Family Emergency. How fast would you go? Be honest.
Discussion
23rd December 2014. My son, then undergoing intense chemotherapy as an out patient, spiked a temperature in the middle of the night. As we were still learning how to deal with his illness at that point we phoned the main childrens hospital 30 miles away and asked what we should do. They told us to get him to the local hospital A&E (5 minutes away) ASAP as he needed antibiotics within 30 minutes.
We got their immediately and were put in a room. Eventually a doctor came down but as their was no paediatric ward at this hospital the doctor was unable to get a canula into such a young child. I remember watching the sweat dripping off his nose as he tried on our now unresponsive child. We had to call our ward doctors and have them talk the local hospital through what to do and what was to be administered. By the time they got the medicine up we were well over the 30 minutes,possibly over an hour and my son was more or less unresponsive. We then waited a further 6 hours to be taken by ambulance to the childrens hospital only 30 miles away. During the journey the paramedic told me they had been rushed off their feet with emergencies that weren't emergencies compared to this. I was shocked to hear of some of the things he had attended.
That night I learned that I would happily risk my license if it meant avoiding being in that position ever again.
We got their immediately and were put in a room. Eventually a doctor came down but as their was no paediatric ward at this hospital the doctor was unable to get a canula into such a young child. I remember watching the sweat dripping off his nose as he tried on our now unresponsive child. We had to call our ward doctors and have them talk the local hospital through what to do and what was to be administered. By the time they got the medicine up we were well over the 30 minutes,possibly over an hour and my son was more or less unresponsive. We then waited a further 6 hours to be taken by ambulance to the childrens hospital only 30 miles away. During the journey the paramedic told me they had been rushed off their feet with emergencies that weren't emergencies compared to this. I was shocked to hear of some of the things he had attended.
That night I learned that I would happily risk my license if it meant avoiding being in that position ever again.
Actus Reus said:
vanordinaire said:
I'd have to pay the consequences later but to be completely honest, I'd drive over a bridge made of other people's children if I had to to save the life of one of mine.
Exactly this. Surely, even in super-moral-PH-Daily-Mail-world, people can appreciate this?2016. The year when being a selfish
became not only not shameful but something of which to be proud.Where would people draw a line with this, out of interest? I appreciate it’s all in the heat of the moment, but isn’t that exactly the problem as well…your mind is going to be all over the place.
Going comfortably beyond the speed limits on a wide straight road in the middle of the night is one thing, but running red lights when you think it’s safe and making overtakes you may not have ‘risked’ in everyday driving seems foolish at best.
Our nearest emergency hospital is near impossible to park at sometimes (and no on-street parking anywhere remotely nearby), pretty much every area that isn’t going to cause an obstruction is already marked as a space, but it’s still rammed. Would people abandon their car in what they thought was an ok place for that split second, only to then potentially obstruct emergency vehicles, doctors parking etc?
And yes, I’ve been in this situation, I’ve also been the patient on two occasions so I know exactly what it’s like.
Going comfortably beyond the speed limits on a wide straight road in the middle of the night is one thing, but running red lights when you think it’s safe and making overtakes you may not have ‘risked’ in everyday driving seems foolish at best.
Our nearest emergency hospital is near impossible to park at sometimes (and no on-street parking anywhere remotely nearby), pretty much every area that isn’t going to cause an obstruction is already marked as a space, but it’s still rammed. Would people abandon their car in what they thought was an ok place for that split second, only to then potentially obstruct emergency vehicles, doctors parking etc?
And yes, I’ve been in this situation, I’ve also been the patient on two occasions so I know exactly what it’s like.
Black_S3 said:
Exactly. The police, paramedics or fire brigade will be there faster than you and better equipped to deal with the problem on arrival.
When my wife was in labour, things didn't go well. She was blue lighted in an ambulance from our local hospital to RVI in Newcastle. "Don't try and keep up" said the paramedic. "We'll have the blue lights on and you won't be anywhere near". Ignoring this advice (I wanted to be there at RVI to be with my wife), I drove the 20 miles at high speed. I was there 14 minutes before the ambulance arrived. They were so slow, I wondered if they'd broken down....ukaskew said:
Where would people draw a line with this, out of interest? I appreciate it’s all in the heat of the moment, but isn’t that exactly the problem as well…your mind is going to be all over the place.
