Speeding emergency services?

[tony13579]

A vehicle is not exempt, not even a doctor, unless the ambulance authority ask him to transport the patient to hospital . The law above clearly says "police, fire and ambulance authority" stuff the rnli, coastgaurd, organ transport, vet. no exemption unless you are on bussiness fot those three authorities.

[volvos70t5]

tony13579 said:

A vehicle is not exempt, not even a doctor, unless the ambulance authority ask him to transport the patient to hospital . The law above clearly says "police, fire and ambulance authority" stuff the rnli, coastgaurd, organ transport, vet. no exemption unless you are on bussiness fot those three authorities.

Some organisations can make use of B+T's but not have exemption from speeding. They can just be used to ease passage through traffic. Similar, I would imagine, to a green flashing light used by a Dr.

[tony13579]

I was pointing out the outdated law. A doctor could be sent to the scene of a very serious accident ie arm trapped in combine harvester and get nicked for speeding and have no immunity from speed cameras.

RNLI travelig to boat house to five kids trapped on a rising tide.... no immunity


fire engine attending shed on fire on an allotment has immunity

[Dr T]

One of my wife's (also in the same trade) colleagues does the out of hours emergency GP cover and go out to people in the middle of the night in a fancy Volvo decked out with "Doctor" signs, reflective strips and green lights. However he refuses to speed and use the lights as a)If you need to get to them that quickly, an ambulance is more appropriate and b)he is not immune from prosecution if he speeds. I agree entirely.

[jazzyjeff]

Back on topic, reading the small print it doesn't suggest to me that s87 would protect the fire staff from home to station, for the same reason that would count against the doctor - the journey would need to be authorised by the Fire Authority first. Whether this could be wangled retrospectively or a blanket authority obtained I don't know. But as our questioner admits, if they could quite as easily have walked/run to work then a judge might well look harshly on the situation.

Like I said - until you know what kind of emergency it is (and you won't, if you've only had a bleeper signal, until you arrive at the station) then they'd be gutted if they killed someone before they even got to work...

[pbsaxman]

The earlier response in regard to retained firefighters was correct. There is no facility to exceed the speed limit going to a firestation to join the appliance crew for a shout. All the retained firefighters in my brigade are required to stick to the rules when travelling to the firestation. Only when they are on the appliance(fire engine) are they allowed to take advantage of the emergency vehicle clause and then ONLY where it is safe to do so.
Fire Officers travelling to incidents in their cars eg me, are viewed as an emergency vehicle because they are fitted with blue lights and a siren/two tones plus in my case alternate flashing headlights.
Hope this helps!!