Litchfield Forester emergency vehicle ?
22 March 2009, 04:04 PM
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Litchfield Forester emergency vehicle ?
Just had a '57 plate Litchfield Forester Sti come screaming up behind me with blue lights flashing and sirens on. It was blue and had no markings or signs on it. I pulled over to let him past and he flew down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic.
He then switched off the lights and sirens and pulled in to B&Q so I followed him in there to take a look. The guy wasn't wearing a uniform which I thought was strange,he opened the boot and I could see a Hi-vis jacket but nothing else. He shut the boot and strolled off into B&Q going abit red and kept looking at me as he knew I was watching him !
Anyone know what this would have been ? I'm guessing he may have been a Paramedic but why no uniform and no equipment ?
He then switched off the lights and sirens and pulled in to B&Q so I followed him in there to take a look. The guy wasn't wearing a uniform which I thought was strange,he opened the boot and I could see a Hi-vis jacket but nothing else. He shut the boot and strolled off into B&Q going abit red and kept looking at me as he knew I was watching him !
Anyone know what this would have been ? I'm guessing he may have been a Paramedic but why no uniform and no equipment ?
22 March 2009, 04:29 PM
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Demonstrator vehicle, go on admit it you would !
dunx
P.S. My cousin is a vehicle evaluator for the plod, and has some similar funny stories to tell, usually involving a curry house !
dunx
P.S. My cousin is a vehicle evaluator for the plod, and has some similar funny stories to tell, usually involving a curry house !
23 March 2009, 11:48 AM
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lol, Before you all jump to unfair conclusionsWe have supplied this Forester STI to a rapid response Charity that provides emergency assistance in the Gloucestershire area. They provide support to the Ambulance service and are obviously able to get to the scene far quicker than the normal services.
The Doctor that owns the Forester STI thinks it’s the ideal vehicle for him to get somewhere quickly, safely and with the large amounts of kit they have to carry
I would however be worried if he asked for a roof rack! 
More information on this Charity can be found here: Gloucestershire BASICS
We have also provided vehicles for St. John’s Ambulance in the past as well although the slower Landrover variety
Iain
23 March 2009, 06:28 PM
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lol, Before you all jump to unfair conclusionsWe have supplied this Forester STI to a rapid response Charity that provides emergency assistance in the Gloucestershire area. They provide support to the Ambulance service and are obviously able to get to the scene far quicker than the normal services.
The Doctor that owns the Forester STI thinks it’s the ideal vehicle for him to get somewhere quickly, safely and with the large amounts of kit they have to carry
I would however be worried if he asked for a roof rack! More information on this Charity can be found here: Gloucestershire BASICS
We have also provided vehicles for St. John’s Ambulance in the past as well although the slower Landrover variety
Iain
And if he was on a genuine emergency call,why did he not take any equipment with him when he left the car ?
This may well have been a genuine emergency incident but his driving was so bad that it made me post on here to see what was going on !
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23 March 2009, 06:39 PM
#8
??????????????
Well his driving leaves alot to be desired !
And if he was on a genuine emergency call,why did he not take any equipment with him when he left the car ?
This may well have been a genuine emergency incident but his driving was so bad that it made me post on here to see what was going on !
And if he was on a genuine emergency call,why did he not take any equipment with him when he left the car ?
This may well have been a genuine emergency incident but his driving was so bad that it made me post on here to see what was going on !
23 March 2009, 06:42 PM
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I didn't want to say anything to him incase it turned out to be a copper
Maybe he was on a genuine emergency call which then got cancelled and he thought,while i'm here i'll pop to B&Q
24 March 2009, 12:21 PM
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sounds like inappropiate use of emergency vehicle-if caught reported to police for dangerous driving and in front of GMC who do not take kindly to bringing the profession into disrepute
martin
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24 March 2009, 04:49 PM
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Sounds dodgy when you first read it, as an Ex-Paramedic (long story including a crap orthopedic surgeon) I know that you can only drive under emergency conditions when going to an emergency.....
But on the other hand there could be two reasons for his driving....
1. He could have been 'on call' which would account for a lack of uniform, the on call officers in the Ambulance service all had blue lights fitted to their vehicles and would often attend big incidents in just a flourescent vest no uniform.....
2. Another thing that used to happen to me when I was in the fast response car is that I would be mobilised to an incident if there was no one else available, but 'en-route' sometimes got stood down off the incident, leading to some strange looks from fellow drivers as one minute I'm overtaking everyone on blues only to pull in and switch them all off...
The same goes in that as an emergency charity he could be providing 'first responder' help, where members of charities and public with training attend incidents as a first responder if there is no Ambulance to respond, and then get 'stood down' en-route
I'm not making excuses, just trying to give an idea of possible circumstances....
Nope that helps guys..
But on the other hand there could be two reasons for his driving....
1. He could have been 'on call' which would account for a lack of uniform, the on call officers in the Ambulance service all had blue lights fitted to their vehicles and would often attend big incidents in just a flourescent vest no uniform.....
2. Another thing that used to happen to me when I was in the fast response car is that I would be mobilised to an incident if there was no one else available, but 'en-route' sometimes got stood down off the incident, leading to some strange looks from fellow drivers as one minute I'm overtaking everyone on blues only to pull in and switch them all off...
The same goes in that as an emergency charity he could be providing 'first responder' help, where members of charities and public with training attend incidents as a first responder if there is no Ambulance to respond, and then get 'stood down' en-route
I'm not making excuses, just trying to give an idea of possible circumstances....
Nope that helps guys..
Last edited by THE DOCTOR; 24 March 2009 at 04:55 PM.
