Question on driving in an emergency

monument · 11-02-2012 12:07pm #1

A question only for those who drive blue light ambulances, fire tenders, and Garda cars:

What are the main things that get in your way when driving to / in an emergency?

Bosh · 11-02-2012 12:49pm

Do you want that in alphabetical order?

Could take a while...

A@@holes on mobiles
B@@lixes not looking in their mirrors
Clowns jamming on the brakes....

any advance?

Paulzx · 11-02-2012 1:47pm

monument wrote: »

A question only for those who drive blue light ambulances, fire tenders, and Garda cars:

What are the main things that get in your way when driving to / in an emergency?

Whats the one most difficult thing to get past?

I'd have to say Taxis on Camden St. at weekends.

Parked 3 abreast both sides of the road and absolutely point blank refuse to move out of the way in case they lose their place in whatever f$%ked up queue they are in which is visible to no one but themselves.

Total gridlock at 3am.

Never fails to amaze me

source · 11-02-2012 3:20pm

In limerick my big issue was pedestrians, they just step out into traffic down here without even looking. Had a guy walk out one night while flying up o'connell street in the van, everything going, lit up like a Christmas tree more noise than a local nightclub but this idiot just walked out anyway.

11-02-2012 3:26pm

monument wrote: »

What are the main things that get in your way when driving to / in an emergency?

Other drivers.

CharlieCroker · 11-02-2012 6:49pm

+1

Drivers stopping on bends and narrow roads.
People who forget they've mirrors sitting in the outside lane of a busy motorway
Pedestrians
Taxis in Dublin are a law unto themselves

goldie fish · 11-02-2012 7:09pm

People who see the patrol car in their mirrors, think they are speeding, and slow down....

11-02-2012 7:30pm

People who don't notice your lights and sirens but will react when you blow the horn. :rolleyes:

james116 · 11-02-2012 8:42pm

maybe the fireman could ring there follow fireman in there taxis and tell them to get out of the way cos on weekends when there is a lot of taxis in dublin a lot of them are double jobbers(firemen postmen etc etc)so all they have to do is ring them and tell them to get out of the way.problem sorted.:D

Paulzx · 11-02-2012 9:59pm

james116 wrote: »

maybe the fireman could ring there follow fireman in there taxis and tell them to get out of the way cos on weekends when there is a lot of taxis in dublin a lot of them are double jobbers(firemen postmen etc etc)so all they have to do is ring them and tell them to get out of the way.problem sorted.:D

I'm sure there's a taximan whinge forum on Boards somewhere.

Don't think this is it

wreckless · 11-02-2012 10:13pm

have been asking our SO and acfo to get the department to have a tv advert that will explain to motorists how to freact when ES vehilcles are on the road. they have a bleeded ad on how to use roundabouts ffs!!

there was one on the itv years ago, whether its ambo, fire, gardai or other ES, education goes a long way

has to be the ones who slow down on bends. why ffs!

BrianD · 11-02-2012 10:32pm

Here's a question.

In all the cities I've been worldwide, never have I heard so many ambulances on the move on a daily basis as in Dublin.

However, given the high numbers of people who pass through A&E perhaps this is unsurprising.

My question for ambulance drivers. What percentage of the people that are carried are real emergencies as opposed to "we have the lights and sirens so we can get their faster" (nothing particularly wrong with this as the patient gets to a care centre faster).

McWotever · 11-02-2012 11:17pm

This'll be fun! Come watch this everyone......

Officer Giggles · 11-02-2012 11:25pm

Douchebags not using their mirrors and double douchebags that dont hear the sirens either

cocoshovel · 11-02-2012 11:25pm

Not an ES personnel myself but one I have noticed quite a few times, pedestrians on a crowded road/street.
You could be blaring 2 different tones, banging on the horn and have all lights flashing and they still would be reluctant to clear the way while walking up a street. They just sort of non chalantly mope to the side slowly after you come up right behind them, even though they heard you a mile away.
You probably only encounter this on pedestrianized only streets or at festivles etc.

are you serious · 11-02-2012 11:46pm

Grafton Street and Temple bar are a joke at night, out the window with a paddle as we drive by... whammo...!! this should be allowed in my eyes

james116 · 12-02-2012 12:03am

Paulzx wrote: »

I'm sure there's a taximan whinge forum on Boards somewhere.

