Ambulance Driver’s Handbook - HPH 82.4 - Revised January 2015

Sep 20, 2026

Upload by Sarah

An ambulance driver’s handbook consolidating statutes, regulations, and reference guidance for operating emergency ambulances in California. It supports preparation for the ambulance driver certificate examination by aligning questions with handbook material while clarifying that it does not cover every governing law. The foreword outlines consultation sources including the California Vehicle Code, Health and Safety Code, and specific Code of Regulations titles. It also describes preparation by California Highway Patrol with cooperation from DMV and EMSA, including how to direct questions and obtain copies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages39

Reading Time1 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

General information and explanatory notes

Compliance

Applicability of regulations

Ambulance service license requirement

Explanatory notes

Ambulance and ambulance service

Emergency call and emergency service

Code 3 operation

Convictions

Ambulance identification

Service availability

Warning equipment standards

Fire extinguisher servicing

Ambulance inspections

Escorts for transported patients

Liability

Regulatory exemptions

Grounds for suspension or revocation of license

Table of contents

HPH 82.4 AMBULANCE DRIVER’S HANDBOOK An Internationally Accredited Agency DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AMBULANCE DRIVER’S HANDBOOK THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES OR THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. REVISED JANUARY 2015 LIBRARY DISTRIBUTION ACT HPH 82.4 FOREWORD The purpose of this handbook is to consolidate statutes, regulations, and information specifically related to the operation and equipment of emergency ambulances and provide ready reference material on ambulance driver certificates, attendant requirements, and information on ambulance service operations. An examination for an ambulance driver certificate is conducted at the field offices of the State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) . The questions for these examinations are based on material contained in this handbook. However, this booklet DOES NOT contain all laws and regulations governing ambulance drivers, attendants, or ambulance services. The California Vehicle Code; California Health and Safety Code; and California Code of Regulations, Title 13 (Division 2), and Title 22 (Division 9) should also be consulted. This handbook was prepared by the Department of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) with the cooperation of the DMV and the State of California, Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), pursuant to Section 2512(d) of the California Vehicle Code. Recommendations pertaining to emergency medical care training of ambulance personnel, medical care standards, and medical equipment performance standards or designs were provided by the EMSA. Questions regarding this handbook may be directed to the CHP, Research and Planning Section, P.O. Box 942898, Sacramento, CA 94298-0001, or by telephone at (916) 843-3340. Copies of this handbook may be purchased at local DMV offices, or from the CHP by contacting the Publications Unit at (916) 843-3640. A complete California Vehicle Code may be purchased at any local DMV office. Titles of the California Code of Regulations can be found on the State of California, Office of Administrative Law’s Web site at [www.oal.ca.gov](www.oal.ca.gov. A hard-copy of Titles of)[. A hard-copy of Titles of](www.oal.ca.gov. A hard-copy of Titles of) the California Code of Regulations may be purchased from Barclays Law Publishers, at [www.barclaysccr.com](www.barclaysccr.com) or by telephone at (800) 888-3600. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OPI: 061 HPH 82.4 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIGHWAY PATROL HANDBOOK 82.4, AMBULANCE DRIVER’S HANDBOOK OPI CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES .............. 061 CHAPTER 2 AMBULANCE DRIVER CERTIFICATION ......................................... 061 CHAPTER 3 AMBULANCE PERSONNEL TRAINING ........................................... 061 CHAPTER 4 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY .......................... 061 HPH 82.4 CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION............................................................................................... 1-3 Compliance .................................................................................................................... 1-3 Applicability of Regulations ............................................................................................ 1-3 Ambulance Service License Requirement ..................................................................... 1-3 EXPLANATORY NOTES .................................................................................................. 1-3 Ambulance ..................................................................................................................... 1-3 Ambulance Service ........................................................................................................ 1-3 Emergency Call ..............................................................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of this handbook for ambulance drivers?

It consolidates statutes, regulations, and information related to operating emergency ambulances and provides reference material for ambulance driver certificates, attendant requirements, and ambulance service operations.

Does the handbook include all laws and regulations for ambulance drivers and services?

No. It states that it does not contain all governing laws and regulations, and that the California Vehicle Code, California Health and Safety Code, and specific Code of Regulations titles must also be consulted.

Where is the ambulance driver certificate examination conducted, and what is it based on?

The examination is conducted at field offices of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the questions are based on material contained in this handbook.

Sep 20, 2026

Upload by Sarah