ES Workers - Do not trust blue lights or other drivers!!

Turner

Filmed in the Netherlands.

Motorbike cop escorting an Ambulance gets knocked down. To be honest he should have just used the slip road. No need to try and stop or divert motorway traffic. First thing i would be asking is was he escort trained, and if not - why not!

I have done hundereds of ambulance escorts on Garda motorbikes in my time thank god without incident.

It makes you think though.

When at accident scenes or stopped on any road, watch out. Alot of people dont look where they are going and get blinded by blue lights.

A bit gruesome so dont click if you dont want to see it, its a motorbike cop getting knocked down.

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

Delancey

Very disturbing stuff but probably good for ES drivers to view all the same. I presumed that all Garda motorcyclists were able to do escorts but judging by your comments that is not the case ?

Turner

If Gardai hear an ambulance is on its way with somebody seriously ill or with somebody who is just after dying (but still being worked on) in it...

..Or if an ambulance has a seriously sick child in it, its amazing how many Gardai will respond and provide an escort.

I once escorted an ambulance with a newborn who died along the journey. Approximately 10-15 garda cars and bikes were involved escorting it through the city.

If anybody knows how this Dutch cop worked out, or if he/she survived let us know. I couldnt find anything on the internet.

ScubaDave

Horrific!

DubMedic

Chief--- wrote: »

If anybody knows how this Dutch cop worked out, or if he/she survived let us know. I couldnt find anything on the internet.

He/she was critically injured, there is a video of the aftermath of the accident etc if you're interested.

The ambulance had just finished dealing with an RTC on the opposite side of the carriageway, I won't post the aftermath video here out of respect for the officer/officer's family.

.

Trojan911

Chief--- wrote: »

First thing i would be asking is was he escort trained, and if not - why not!

Pretty nasty collision all right. One of the dangers involved unfortunately.

Re your above quote, the same could said about officers driving over here on "Chiefs permission".

Turner

Trojan911 wrote: »

Pretty nasty collision all right. One of the dangers involved unfortunately.

Re your above quote, the same could said about officers driving over here on "Chiefs permission".

Very True.

However there is no "chiefs permission" for motorcycles, thank god!!

AlekSmart

However there is no "chiefs permission" for motorcycles, thank god!!

A big +1 to that sentiment although you can be guaranteed some career Civil Servant would see it as just another way of successfully trimming even more from the Budget :mad:

bazjnr

delancey42 wrote: »

Very disturbing stuff but probably good for ES drivers to view all the same. I presumed that all Garda motorcyclists were able to do escorts but judging by your comments that is not the case ?

To answer your question there is an escort course but very hard to get one if you work outside the Pale. But as the others have said we all do escorts under certain circumstances and they can be hairy given the nature of the unpredictable Irish driver!!

Hooch

bazjnr wrote: »

To answer your question there is an escort course but very hard to get one if you work outside the Pale. But as the others have said we all do escorts under certain circumstances and they can be hairy given the nature of the unpredictable Irish driver!!

Only Traffic units get the escort course outside DMR........and at that only a few of us:mad:

goldie fish

Was it a good idea to position himself in the middle of the lane on what is presumably a motorway? The truck obscured him from the view of oncoming traffic.
In the same way, standing in the centre of a lane at a checkpoint wearing a high viz, is no guarantee that a vehicle will stop for you.
I once pointed out to a Member on a Checkpoint that my jeep and unbraked trailer weighed at least 3 tonnes, while he only weighed 80kg. Basic physics should tell him that if my brakes failed, or the road was greasy, the jeep and trailer would not come off second best.
Use the power of legislation, and a raised hand from the Centre LINE, or edge of the road to stop traffic. Do not use your body in the middle of the LANE.

Be safe folks.

boomer_ie

I personally hate escorts and strongly discourage them after nearly ending up going through the windscreen of an ambulance taking a very sick child to crumlin after a bus pulled out behind the Garda Jeep but in front of our ambulance.

People are far too used to single vehicles of the Emergency Services going along so dont bother looking behind them for a 2nd vehicle or indeed any other vehicle.

Its also for this reason that I stongly discourage people tailgating the ambulance be it relatives or non relatives.

bazjnr

goldie fish wrote: »

In the same way, standing in the centre of a lane at a checkpoint wearing a high viz, is no guarantee that a vehicle will stop for you.
I once pointed out to a Member on a Checkpoint that my jeep and unbraked trailer weighed at least 3 tonnes, while he only weighed 80kg. Basic physics should tell him that if my brakes failed, or the road was greasy, the jeep and trailer would not come off second best.
Use the power of legislation, and a raised hand from the Centre LINE, or edge of the road to stop traffic. Do not use your body in the middle of the LANE.

Be safe folks.

Agreed, standing in the middle of a dual carriageway/motorway is just dangerous. We are one of the few forces in Europe to carry out checkpoints on these type of roads. And when we do it more often than not they are not set up correctly with enough advance warning and safety equipment to maximise safety for all. Had a meeting on this topic with some UK officers who were just shocked that we were doing it!

deadwood

goldie fish wrote: »

I once pointed out to a Member on a Checkpoint that my jeep and unbraked trailer weighed at least 3 tonnes, while he only weighed 80kg. Basic physics should tell him that if my brakes failed, or the road was greasy, the jeep and trailer would not come off second best.

I bet he was delighted with the physics lesson!

goldie fish

deadwood wrote: »

I bet he was delighted with the physics lesson!

Well it's either that or be a cadaver for someone elses biology lesson.

deadwood

goldie fish wrote: »

Well it's either that or be a cadaver for someone elses biology lesson.

Typical, goldiefish. Bringing fish eggs into the discussion.

Random

That seems a bit retarded to be to just stop in the middle of the lane like that? Can anyone explain the theory that might be behind it to me?

Thanks

Turner

Random wrote: »

That seems a bit retarded to be to just stop in the middle of the lane like that? Can anyone explain the theory that might be behind it to me?

Thanks

He obviously thought everybody would see his flashing lights and move into the left lane.

He should have just used the slip road.

goldie fish

deadwood wrote: »

Typical, goldiefish. Bringing fish eggs into the discussion.

That's Cadaver, not Caviar...

chem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgsexue7oE

deadwood

goldie fish wrote: »

That's Cadaver, not Caviar...

Oh yeah. Same taste, though.

the_syco

Hmmmmm... yellow car never even slows down: it, and the two cars behind it seemed to go at a constant speed.

As for stopping people: some people will ignore you, thinking that they take precedence over you.