Don't think this is it

we have 1 paul its very good but let me put it like this.its a sunday and a member of your family is not feeling well so u ring 999 and the paramedics come out and the one that is treating your family member stopped driveing there taxi at 4am and started work in there other job at 9 so they are tired and not thinking right and they make a mistake and your family member dies or a family member has been to the doctors and is waiting for results to come in the post and because the post man like the fire man was out in his taxi untill 4am and could not get up to go to his day job u have to wait for 24 hours more.so if u are happy with that be my guest.last one you or a loved one are out on a nite out and u have had a nice meal and a few drinks and u get a taxi home and the driver is so tired cos he is on his 14th hour of work that day he dozed off crashes and u or a loved one is hurt or killed.so whingeing am i.

Mycroft H · 12-02-2012 12:24am

james116 wrote: »

we have 1 paul its very good but let me put it like this.its a sunday and a member of your family is not feeling well so u ring 999 and the paramedics come out and the one that is treating your family member stopped driveing there taxi at 4am and started work in there other job at 9 so they are tired and not thinking right and they make a mistake and your family member dies or a family member has been to the doctors and is waiting for results to come in the post and because the post man like the fire man was out in his taxi untill 4am and could not get up to go to his day job u have to wait for 24 hours more.so if u are happy with that be my guest.last one you or a loved one are out on a nite out and u have had a nice meal and a few drinks and u get a taxi home and the driver is so tired cos he is on his 14th hour of work that day he dozed off crashes and u or a loved one is hurt or killed.so whingeing am i.

Good grief man, put some spaces in that sentence. Some capitals would be nice too.

MarkR · 12-02-2012 12:33am

james116 wrote: »

we have 1 paul its very good but let me put it like this.its a sunday and a member of your family is not feeling well so u ring 999 and the paramedics come out and the one that is treating your family member stopped driveing there taxi at 4am and started work in there other job at 9 so they are tired and not thinking right and they make a mistake and your family member dies or a family member has been to the doctors and is waiting for results to come in the post and because the post man like the fire man was out in his taxi untill 4am and could not get up to go to his day job u have to wait for 24 hours more.so if u are happy with that be my guest.last one you or a loved one are out on a nite out and u have had a nice meal and a few drinks and u get a taxi home and the driver is so tired cos he is on his 14th hour of work that day he dozed off crashes and u or a loved one is hurt or killed.so whingeing am i.

Did any of this actually happen, or are you just making up stories?

james116 · 12-02-2012 12:49am

MarkR wrote: »

Did any of this actually happen, or are you just making up stories?

no but it could happen.

james116 · 12-02-2012 12:50am

BX 19 wrote: »

Good grief man, put some spaces in that sentence. Some capitals would be nice too.

sorry long day running around after 3 kids under 5.

bluetop · 12-02-2012 1:01am

MarkR wrote: »

Did any of this actually happen, or are you just making up stories?

If you remember not long ago Prime Time done an article on taxi drivers double jobbing it, one Bus Driver from P/Boro was driving a bus by day and by night was driving a taxi, he was working something like 20 hrs a day. Hence he no longer drives Buses any longer, he was sacked, just pure luck he did not kill anyone, there are lots of them doing it, only a matter of time before someone is killed in and around the city.):

Zambia · 12-02-2012 1:16am

Could be worse

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/ambulances-at-risk-from-road-hogs/story-fn7x8me2-1226268653253

SELFISH motorists are putting the lives of seriously ill Victorians at risk by crashing into, holding up and even menacing ambulances trying to get the sick and injured to hospital.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal dangerous drivers are causing an average of a crash a week with ambulances, with the emergency vehicles being smashed by other motorists 52 times between October 2010 and October 2011.

Over the year paramedics were injured in 23 crashes, with some suffering "life-threatening/severe" injuries, including one left with neck damage after his ambulance was struck while he was in the back treating a critically ill patient.

One of the worst cases included a road rager abusing a paramedic parked in a hospital bay for blocking his way.

