Blue Lights

DaveMacD

casper_g wrote: »

Doctors providing out-of-hours emergency cover?

Nope, they are only allowed to use flashing GREEN lights.

DaveMacD

In some ways you are lucky you are getting allowed to use blues. In Scotland, most of the First Response groups are specifically excluded from using them. Very frustrating when you are heading to a heart attack, and no-one is aware of your presence...

Wig

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sebdangerfield

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Out of hours Emergency cover by doctors is included
Doctors on call with flashing green lights (asking politely for priority from other road users) are not on an emergency call and therefore are not included, different things.

gingerdad

DaveMacD wrote: »

In some ways you are lucky you are getting allowed to use blues. In Scotland, most of the First Response groups are specifically excluded from using them. Very frustrating when you are heading to a heart attack, and no-one is aware of your presence...

the difference is the first responders are using there own cars. we (like MCA, RNLI, Retained firefighters) can't have blues on our own transport to the station on a call.

beefcarrot

gingerdad wrote: »

the difference is the first responders are using there own cars. we (like MCA, RNLI, Retained firefighters) can't have blues on our own transport to the station on a call.

I'm a responder in Cornwall. Even responder cars with full livery are not allowed to use blues.

DaveMacD

beefcarrot wrote: »

I'm a responder in Cornwall. Even responder cars with full livery are not allowed to use blues.

Was going to say that. We're getting a fully stickered up vehicle in the next few months, and we can't have blue lights either (although there have been some high level talks about getting to use greens). We have exactly zero priority. Only one group I know of have blues, but they were set up a few years ago, and then became semi autonomous from the ambulance service...

I know one guy who does have blues on his private vehicle, but that's reserved for use off road since he is the emergency response on a large industrial complex. Avoids him getting squashed by a large truck on site

goldspanners

i used to know a blood transfusion driver who did drive under blues for years but apparently the legislation al changed about this and who could drive under blues a few years ago. i haven't read the whole thread because A i can't be arsed and B im pished.so thisd may have been pointed out previously.

Wig

beefcarrot wrote: »

I'm a responder in Cornwall. Even responder cars with full livery are not allowed to use blues.

Someone earlier in the thread, quoted the relevant section of RTA, whoever it was has now deleted it, but I remember it saying words similar to

"except those vehicles used exclusively for emergency response"

What I believe it was saying is if the vehicle is used exclusively for emergency response (as defined) it could have blue lights fitted and that included mountain rescue, fire, blood transfusion etc etc etc etc

If the car has full emergency livery, as long as it is not used exclusively for emergency response it cannot have blues, i.e. the car also goes to Asda for the weekly shopping and to & from work. There must however be (or may be) an exception to this rule because I'm thinking of Fire chief cars and "The Bill" (the TV series ) when they put a blue light on the dash.... ???

The OPs vehicle (I imagine) is used exclusively for emergency response.

OP what is the vehicle? I am curious, is it an ATV or Quad bike?

Premier_2

sebdangerfield wrote: »

They are fully obliged to stop. The court of appeal in Keyse v Commisissioner of the Metropolitan Policec Force 2001 EWCA civ 715 held that; Police and other emergency service drivers were entitled to expect other road users to take note of the signs of their approach e.g sirens and flashing lights and, react accordingly.

http://www.swarb.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=124

I don't see anything in that link suggesting you are obliged to stop

I can't see anything in the highway code about it either.

219
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069858