Going comfortably beyond the speed limits on a wide straight road in the middle of the night is one thing, but running red lights when you think it’s safe and making overtakes you may not have ‘risked’ in everyday driving seems foolish at best.
When I was called by a Nurse with a shaky voice to ask us to get to hospital ASAP I drove there at some pace. A good part the way is a 2 lane motorway - I never notice it normally, but over and over I came up behind people sat in lane 2 at 50-60 mph. After the first couple I gave up trying to get them to move over - it seemed safer to pass them at speed on the left before they realised what was happening. Going comfortably beyond the speed limits on a wide straight road in the middle of the night is one thing, but running red lights when you think it’s safe and making overtakes you may not have ‘risked’ in everyday driving seems foolish at best.
Trying to stop at the end of the motorway slip road was interesting.
When I got to the hospital it was apparent Dad had already died when the Nurse had called.
My Mum rang the office to say my Dad was being rushed into hospital, he had already had one stroke not long before.
Never experienced brake fade before, my classic (then new) Scooby soon educated me to the joys! Hit 120mph on a DC (some years ago now), any faster & I would not have felt comfortable.
When my dear old Dad came round in the hospital I'd popped out to move the car before it got towed, typical!
Never experienced brake fade before, my classic (then new) Scooby soon educated me to the joys! Hit 120mph on a DC (some years ago now), any faster & I would not have felt comfortable.
When my dear old Dad came round in the hospital I'd popped out to move the car before it got towed, typical!
ORD said:
Actus Reus said:
vanordinaire said:
I'd have to pay the consequences later but to be completely honest, I'd drive over a bridge made of other people's children if I had to to save the life of one of mine.
Exactly this. Surely, even in super-moral-PH-Daily-Mail-world, people can appreciate this?2016. The year when being a selfish
became not only not shameful but something of which to be proud.ORD said:
No. Not in the slightest.
2016. The year when being a selfish became not only not shameful but something of which to be proud.
Are you a parent? As a dad I can't imagine a risk I wouldn't run if my son's safety was at stake. Certainly I'd not be stupidly reckless, but speeding? Abso-bloody-lutely I would - as fast as I could if it meant getting my son to hospital on time.2016. The year when being a selfish
became not only not shameful but something of which to be proud.JockySteer said:
ORD said:
Actus Reus said:
vanordinaire said:
I'd have to pay the consequences later but to be completely honest, I'd drive over a bridge made of other people's children if I had to to save the life of one of mine.
Exactly this. Surely, even in super-moral-PH-Daily-Mail-world, people can appreciate this?2016. The year when being a selfish
became not only not shameful but something of which to be proud.I voted pull he lever.
stephen300o said:
They had a similar question on one of those online quiz things. Seventeen people trapped on one track, with an oncoming train, you can save them by diverting the train to another track with a points lever, but your loved one is on the other track, do you pull the lever?
I voted pull he lever.
The majority of people say no to that one. You may be one of them cyclepaths. I voted pull he lever.
It's an age-old ethics test. The questions start simple, and get more complex and start to introduce family members, children etc, and each time you have to decide if you'd pull the lever or not. There's no right or wrong to some of them, but the test has been used the world over and, on average, every group, culture, religion etc all give the same answers to each question. It has proven we have some inbuilt moral compass mechanism as humans (and to disprove that we get it from, say, a God or religious teaching).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem
(EDIT: I should point out that the trolley problem is disputed as a valid test of anything, but it's fascinating anyway.)
Edited by TartanPaint on Wednesday 4th May 16:55
I dont get the driving at 100 in a 30 to be with someone when they die, whoever it is, even one of my kids, I would drive quickly but if its that bad, they will still be dead, no point me taking massive risks as generally as most people that ill wont know you are there and wont remember and I am not sure I need to be present at the moment someone breathes their last as usually you have spent the last however many years with them, not worth putting another family through that, or yours if you have an accident.
When my granddad was on his way out I went to say goodbye, he didn't know I was there, my mum was there when he died but I didnt feel like needed to be.