The man threatened to bash the paramedic and chased him into his car, before damaging the ambulance several times and driving off - leaving the officer with psychological distress.

The revelations have prompted Roads Minister Terry Mulder to look at increasing fines for irresponsible motorists.

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said the problem was worse than ever, with increased traffic and ambulances travelling greater distances to respond to jobs outside their patch.

"There is a lot of blatant disregard from motorists towards emergency vehicles, but also a lot of these modern cars have got stereo systems designed more for homes so that they just don't hear the sirens," Mr McGhie said.

"A lot of drivers panic and stop in front to obstruct an emergency vehicle. It comes down to a lack of education."

Mr McGhie said that when people received their licence their responsibility to emergency vehicles must be reinforced and they should be taught how to safely get out of their way.

"There's this blatant disregard because I think it's just brushed over," he said.

One of the biggest spikes in crashes involved Single Response Units driven solely by MICA paramedics - the very vehicles designed to cut through busy city traffic to provide a quick response before a stretcher ambulance arrives - with five hit in the past 16 months.

Ambulance Victoria is now fitting these cars with video cameras to help determine why they are over-represented in crashes.

Last year three Victorian motorists were fined $214 and lost three demerit points for failing to give way or keep clear of emergency vehicles.

Four drivers were penalised in 2010.

Mr Mulder urged motorists to take more care.

"While we will always consider any moves to improve road safety, I think the vast majority of Victorians do their best to get out of the way of ambulances on the road," he said.

"If you can't get out of the way safely, the best thing to do is to stop and let the ambulance overtake you."

Tango Alpha 51 · 12-02-2012 4:40am

BrianD wrote: »

Here's a question.

In all the cities I've been worldwide, never have I heard so many ambulances on the move on a daily basis as in Dublin.

However, given the high numbers of people who pass through A&E perhaps this is unsurprising.

My question for ambulance drivers. What percentage of the people that are carried are real emergencies as opposed to "we have the lights and sirens so we can get their faster" (nothing particularly wrong with this as the patient gets to a care centre faster).

Do you honestly think that blue lights & sirens are abused this way or that any paramedic is going to risk getting points/loosing their licence by driving on B&T's unless it's absolutely necessary!??.

Mycroft H · 12-02-2012 12:43pm

BrianD wrote: »

Here's a question.

In all the cities I've been worldwide, never have I heard so many ambulances on the move on a daily basis as in Dublin.

However, given the high numbers of people who pass through A&E perhaps this is unsurprising.

My question for ambulance drivers. What percentage of the people that are carried are real emergencies as opposed to "we have the lights and sirens so we can get their faster" (nothing particularly wrong with this as the patient gets to a care centre faster).

Central London, just as many ES vehicles about.

Paulzx · 12-02-2012 1:36pm

james116 wrote: »

we have 1 paul its very good but let me put it like this.its a sunday and a member of your family is not feeling well so u ring 999 and the paramedics come out and the one that is treating your family member stopped driveing there taxi at 4am and started work in there other job at 9 so they are tired and not thinking right and they make a mistake and your family member dies or a family member has been to the doctors and is waiting for results to come in the post and because the post man like the fire man was out in his taxi untill 4am and could not get up to go to his day job u have to wait for 24 hours more.so if u are happy with that be my guest.last one you or a loved one are out on a nite out and u have had a nice meal and a few drinks and u get a taxi home and the driver is so tired cos he is on his 14th hour of work that day he dozed off crashes and u or a loved one is hurt or killed.so whingeing am i.

This has nothing got to do with taximen suddenly developing a worry for fatigue levels of postmen and you know that well:rolleyes:

It has everything to do with taximen and competition within the industry. You have valid concerns on this subject but don't try and mask it with supposed concerns about tired postmen.

Anyway, this has nothing got to do with the original thread topic

flazio · 12-02-2012 2:14pm

This video should be made mandatory for all new drivers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRHvQEIkcU

BrianD · 12-02-2012 2:40pm

buzzman wrote: »

Do you honestly think that blue lights & sirens are abused this way or that any paramedic is going to risk getting points/loosing their licence by driving on B&T's unless it's absolutely necessary!??.