Boring Tuesday afternoon.
24 March 2009, 06:18 PM
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Sounds dodgy when you first read it, as an Ex-Paramedic (long story including a crap orthopedic surgeon) I know that you can only drive under emergency conditions when going to an emergency.....
But on the other hand there could be two reasons for his driving....
1. He could have been 'on call' which would account for a lack of uniform, the on call officers in the Ambulance service all had blue lights fitted to their vehicles and would often attend big incidents in just a flourescent vest no uniform.....
2. Another thing that used to happen to me when I was in the fast response car is that I would be mobilised to an incident if there was no one else available, but 'en-route' sometimes got stood down off the incident, leading to some strange looks from fellow drivers as one minute I'm overtaking everyone on blues only to pull in and switch them all off...
The same goes in that as an emergency charity he could be providing 'first responder' help, where members of charities and public with training attend incidents as a first responder if there is no Ambulance to respond, and then get 'stood down' en-route
I'm not making excuses, just trying to give an idea of possible circumstances....
Nope that helps guys..
But on the other hand there could be two reasons for his driving....
1. He could have been 'on call' which would account for a lack of uniform, the on call officers in the Ambulance service all had blue lights fitted to their vehicles and would often attend big incidents in just a flourescent vest no uniform.....
2. Another thing that used to happen to me when I was in the fast response car is that I would be mobilised to an incident if there was no one else available, but 'en-route' sometimes got stood down off the incident, leading to some strange looks from fellow drivers as one minute I'm overtaking everyone on blues only to pull in and switch them all off...
The same goes in that as an emergency charity he could be providing 'first responder' help, where members of charities and public with training attend incidents as a first responder if there is no Ambulance to respond, and then get 'stood down' en-route
I'm not making excuses, just trying to give an idea of possible circumstances....
Nope that helps guys..
I'm hoping that it was the second reason and that it was a genuine emergency call and that he was stood down en-route
30 March 2009, 09:34 AM
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Litchfield Forester Emergency Vehicle
Gosh! I seem to have upset a lot of people!
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
30 March 2009, 09:59 AM
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Its true, In my past life you can be on a blue light run and it can sound like the most important job in the world, only for you to be canceled right when your in the middle of traffic, It's not safe for you just to turn off all sirens lights etc and get into the traffic.
Its best practice to get to a safe location and terminate.
To drive on blues you have to meet standards set by the service you drive for, most cases its at least a 3 week intense course, And I mean intense.
The aim of a blue light run is to make progress, if you upset people its not an issue as long as its safe.
People dont like to be overtaken, they dont like to cue, they assume every blue light run is to get home on time.
The truth however is, everytime you respond you are 100% accountable for your driving, Although you are exempt from certain traffic laws you are still more than able to get done for dangerous driving yourself. And this is a possible career ender for many people.
On the most part advance drivers have a great pride in there driving and although it might not appear to be the case all the time they are very very good drivers.
*i put my flame proof suit on in preparation*
Its best practice to get to a safe location and terminate.
To drive on blues you have to meet standards set by the service you drive for, most cases its at least a 3 week intense course, And I mean intense.
The aim of a blue light run is to make progress, if you upset people its not an issue as long as its safe.
People dont like to be overtaken, they dont like to cue, they assume every blue light run is to get home on time.
The truth however is, everytime you respond you are 100% accountable for your driving, Although you are exempt from certain traffic laws you are still more than able to get done for dangerous driving yourself. And this is a possible career ender for many people.
On the most part advance drivers have a great pride in there driving and although it might not appear to be the case all the time they are very very good drivers.
*i put my flame proof suit on in preparation*
30 March 2009, 10:22 AM
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Gosh! I seem to have upset a lot of people!
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
30 March 2009, 11:21 AM
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fair enough,i work as out of hours gp up in scotland and unfortunately due to complaints re driving of liveried vehicles speeding we have had our lights taken off us and told if caught speeding no back up even though we are down as dual response and cover up to 40 miles of rural roads hence the rant!
martin
ps get the t25 version lol
martin
ps get the t25 version lol
30 March 2009, 06:01 PM
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Gosh! I seem to have upset a lot of people!
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
340BHP-WRX, despite me flying "down the wrong side of the road going head on with oncoming traffic" I was well aware of you in the black Impreza. Whenever you overtake there is usually oncoming traffic! I can assure you that I and all emergency reponse drivers have to achieve a high driving standard and blue light training. Apologies if you saw it differently. Not everybody out there is so observant, I've often sat behind people for miles with lights/sirens without a flicker of awareness from the driver in front.
Thanks for defending my honour Iain and "alsieboy". I work as a BASICS doctor so am on-call 24/7 and so don't wear a uniform. I was responding to a seroius road accident, but the helicopter beat me to it (perhaps I need a Litchfield upgarde!)
As I was no longer reponding I'm not therfore entitled to drive on "blues/twos" so turned them off, and happened to need something in B+Q on the way back home. Usually I try to "stand down" away from main routes, otherwise you get the situation here where people think your on a jolly!
Gloucestershire BASICS
Feel free to make a charitable donation, Gloucestershire roads unfortunately have a high number of serious accidents requiring our help. We do this for free but our equipment is v expensive.
I've got a great deal of respect for what you do
The main reason I started this thread was because I thought something dodgy was going on as i've never seen a blue Forester as an emergency vehicle before and as you weren't wearing a uniform I wrongly assumed you couldn't have been responding to a genuine emergency call. I thought you were just in a hurry to get to B&Q !
By the way,I drive a silver Impreza
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