Emergency Response Vehicles: Ambulance

ba_barabus

Lads a question regarding the emergency response vehicles that the Ambulance service have. I'm talking about the likes of the Subaru Forester etc.

Are these drivers trained for this as in high speed driving, awareness and skid control?

The reason I ask is that there is a local one to me who is driving like a loon. I had him on the dash cam a few weeks back (not saved sadly) force me off the road and just there now I was behind him and watched him enter a roundabout at speed on the wrong side of the road overtaking a Land Rover before swerving back at the last second and cutting a car off on the roundabout. He then went on to overtake cars which were overtaking a group of cyclists.

No dashcam this time as I'm in my OH car.

It all just seemed a bit aggressive and barely controlled. I'm reluctant to report him as I don't believe anything will come of it and it's still an emergency service the area needs.

Borderfox

Get evidence then report, no need for someone like that on the road never mind as a first responder/paramedic

whomitconcerns

Were his lights and or sirens on at the time. If neither of would report him immediately

Mycroft H

Yes, they should be trained if working for National Amb Service. Whether their on lights or not (ie. claiming exemptions) they're still required to drive with due care and attention (and not to drive dangerously). There is a Emergency driving standard set out by the RSA but it's very new. I'd say most staff were trained using the legacy in house system.

Can't really speak about NAS drivers over at home, but in England you do get some people who are a bit more giddy behind the wheel than others. Police are sometimes worse for it tbh. Ambulances are big and roll quite a lot so there's a limit to what they can do. Response cars? Some paras drive them quick, some drive them a bit slower. It depends. Used one of the Octavia RRVs recently and someone had set a top speed on the garmin GPS as 117mph which is daft. I'm happier to keep the wheels rolling and make progress where safe.

ba_barabus

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Were his lights and or sirens on at the time. If neither of would report him immediately

Yes but this was properly dangerous what he did not just aggressive.

NASlad

They only brought in driver training a few years ago. Most of the people who've joined us in the past 5 years I think receive full 3 weeks training in all of this.
But the older staff aren't being put on this course, just new entrants.

NASlad

Also out of curiosity OP. Which ambulance service is this person working for. Might not be the NAS.

Miike

ba_barabus wrote: »

Yes but this was properly dangerous what he did not just aggressive.

Is this Limerick by any chance?

ba_barabus

NASlad wrote: »

Also out of curiosity OP. Which ambulance service is this person working for. Might not be the NAS.

He seems to be operating out of an ambulance center in ****.

Parapara2017

ba_barabus wrote: »

He seems to be operating out of an ambulance center in *.

I think what he means is was this a HSE National Ambulance Service vehicle or say st johns, red cross, medicall etc.

They're not exempt... If they hit someone by going through a red light they're in trouble.

But what do you mean "force off the road" and "cutting off cars"

If i was driving along... I dont think id find myself ever surprised and suddenly cut off by a big loud yellow shiny car with lots of flashing lights... I'd be (safely) giving way though and allowing them through.

Also worth noting if this is a NAS RRV its possible its not the same person driving for the incidents you mention, unless you see and recognise them but you said you were behind the car.

ba_barabus

Parapara2017 wrote: »

I think what he means is was this a HSE National Ambulance Service vehicle or say st johns, red cross, medicall etc.

They're not exempt... If they hit someone by going through a red light they're in trouble.

But what do you mean "force off the road" and "cutting off cars"

If i was driving along... I dont think id find myself ever surprised and suddenly cut off by a big loud yellow shiny car with lots of flashing lights... I'd be (safely) giving way though and allowing them through.

The car entering the roundabout ended up on the grass verge and not through courtesy. The car on it performed an emergency stop with smoke out from the tyres.

In my occasion I came around a turn to find him driving on my side of the road overtaking which left me with nowhere to go only onto a footpath. We're talking smaller roads where big yellow Foresters with flashing lights may not be visible till the last second due to high walls and ditches so the sarcasm isn't really needed.

It was also the same driver. I let him go at an earlier roundabout and got a good look.

Parapara2017

ba_barabus wrote: »

The car entering the roundabout ended up on the grass verge and not through courtesy. The car on it performed an emergency stop with smoke out from the tyres.

In my occasion I came around a turn to find him driving on my side of the road overtaking which left me with nowhere to go only onto a footpath. We're talking smaller roads where big yellow Foresters with flashing lights may not be visible till the last second due to high walls and ditches so the sarcasm isn't really needed.

Not being sarcastic! :P Its just usually traffic stops for emergency vehicles and they're hard to not dee and hear coming so I wasn't sure how someone would be suddenly cut off by one coming through...

If someone is driving dangerously report it (I think theres a specially designated traffic watch number to call?) You could always make a complaint to NAS as well.

Better they get a telling off or re training than causing a serious accident.

Like I said emergency services don't get a carte blanche for dangerous driving.

gctest50

ba_barabus wrote: »

.......


In my occasion I came around a turn to find him driving on my side of the road overtaking which left me with nowhere to go only onto a footpath. We're talking smaller roads where big yellow Foresters with flashing lights may not be visible till the last second due to high walls and ditches so the sarcasm isn't really needed.

It was also the same driver. I let him go at an earlier roundabout and got a good look.

His yellow paint won't much good if he meets mr. Scania or friends :


by your description, i hope it's sooner rather than later before he kills someone

Parapara2017

gctest50 wrote: »

His yellow paint won't much good if he meets mr. Scania or friends :


by your description, i hope it's sooner rather than later before he kills someone

...or preferably not at all? :P

ba_barabus

I'd prefer he hit nobody and done a good job.

Are Am Eye

Both the HSE and the DFB (Dublin Fire Brigade) operate ambulances in this country. Both very separate organistations (and different standards and training)

Parapara2017

Are Am Eye wrote: »

Both the HSE and the DFB (Dublin Fire Brigade) operate ambulances in this country. Both very separate organistations (and different standards and training)

Theres a few more than that... Lots of private operators and theres the civil defence, red cross, st johns ambo, order of malta etc.

magentis

Are Am Eye wrote: »

Both the HSE and the DFB (Dublin Fire Brigade) operate ambulances in this country. Both very separate organistations (and different standards and training)

Ah thanks for clearing that dfb thing up.

jimmycrackcorm

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Were his lights and or sirens on at the time. If neither of would report him immediately

Report him regardless. Even with Lights they can still be held liable for dangerous driving. One report might not change anything, but the next report will.

An ambulance that crashes on the way to an accident can possibly double the number of victims that might have been.