Yes, I am asking that question on the basis of what I posted earlier.

Bosh · 12-02-2012 4:12pm

source wrote: »

In limerick my big issue was pedestrians, they just step out into traffic down here without even looking. Had a guy walk out one night while flying up o'connell street in the van, everything going, lit up like a Christmas tree more noise than a local nightclub but this idiot just walked out anyway.

Usually iPod plugged in & oblivious to the world... and pedestrian lights are a mere suggestion..

They are a real hazard tbh, especially on a wet day, liable to step out at anytime

BrianD · 12-02-2012 4:46pm

Also add the responsible parents with pram and infants who decide to cross 4 lanes of traffic at a whim. They are usually to be found stationary between lanes 2 and 3.

wreckless · 12-02-2012 8:41pm

cheers Flazio, thats a great video alright.

james116 · 12-02-2012 9:34pm

Paulzx wrote: »

This has nothing got to do with taximen suddenly developing a worry for fatigue levels of postmen and you know that well:rolleyes:

It has everything to do with taximen and competition within the industry. You have valid concerns on this subject but don't try and mask it with supposed concerns about tired postmen.

Anyway, this has nothing got to do with the original thread topic

2 weeks ago i was behide a car on leeson st bridge and he did not move after the lights had changed 3 times so i went up to him and he was fast asleep with 2 americans in the car so yes i do worry about drivers going around with fatigue.

flazio · 13-02-2012 1:37pm

wreckless wrote: »

cheers Flazio, thats a great video alright.

You're welcome but I must raise a question from that video. It says that in single white line roads emergency vehicles will silence their siren and will not pass you unless you are fully stopped. Is this true of Irish emergency services?

source · 13-02-2012 2:10pm

flazio wrote: »

You're welcome but I must raise a question from that video. It says that in single white line roads emergency vehicles will silence their siren and will not pass you unless you are fully stopped. Is this true of Irish emergency services?

It depends on the emergency situation, and the road, and the road conditions, Say a clear, dry, sunny day, about 100-200m visibility and a life was at risk then the emergency vehicle will be out over that line so fast you won't know what hit you. Change that to a burglary in an empty house on a wet night with maybe 20-50m visibility then the driver won't risk it.

I don't think I've ever witnessed a driver silencing the siren in that situation though.

irishrgr · 13-02-2012 11:48pm

I've seen the gamut of it all....dopes on mobiles, iPods, simply not paying attention. Granted cars are well insulated these days, in my 2010 Honda Civic I barely hear the services approaching and I'm sensitive to what to do.

In Texas, all emergency vehicles can "prudently disregard" all traffic laws when responding to an emergency although we are not protected from civil liability. By law, all drivers must yield right of way, pull over, and slow down to 15 MPH or move one lane over when passing a stopped emergency vehicle displaying it's emergency lights. (BTW, the Traffic Code also defines what an emergency vehicle is).

Some agencies have more specific policies on use of lights, but generally if the lights are on, the siren is on as well. Granted there is a common sense application, 1800 in downtown, siren on. 0200 residential street, siren off.

However, despite all the legal stuff, most peoples heads are so far up their arses, it's same thing every day.....emergency driving is the most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis.

A

savagecabbages · 15-02-2012 6:09pm

I'm not ES, so this is from an outsiders perspective.

Funny that source mentioned Limerick as being particularly troublesome for pedestrians. A few weeks ago I was walking down a one way street and one of the HSE rapid response Mondeos came flying up the street all lights + sirens blazing. Two young fellas -walking towards the oncoming car- decided to cross the street literally seconds before the car arrived. Car had to jam on its brakes and skid to a stop. Driver gave them about 5 seconds of the extra loud horns when he eventually stopped but they continued to walk deliberately slowly and stare at him. Once the car eventually got passed one shouts at the back of the car "f**k off pigs". Wasn't even a garda car...

What I'm getting at here is an aspect that many people may not even be aware of- that some sections of society have absolutely no regard for those working in the ES. They hate them and want to obstruct them no matter what they may be responding to. The same people who throw rocks at the fire services at night, the same people who play chicken with garda cars etc...

