Pay attention to the following:
Vehicle Inspection. Make a complete inspection
of the electrical, fuel, and exhaust systems, tires,
and cargo. Be sure to check that the fire
extinguisher is charged.
En Route Inspection. Check the tires, wheels,
and truck body for signs of heat whenever you stop
during a trip.
Follow Safe Procedures. Follow correct safety
procedures for fueling the vehicle, using brakes,
handling flares, and other activities that can cause
a fire.
Monitoring. Check the instruments and gauges
often for signs of overheating and use the mirrors
to look for signs of smoke from tires or the vehicle.
Caution. Use normal caution in handling anything
flammable.
2.21.3 – Fire Fighting
Knowing how to fight fires is important. Drivers who
didn’t know what to do have made fires worse. Know
how the fire extinguisher works. Study the
instructions printed on the extinguisher before you
need it. Here are some procedures to follow in case
of fire.
Pull Off the Road. The first step is to get the vehicle
off the road and stop. In doing so:
Park in an open area, away from buildings, trees,
brush, other vehicles, or anything that might catch
fire.
Don't pull into a service station!
Notify emergency services of your problem and
your location.
Keep the Fire from Spreading. Before trying to put
out the fire, make sure that it doesn't spread any
further.
With an engine fire, turn off the engine as soon as
you can. Don't open the hood if you can avoid it.
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-38
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Shoot foam through louvers, radiator, or from the
vehicle’s underside.
For a cargo fire in a van or box trailer, keep the
doors shut, especially if your cargo contains
hazardous materials. Opening the van doors will
supply the fire with oxygen and can cause it to
burn very fast.
Extinguish the Fire. Here are some rules to follow
in putting out a fire:
When using the extinguisher, stay as far away from
the fire as possible.
Aim at the source or base of the fire, not up in the
flames.
Use the Right Fire Extinguisher
Figures 2.20 and 2.21 detail the type of fire
extinguisher to use by class of fire.
The B:C type fire extinguisher is designed to work
on electrical fires and burning liquids.
The A:B:C type is designed to work on burning
wood, paper, and cloth as well.
Water can be used on wood, paper, or cloth, but
don't use water on an electrical fire (can cause
shock) or a gasoline fire (it will spread the flames).
A burning tire must be cooled. Lots of water may
be required.
If you're not sure what to use, especially on a
hazardous materials fire, wait for firefighters.
Position yourself upwind. Let the wind carry the
extinguisher to the fire.
Continue until whatever was burning has been
cooled. Absence of smoke or flame does not mean
Class/Type of Fires
Class Type
A Wood, Paper, Ordinary Combustibles
Extinguish by Cooling and
Quenching Using Water or Dry
Chemicals
B Gasoline, Oil, Grease, Other Greasy
Liquids
Extinguish by Smothering, Cooling
or Heat Shielding using carbon
Dioxide or Dry Chemicals
C Electrical Equipment Fires
Extinguish with Non-conducting
Agents such as Carbon Dioxide or
Dry Chemicals. DO NOT USE
WATER.
D Fires in Combustible Metals
Extinguish by Using Specialized
Extinguishing Powders
Figure 2.20
Class of Fire/Type of Extinguisher
Class of Fire Fire Extinguisher Type
B or C Regular Dry Chemical
A, B, C, or D Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical
D Purple K Dry Chemical
B or C KCL Dry Chemical
Dry Powder Special
the fire cannot restart.
D
B or C
Compound
Carbon Dioxide (Dry)
B or C Halogenated Agent (Gas)
A Water
A Water With Anti-Freeze
A or B Water, Loaded Steam Style
B, On Some A
Figure 2.21
Foam
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-39
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Subsections 2.20 and 2.21
Test Your Knowledge
1. What are some things to do at an accident
scene to prevent another accident?
2. Name two causes of tire fires.
3. What kinds of fires is a B:C extinguisher not
good for?
4. When using your extinguisher, should you get
as close as possible to the fire?
5. Name some causes of vehicle fires.
What Is a Drink?
It is the alcohol in drinks that affects human
performance. It doesn't make any difference
whether that alcohol comes from "a couple of
beers,” or from two glasses of wine, or two shots
of hard liquor. Approximate Blood Alcohol
Content
Body Weight in Pounds
These questions may be on the test. If you can't
answer them all, re-read subsections 2.20 and 2.21.
0 .00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
2.22 – Alcohol, Other Drugs, and
Driving
2.22.1 – Alcohol and Driving
Drinking alcohol and then driving is very dangerous
and a serious problem. People who drink alcohol
are involved in traffic accidents resulting in over
20,000 deaths every year. Alcohol impairs muscle
coordination, reaction time, depth perception, and
night vision. It also affects the parts of the brain that
control judgment and inhibition. For some people,
one drink is all it takes to show signs of impairment.
How Alcohol Works. Alcohol goes directly into the
blood stream and is carried to the brain. After
passing through the brain, a small percentage is
removed in urine, perspiration, and by breathing,
while the rest is carried to the liver. The liver can
only process one-third an ounce of alcohol per hour,
which is considerably less than the alcohol in a
standard drink. This is a fixed rate, so only time, not
black coffee or a cold shower, will sober you up. If
you have drinks faster than your body can get rid of
1 .04
2 .08
3 .11
4 .15
5 .19
6 .23
7 .26
8 .30
9 .34
1 .38
0
.03
.06
.09
.12
.16
.19
.22
.25
.28
.31
.03
.05
.08
.11
.13
.16
.19
.21
.24
.27
.02
.05
.07
.09
.12
.14
.16
.19
.21
.23
.02
.04
.06
.08
.11
.13
.15
.17
.19
.21
.02
.04
.06
.08
.09
.11
.13
.15
.17
.19
.02
.03
.05
.07
.09
.10
.12
.14
.15
.17
.02
.03
.05
.06
.08
.09
.11
.13
.14
.16
them, you will have more alcohol in your body, and
your driving will be more affected. The Blood
Alcohol Concentration (BAC) commonly measures
the amount of alcohol in your body. See Figure 2.22.
Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking. One
drink is 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 5
oz. of table wine.
Figure 2.22
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-40
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
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