Emergency vehicle drivers have a major responsibility and control the most major of assets of the organization. Emergency vehicle drivers should make every attempt to provide due regard for the safety of others. Safe operation of emergency apparatus, as well as personal vehicles during an emergency response depends greatly on the ability and skills of the person behind the wheel. Your organizations should select drivers based on certain benchmarks and criteria. Training, selecting and maintaining safe, good drivers should not be taken lightly and should address the following criteria to include, but not limited to: selection criteria for drivers, restrictions on inexperienced drivers, training requirements, disciplinary actions for driving violations, documented preventative maintenance programs, written emergency vehicle response safety guidelines, medical evaluations and accident investigation program. Your organization can maximize the good qualities of a driver and minimize the negative aspects by taking a proactive approach and address the issues of emergency driving and follow the prescribed guidelines, by-laws, SOG's, etc. Your organization should be highly cautious in that the guidelines and procedures developed by your department can be routinely maintained, enforced and monitored.