Out of curiosity, do many people get charged with intentionally blocking ES vehicles? An what is the charge, if there even is one? I'm guessing that ANPR equipped garda cars could easily charge people from the video evidence gained during an encounter.

yourpics · 20-02-2012 2:18am

Why do ambulances drive with blue lights and no siren, get up behind a vehicle and suddenly put on the siren if the driver doesn't see the blue lights?
Seems silly, why don't they keep the siren on fulltime??

Tango Alpha 51 · 20-02-2012 2:57am

Why do you think they need to have the siren on the whole time. If they can't see a 5t yellow thing with loads of flashing lights coming towards them or driving up behind them, what makes you think they'll hear a siren. Equally do you think it's ok to have a siren going non stop at 3 or 4 in the morning??.

misterdarkness · 20-02-2012 3:06am

any other garda or ambulance driver will agree with me on this.

The main thing that bugs the crap out of me is the woman driver (no offence can often me men but more often then not its a girl) who is in fast lane music on never checks mirrors and does not notice the screaming siren or the pulsing lights and then when they do notice what do you think happens?? gracefully moves out of the way to allow you to get to your call ??

Not a chance its either a massive swerve left that almost cleans the car beside her out of it or my personal fave in absolute panic slams on the breaks. Yes i have had this happen.

another most memorable moment while in garda jeep getting stranded drivers off a hill in snow i saw a lady at top of hill attempt to drive down not seeing road below was blocked and in coming down not only was she not going anywhere but she would block us all in. so i wave frantically for her to pull over quickly before she made it worse and think she did? of course not just kept coming and coming till she was right up on top of me and rolls down the window. My words to her were polite but accurate "now we are all stuck here". What happened next? she burst out crying. Ahhh god the old saying is true. Common scene is not that common.

misterdarkness · 20-02-2012 3:08am

buzzman wrote: »

Why do you think they need to have the siren on the whole time. If they can't see a 5t yellow thing with loads of flashing lights coming towards them or driving up behind them, what makes you think they'll hear a siren. Equally do you think it's ok to have a siren going non stop at 3 or 4 in the morning??.

very true siren is to alert others your there. don't need to alert the joe bloggs family and their sleeping kids.

I drive only with blues on clear open road and sirens when at junctions or in traffic or on winding country road where i don't have view of whats around the bend

yourpics · 20-02-2012 4:24am

buzzman wrote: »

Why do you think they need to have the siren on the whole time. If they can't see a 5t yellow thing with loads of flashing lights coming towards them or driving up behind them, what makes you think they'll hear a siren. Equally do you think it's ok to have a siren going non stop at 3 or 4 in the morning??.

I am not referring to 3am or 4am.
I am talking about driving in the daytime in daylight.
If they had the siren on, people would be aware of the emergency vehicle sooner and it would give them ample time to get out of the way.
I know plenty of people who the lights only and sudden siren approach frightens and causes them to panic.

The nature of your reply suggests to me that you think I am being smart posting this, but in fact I honestly want to know is this a policy of the emrgency services? The vast majority of ambulances seem to do this.

McWotever · 20-02-2012 11:21am

MIRRORS! Not there just look pretty. Drivers are retards, fact.

If ten cars can see a silent ES vehicle approaching from behind and one person doesn't, who's driving without due care and attention? The nine drivers who pull over?

MagicSean · 20-02-2012 11:34am

yourpics wrote: »

I am not referring to 3am or 4am.
I am talking about driving in the daytime in daylight.
If they had the siren on, people would be aware of the emergency vehicle sooner and it would give them ample time to get out of the way.
I know plenty of people who the lights only and sudden siren approach frightens and causes them to panic.

The nature of your reply suggests to me that you think I am being smart posting this, but in fact I honestly want to know is this a policy of the emrgency services? The vast majority of ambulances seem to do this.

Those people you know should not really be driving. If a siren makes them panic and they have no awareness on the road then they are dangerous drivers.

Tango Alpha 51 · 20-02-2012 7:26pm

Yourpics, wasn't thinking for a minute that you were being smart but believe me whethere you have the siren on or not doesn't really matter of the person is not paying attention. In answer to your question, officially to gain the exemptions we have from the various rta's we are supposed to have all audio & visual warning aids in use .

