Is it illegal to overtake an Ambulance with it's blue's flashing!!!!!
#32
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: here
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by kend
Indeed, that was me.
I was the one who arrived late, after being sent to the wrong location!
I was the one who arrived late, after being sent to the wrong location!
#35
Definately not illegal and not surprising either.
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies and use of the blue lights is up to the crew concerned.
On way to work last night in A&E I was rather saddened by the fire service bereavement van which passed 4 vehicles at innapropriate points using blue lights and then drove at a very low speed holding traffic up.
The use of emergency lights is supposed to be for true emergencies only however the definition can vary - cold pizza / time to go home!!!
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies and use of the blue lights is up to the crew concerned.
On way to work last night in A&E I was rather saddened by the fire service bereavement van which passed 4 vehicles at innapropriate points using blue lights and then drove at a very low speed holding traffic up.
The use of emergency lights is supposed to be for true emergencies only however the definition can vary - cold pizza / time to go home!!!
#36
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by brendy
Definately not illegal and not surprising either.
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies and use of the blue lights is up to the crew concerned.
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies and use of the blue lights is up to the crew concerned.
It's very hard for the crew to diagnose internal bleeding or the effects of shock for instance. The quicker the patient gets to A&E the better.
Lee
#37
Have to disagree with the above comment remember its safety that counts not speed in vast majority of cases. Paramedic staff are very capable of giving the same analgesia that will be given in hospital.
If not a true emergency then blue lights should not be used as you are at risk of causing a further accident.
If not a true emergency then blue lights should not be used as you are at risk of causing a further accident.
#38
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by brendy
Have to disagree with the above comment remember its safety that counts not speed in vast majority of cases. Paramedic staff are very capable of giving the same analgesia that will be given in hospital.
If not a true emergency then blue lights should not be used as you are at risk of causing a further accident.
If not a true emergency then blue lights should not be used as you are at risk of causing a further accident.
The chap with the broken leg may get his pain relief but he may be suffering from shock or other internal injuries and the break itself maybe cuting off blood to his leg increasing the risk of amputation. These are the type of complications the crew will be aware off even if they can't 100% diagnose them.
If the ambulance driver can save minutes sat at a junction by putting on the blues and safely creeping by then that would be the correct decision IMO.
Lee
#39
Originally Posted by brendy
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies
The less time they are "occupied" the better, allowing them to be ready for the next emergency....
You may need them one day....best to let them get on with their job without interference.....seems to be an awful lot of part-time paramedics on here who seem to think they know the job better than the professionals
#40
Can't understand why so many are quoting excuses for overtaking an emergency vehicle on a call out.
There is no way that you would know how serious an emergency is being dealt with. Surely it is only fair to give the vehicle the maximum space to go on his way and do all you can to avoid holding him up in any way.
One day it might be you in the ambulance in a bad way and needing full hospital treatment as soon as possible. I bet you would think differently in that case!
Les
There is no way that you would know how serious an emergency is being dealt with. Surely it is only fair to give the vehicle the maximum space to go on his way and do all you can to avoid holding him up in any way.
One day it might be you in the ambulance in a bad way and needing full hospital treatment as soon as possible. I bet you would think differently in that case!
Les
#41
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by imlach
You may need them one day
If an Amblance is doing 40 in a 60 with blue lights on just maybe the paramedic in the back is trying to restart someones heart or get someone breathing. A highly stressfull moment for the driver, just be aware that his concentration may not be on overtaking cars.
Cheers
Lee
#42
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Far Corfe
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would have thought that another car in front to pass when the traffic slows is the last thing some one on an emergency call needs, just another obstacle in the way. Just good luck that he turned off in this instance.
Unless you need to be in the way or have a pressing need (?) to pass them why bother? This guy is doing an important job, hopefully saving some ones life (even if he is a crap driver). Just get out of the way and stay like the good book says....
Unless you need to be in the way or have a pressing need (?) to pass them why bother? This guy is doing an important job, hopefully saving some ones life (even if he is a crap driver). Just get out of the way and stay like the good book says....
#43
Unfortunately you are not getting the point I am trying to make.
In todays society an ambulance is a commodity which the general public demands for whatever they see fit and the ambulance service have to provide transport to A&E except for London which has recently introduced rationing.
I am hardly an amateur as the paramedics deliver cases for me to supervise the patients treatment - I am simply pointing out that in my opinion blue lights are overused given the severity or lack of illness in the vast majority of cases transported to hospital as an emergency.
A 105 year old who has suffered a cardiac arrest with no hope of resuscitaion is still transported to local A&E as an emergency case often at high speed as these are the regulations the paramedic community are shackled with.
