What is the process? Red flashing lights

dcouponzzzz

I'm in the need for a bit of educating here.

Driving in to Manchester this morning I noticed an 'Emergency NHS Medical Team' ambulance/people carrier vehicle behind me. This only had a bar of red flashing lights and no sirens. I moved out of the way promptly, but the vehicle then proceeds to join the queue of traffic at Warrington and makes no attempt to pass, and no-one else moves to allow him to pass.... then he turns off his lights

On arrival to Manchester, the minibus is alongside me on Regent road and the driver is sitting on his mobile texting, with his lights flashing, and no-one moving for him.

The whole situation confused me, and my question is... does this vehicle with red flashing lights command priority? If so, why did no-one else on the road allow him through? Also... why are his lights on if he's content to sit in traffic and txt?! I'll always move out of the way of a vehicle marked 'Ambulance' but I'm still intrigued.

RUSS56

Contact Ambulance service locally ? I am a volunteer with Northumbria Bloodbikes and all our bikes and cars have blue lights and yellow battenburg like police bikes

We use blue lights ( not red) but do not have sirens fitted , we have to adhere to all road traffic act regulations and where conditions are difficult we will switch blues off because some drivers panic and mount kerbs /swerve suddenly ?

We will NOT pass through red lights unless indicated to do so by a police officer regardless how urgent bloods/biopsy samples /medical notes etc are needed

Our safety and the safety of pedestrians and other road users comes first at ALL TIMES so what this prat has been doing i don know especially if texting on persoanl mobile ? we have to use radios maybe on route as we might be transporting bllods to a serious road accident where even the air ambulance can be running low especially if a persons trapped and needing urgent roadside surgery ?

I would call your ambulance service as all vehicles usually have tracker and will show who was where

dcouponzzzz

There was a small sticker on the side of the vehicle and I've forgotten exactly what it said, but something like 'SCCS on behalf of north west ambulance'.

Car_54

AFAIK red beacons are illegal except on police vehicles, and then only at the rear.

nicechap

Official London Ambulances have flashing blue lights and alternating headlights (white). Metropolitan Police have flashing red & blue lights and alternating headlights. The ambulances have an exemption for red lights - and treat them as a give way rather than a stop sign. However, if they cause an accident by their actions, they are responsible as safety of the general public, any patient on board and colleagues come first.

Personally I'd have more perturbed by the driver texting whilst in command of a vehicle, even if stopped. Whoever is in charge of them need to know about that.

dcouponzzzz

similar vehicle to this picture

Nilrem

IIRC red lights on any vehicles can only be fitted to be seen from the rear (basic construction and use regs from memory).

I've never heard of a UK ambulance with red lights that can be seen from the front, as it would go against the reasoning behind the restrictions for red lights on vehicles.

dcouponzzzz

Nilrem wrote: »

IIRC red lights on any vehicles can only be fitted to be seen from the rear (basic construction and use regs from memory).

I've never heard of a UK ambulance with red lights that can be seen from the front, as it would go against the reasoning behind the restrictions for red lights on vehicles.

I noticed the red lights flashing in my rear-view mirror, but when they passed I noticed they were pointing backwards as you mentioned.

pappa_golf

a warning to others to pull back as he was on his phone?

Car_54

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

I noticed the red lights flashing in my rear-view mirror, but when they passed I noticed they were pointing backwards as you mentioned.

So did you actually see the lights, or their reflection on buildings etc?

bigjl

Car_54 wrote: »

AFAIK red beacons are illegal except on police vehicles, and then only at the rear.

Flashing red beacons are not illegal on anything if they are facing the rear as far as I am aware. To have them flashing alongside the blues you had to select them, they didn't come on with 999 mode, though I have seen several Met cars with flashing rear reds when responding.

They were intended to be used as on scene lights when the light bars first started being equipped with than in about 2006.

Some emergency service vehicles runs on blues with flashing rear reds.

Can't say I have seen any Police of Ambulance vehicle in London having forward facing reds.