"I found an ambulance quite moving" blog discussion

thebigbosh

it was very frustrating to see ambulances trying to bull their way through the traffic when I lived in Brazil. Coming from the UK where, as described above, everyone falls over each other to get out of the way, Brazilians seem to be so lackadaisical about it and the poor drivers have to hoot and rev in order to get through, especially in heavy traffic where nobody wants to lose their space: even for an ambulance! I feel sorry for the poor families who suffered because of this lack of respect and recognition.
Anyway, things here in Dubai seem to be a bit more civilised now at least - must be the huge numbers of us Brits here!!

nearlyrich

I always pull over and stop if necessary to let emegency vehicles past, I had an experiece recently which left me open mouthed, I moved over at traffic lights and the car behind me ( A driving school car with just one person in) moved into the space I had vacated leaving the ambulance stuck behind him, I was gobsmacked.

Gordon_the_Moron

foundationsmcr wrote: »

Technically there is nothing in the Highway Code about breaking the law by not pulling over.

"Other vehicles
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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."

So long as you take appropriate action, this means you should not prevent them passing.

Avoid mounting the kerb?

If the kerb is empty and the road isn't wide enough to let an emergency vehicle pass any other way sod that I'm mounting it all day long.

If there is traffic coming in the other direction I've got 3 choices

1. Obstruct emergency vehicle (not going to happen)
2. Mount kerb
3. Put my foot down and break the speed limit myself, unlike the emergency vehicle I may get a speeding ticket if I do this.

avinabacca

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

IMHO, we don't deserve our emergency services.

Eh? What??

Joan49

Gets me the same way. Wish everyone could behave like this all the time. Thanks for the website Martin, love it.

JulieGeorgiana

I thought I was the only one!

Although ref. the earlier comments about parking and not allowing emergency vehicles in a road... my son collapsed at home and the ambulance couldn't quite get where he needed to be, so they parked in the road and came and dealt with my son... one of the neighbours actually came to the house to complain that they couldn't get out of the road and they were going to be late for work.

The paramedics just told him that my son was more important and he'd have to wait (and too right I say!)

When my son was placed in the ambulance there were 4 cars waiting to get out, 2 of the neighbours actually enquired after my son later in the day. Anyway the point is the bad parking can really cause problems, especially when emergency services cannot get down a road and has to block the whole way. But people don't consider that do they?

Paul_Varjak

I have no idea what happened when I was being transported by ambulance - I was clinically dead at the time. I am just glad that the driver was a better driver than the surgeon was a surgeon!

callum9999

ElkyElky wrote: »

I don't get this blog post. Moving out of the way for emergency services.. isn't that what the law says you must do? After all, we don't want someones blood on our hands.

Why is complying with the law "moving"?

I've pulled over hundreds of times for emergency services but it doesn't make me drop to the ground blubbering like a hysterical idiot.

It's a law that is impossible to enforce, so people are doing it because they want to, not because they have to.

It's moving because while I am close to the stage of completely losing faith in humanity, seeing hundreds of strangers coordinating with each other so another stranger can get past and get to the hospital quicker restores some of that faith.

Quite morbid when I stop and think about it, but I often smile when I see an ambulance rushing through traffic!

exup

CAE wrote: »

Please do not refer to anyone driving an ambulance as an ambulance driver. He or she may be driving an ambulance, but they will also be a highly skilled technician or Paramedic.

er I think you are looking through a rose tinted past - as there isn't enough money now to have paramedics in all ambulances, and sadly the technician role is being pushed out. perhaps have a talk with a member of staff who drive A/E vehicles to find just what is going on, but be prepared for a venting of anger.

Unfortunately this respect (although I expect most people get out of the way of blue flashing lights and sirens out of some sort of instinct) is slowly fading out and being replaced by selfishness - Like the couple who swore at my ex when they had just seen her carry a young child in her arms into the back of an ambulance. The problem? they couldn't get their van past to get home as the road was narrow so they decided to tell my ex just how selfish she was. In the end they technically assaulted her before they (the ambulance crew) threatened police would be called/informed.
(actually Police WERE informed, and decided to pay the pleasant chap a visit around 3 am in the morning - thats the benefit of the crew member going out with a policeman).

AshleyJane

ElkyElky wrote: »

I don't get this blog post. Moving out of the way for emergency services.. isn't that what the law says you must do? After all, we don't want someones blood on our hands.

Why is complying with the law "moving"?

I've pulled over hundreds of times for emergency services but it doesn't make me drop to the ground blubbering like a hysterical idiot.

...Just for the record the day you drop to the ground like a blubbering hysterical idiot.. will be the day the ambulance service is there to pick you up... as it does for everyone in their time of need...

... it is this sought of attitude that makes the world the terrible inhumane place it is to live today...

I was so proud to read your blog martin - I am the project coordinator for london ambulance and i am very proud of the work i do, the people i work with and the people we help...

Our staff work so hard to keep it running and go over and above our duty most of the time.. and yet we still have to wear things like stab vests, we get spat at and sometimes assaulted verbally and physically.. obviously this is not a reflection of all of our work and patients but it is sad to think that in times of need when we're the only ones who will go to help we put ourselves at risk from the very people we are trying to help...

Also please remember if you lived in America or other countries where you have to pay for health care there is a flat rate of $650 for the use of an ambulance and the overall cost averaging at $800 for that one trip depending on medical needs and intervention... if you need certain medical attention specifically from a paramedic in america they wont administer it until you can prove your health insurance covers it or you make a payment... on the ambulance...

sometimes in england we really dont appreciate what we have...