Com1186 · 20-02-2012 10:43pm

In the current climate it doesnt matter, if we crash on the way or cause a crash, or have the blues & two's on anywhere near an accident occurred , the driver will be in the wrong regardless. i was like all the other eager police men that couldnt drive faster or get to an incident quicker... but now it aint worth it . driving courses never use the term emergency driving, they use the term progressive, in a safe manner!

yourpics · 21-02-2012 12:13am

Thanks for the many responses.

I simply think that during daytime hours lights and sirens should both be used.

I also think that part-time firemen should have sirens aswell as the blue light on the windscreen.

Zambia · 21-02-2012 12:20am

Part time firemen? As in like on their personnel cars? That is just stupid.

Com1186 · 21-02-2012 12:22am

not going to happen... if it does then that part time fireman will have to have proper driver training and his car insurance will shoot up.

then why should nt off-duty gardai have lights and sirens in the car if they have to get to an emergency?

or coast and cliff , mountain rescue and search members?

ambulance drivers , nurses and doctors

civil defence

your going down a slippery slope my eager friend!

i think if you want to drive a vehicle with lights and sirens
become an ambulance driver , fireman or garda
take it from me... the buzz of lights and sirens quickly wears off!:)

(I also think that part-time firemen should have sirens aswell as the blue light on the windscreen.)
If i met a part-time fireman with blues on and driving anyway excessive the would be prosecuted..... blues are for offical vehicles and they dont give you power to drive fast or bully people off the road!

yourpics · 21-02-2012 2:53am

Com1186 wrote: »

not going to happen... if it does then that part time fireman will have to have proper driver training and his car insurance will shoot up.

then why should nt off-duty gardai have lights and sirens in the car if they have to get to an emergency?

or coast and cliff , mountain rescue and search members?

ambulance drivers , nurses and doctors

civil defence

your going down a slippery slope my eager friend!

i think if you want to drive a vehicle with lights and sirens
become an ambulance driver , fireman or garda
take it from me... the buzz of lights and sirens quickly wears off!:)

(I also think that part-time firemen should have sirens aswell as the blue light on the windscreen.)
If i met a part-time fireman with blues on and driving anyway excessive the would be prosecuted..... blues are for offical vehicles and they dont give you power to drive fast or bully people off the road!

I was driving in a 50 kph zone one day when a part time fireman was on his way to the fire station responding to an emergency call out. He drove up behind me with the blue flasher on, I assumed he was an unmarked garda car and pulled over, thinking he wished to speak with me. This lead to the fireman being delayed behind me for a few seconds, he pulled out around me erratically and proceeded at a speed well in excess of 50 kph.

It was a shocking display of driving and showed little concern to other road users.
In this instance, the use of a siren would have cleared all traffic out of his way.

are you serious · 21-02-2012 3:02am

yourpics wrote: »

I was driving in a 50 kph zone one day when a part time fireman was on his way to the fire station responding to an emergency call out. He drove up behind me with the blue flasher on, I assumed he was an unmarked garda car and pulled over, thinking he wished to speak with me. This lead to the fireman being delayed behind me for a few seconds, he pulled out around me erratically and proceeded at a speed well in excess of 50 kph.

It was a shocking display of driving and showed little concern to other road users.
In this instance, the use of a siren would have cleared all traffic out of his way.

Just curious, how could you tell all of that ^^ in the few moments it took from him coming up behind you to him passing you and driving off?

yourpics · 21-02-2012 3:06am

garkane wrote: »

Just curious, how could you tell all of that ^^ in the few moments it took from him coming up behind you to him passing you and driving off?

I looked in the mirror, saw the blue flasher on a car that was right on my bumper. I stopped assuming it was AGS. The car spun off and drove past me, revving very highly. I knew to look at the car that it was well in excess of 50 KPH. I continued to drive at 50 KPH and the car was fast disappearing.
The fire station was half a mile away, as I passed it I saw the same car parked there and the fire brigade loading up.

Question on driving in an emergency

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