Most older paramedics agree with my sentiments expressed here safety is paramont and speed is secondary.
In todays society an ambulance is a commodity which the general public demands for whatever they see fit and the ambulance service have to provide transport to A&E except for London which has recently introduced rationing.
I am hardly an amateur as the paramedics deliver cases for me to supervise the patients treatment - I am simply pointing out that in my opinion blue lights are overused given the severity or lack of illness in the vast majority of cases transported to hospital as an emergency.
A 105 year old who has suffered a cardiac arrest with no hope of resuscitaion is still transported to local A&E as an emergency case often at high speed as these are the regulations the paramedic community are shackled with.
Most older paramedics agree with my sentiments expressed here safety is paramont and speed is secondary.
#45
Yeah what was I thinking I only teach paramedics on all the life support courses and major incident management courses they have to do as well as treat the patients once they have arrived.
It's tough being so underqualified but I will bow to your superior experience in emergency medicine.
It's tough being so underqualified but I will bow to your superior experience in emergency medicine.
#46
Originally Posted by brendy
Yeah what was I thinking I only teach paramedics on all the life support courses and major incident management courses they have to do as well as treat the patients once they have arrived.
It's tough being so underqualified but I will bow to your superior experience in emergency medicine.
It's tough being so underqualified but I will bow to your superior experience in emergency medicine.
#48
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Far Corfe
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its nice to be able to know the severity of a patient in an ambulance with the blues going ...... second sight or something. Me I just get out of the way as I think "blue lights" = emergency.
Fire engines are pretty slow even at full chat but dont go passing one of those with its blues on......
Fire engines are pretty slow even at full chat but dont go passing one of those with its blues on......
#50
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: here
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by brendy
A&E specialist registrar - thankfully finished training in a few months.
#51
havent read any of the above but they have them on to move heavy traffic & off it not. your abit of a nonce if you overtook it again, esp if he was doing 60 in a 60...
#53
Originally Posted by Scoob99
Tonight whilst on my way home from work I heard two tone's and checked my mirror and saw an ambulance coming, so I moved over and let him pass, got to the next roundabout and he went round it twice with the blue's turned off, he then went onto a 60mph road doing between 55 and 60 mph and then turned his blues back on, when it was safe I over took him and I don't think he was too pleased about that, should I expect a vist from the old bill??
Cheers
Colin
Cheers
Colin
As long as you were following the rules of the road you have nothing to worry about. Fortunately they don't hide Gatsos, Truvelos, Specs or "ooohhh he's going a bit quick" camreras in Ambulances. As long as you were out the way when he wanted you out the way you'll be fine.
#54
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Jaguar 3.0 sport now bought, Am loving it!!!!!
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was well out of his way, may I point out that the road we were on was a straight 60mph road, and beleive me nobody knows how important these guys are they saved my life after I was nearly killed by a drunk driver.
Cheers
Colin
Cheers
Colin
#55
Every situation needs to be weighed up on its own merits.
However, if the ambulance is doing 50mph with its blues and two's on a 60mph road, how do you know it's not just taking it steady as its about to approach the scene of an accident. If you overtake it in those circumstances, your going to look pretty silly when you have to slam the anchors on and would deserve a mouthful from the driver!!!
However, if the ambulance is doing 50mph with its blues and two's on a 60mph road, how do you know it's not just taking it steady as its about to approach the scene of an accident. If you overtake it in those circumstances, your going to look pretty silly when you have to slam the anchors on and would deserve a mouthful from the driver!!!
#56
Guest
Posts: n/a
Personally if it had been doing anything more than 40 on the piece of road you describe I wouldn't have overtaken it either on bike or car - less than 40 I would be assuming they have a critically ill patient on board that can't be transported too fast due to making their condition worse. I have had similar situations on the M25 when I could quite easily have blasted past but whats the point? At some point you could come to a junction/catch some traffic and then you are just another obstacle in the way that they have to pass. Just sit patiently behind them and wait for them to go their way and you can they go on at the pace you want.
Emergency services come first, your inpatience comes second in my opinion, no matter how good a driver you think you are.
Emergency services come first, your inpatience comes second in my opinion, no matter how good a driver you think you are.
#57
Scooby Regular
scoob99 , i just think that it is a vastly stupid thing to do , ie no common sense , what did overtaking the ambulance achieve ?? please tell us !!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
28
28 December 2015 11:07 PM
Pro-Line Motorsport
Car Parts For Sale
2
29 September 2015 07:36 PM
ambualance, ambulance, ambulances, cardiac, follow, highway, hihgway, illegal, imlach, limit, overtake, overtaking, pass, speed, tailgating