What is the process? Red flashing lights

Silver-Surfer_2

bigjl wrote: »

Not in over 20 years no. And to be honest there weren't many around then so it wasn't really at the forefront of my mind. But you got me fair and square I didn't even think to consider stuff of that era.

I should clearly have added the caveat "recently" to my comment.

Though technically that was an on scene light, the Metro and the later Fiesta with a similar light never had a siren fitted.

But where does the distinction between a "beacon" and "lightbar" begin?

As the Met had for years a small lightbar on the Astras etc that only contained two halogen rotators and was only about half a metre long roughly.

No, they were the emergency equipment of the day. A beacon and horn was all you were given to make progress through traffic.

bigjl

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

No, they were the emergency equipment of the day. A beacon and horn was all you were given to make progress through traffic.

In London they had no sirens on the Fiesta or Metro, don't know about outside London. People may have used them to respond but they weren't supposed to, a similar situation to not pursuing somebody in an Astra or indeed one of the vans, both of which are done but you are not supposed to, at least in the Met.

The intermediate tier Sprinters were not supposed to be used for frontline work but they were. The Duty Officer Zafira (53 and 54 plate) were not meant to be used for FRU work but they were, the Duty Officer Galaxys were not supposed to be used as bumper cars when they were being stored but they were, we all know lots of things that shouldn't happen but did.

The last Fiesta in my area was a V Reg or maybe it was a Y, but it was still being used till at least 2004, as my cremate and I had to help attempt to bump start it after it had been left with the blue light flashing for several hours to close a road.

I do remember plenty of these though. (I don't know how to post a photo from my phone so only a link)

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/t324-hgt-is-a-london-ambulance-service-ldv-front/

Silver-Surfer_2

bigjl wrote: »

In London you had no sirens on the Fiesta or Metro, don't know about outside London.

The last Fiesta in my area was a Y Reg if I remember correctly and was still being used till 2004, as my cremate and I had to help jump start it after it had been left with the blue light flashing to close the road.

I do remember plenty of these. (I don't know how to post a photo from my phone so only a link)

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/t324-hgt-is-a-london-ambulance-service-ldv-front/

As I said, you had to use the horn.

bigjl

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

As I said, you had to use the horn.

I can only go by what serving and former Met Officers have told me.

The only time I have seen a Met car responding using the horn was in an episode of The Sweeney.

In London now you run the risk of being charged with an offence if you respond lights only.

A Met Traffic Officer was convicted recently as he was involved in a collision at a junction when going lights only.

I obviously can't speak about what happened in the 70's, 80's or earlier as then the discussion would in all likelihood be about whistles wouldn't it?

I am working with a retired Copper tomorrow, and he drove that Fiesta loads of times, I will ask him directly if he was supposed to respond with the light on and using the horn.

The Fiesta and Metro were no different to the Blue lighted three wheeled scooters that PCSOs have in London, they have no siren, don't respond on blues and the lights are fitted for purely on scene use.

Silver-Surfer_2

bigjl wrote: »

I can only go by what serving and former Met Officers have told me.

The only time I have seen a Met car responding using the horn was in an episode of The Sweeney.

In London now you run the risk of being charged with an offence if you respond lights only.

A Met Traffic Officer was convicted recently as he was involved in a collision at a junction when going lights only.

I obviously can't speak about what happened in the 70's, 80's or earlier as then the discussion would in all likelihood be about whistles wouldn't it?

I am working with a retired Copper tomorrow, and he drove that Fiesta loads of times, I will ask him directly if he was supposed to respond with the light on and using the horn.

The Fiesta and Metro were no different to the Blue lighted three wheeled scooters that PCSOs have in London, they have no siren, don't respond on blues and the lights are fitted for purely on scene use.

That'll be down to his driving standards. Sirens don't exempt you.