Also, it may sound cynical, but, unless the life and death situation is dependant on me driving quickly, i.e. the individual is actually in the car, I wouldnt go ridiculously fast, it wont change the outcome and may end up with a driving ban, points, increased insurance etc, I wouldnt expect anyone to do that for me and there arent that many people I would do that for myself, certainly not a pet.
When my granddad was on his way out I went to say goodbye, he didn't know I was there, my mum was there when he died but I didnt feel like needed to be.
Also, it may sound cynical, but, unless the life and death situation is dependant on me driving quickly, i.e. the individual is actually in the car, I wouldnt go ridiculously fast, it wont change the outcome and may end up with a driving ban, points, increased insurance etc, I wouldnt expect anyone to do that for me and there arent that many people I would do that for myself, certainly not a pet.
Impasse said:
wiliferus said:
If it had been a genuinely life threatening situation, speeding tickets would have been inevitable...
She was already receiving professional medical care and her (step) parents turning up within "x" minutes wouldn't have made the slightest difference to how the doctors and nurses acted.
Also in this situation, the daughter is slightly austistic and would have been, and in fact was, freaking out being in hospital by herself.
That's very true - my aunt died all the same, but she knew I was there in what was not more than about a minute of her being lucid.
I've had a look and it's actually a 40 limit, not a 30, but it's dual carriageway - I didn't see another soul on foot or in a car. I'm glad I rushed then and I'd still do the same now I imagine. For the wellbeing of my son I'd do pretty much anything I think.
I've had a look and it's actually a 40 limit, not a 30, but it's dual carriageway - I didn't see another soul on foot or in a car. I'm glad I rushed then and I'd still do the same now I imagine. For the wellbeing of my son I'd do pretty much anything I think.
TartanPaint said:
stephen300o said:
They had a similar question on one of those online quiz things. Seventeen people trapped on one track, with an oncoming train, you can save them by diverting the train to another track with a points lever, but your loved one is on the other track, do you pull the lever?
I voted pull he lever.
The majority of people say no to that one. You may be one of them cyclepaths. I voted pull he lever.
It's an age-old ethics test. The questions start simple, and get more complex and start to introduce family members, children etc, and each time you have to decide if you'd pull the lever or not. There's no right or wrong to some of them, but the test has been used the world over and, on average, every group, culture, religion etc all give the same answers to each question. It has proven we have some inbuilt moral compass mechanism as humans (and to disprove that we get it from, say, a God or religious teaching).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem
(EDIT: I should point out that the trolley problem is disputed as a valid test of anything, but it's fascinating anyway.)
Edited by TartanPaint on Wednesday 4th May 16:55
Those test are always odd, and we never know what we'll do till we face it. My choice was just the greater good, but who would be so grand when they are up to their ears in emotion..
I'm still interested that some people think they would speed and push it a bit in key circumstances up to say 90mph... every time I drive south of the border, before too much traffic builds up near Manchester, the outside lane is filled with many people all spaced out (...) doing 90mph. It seems to me like 90 is closer to the norm rather than the exception for extreme circumstances.
We all risk every other road users life in one way or another (though a lower % I agree.) every time we drive our cars just for regular driving.
Those that feel sticking to the speed limit makes everyone safe are as deluded as those they are judging for going much faster.
Driving is risk management.
You way up the scenario to the best of your ability and take the action you see as appropriate. That's the same be it below, at or above the speed limit.
This topic should pose the question of how fast would you drive if you felt you and your family in the car were under threat. For example a nutter in another car chasing you all with a gun. I wonder if those who were planning on obeying the road regulations in the proposed scenario would continue in the same manner... or would they drive through others gardens with the throttle nailed to the board etc? Interesting dilemmas.
We all risk every other road users life in one way or another (though a lower % I agree.) every time we drive our cars just for regular driving.
Those that feel sticking to the speed limit makes everyone safe are as deluded as those they are judging for going much faster.
Driving is risk management.
You way up the scenario to the best of your ability and take the action you see as appropriate. That's the same be it below, at or above the speed limit.
This topic should pose the question of how fast would you drive if you felt you and your family in the car were under threat. For example a nutter in another car chasing you all with a gun. I wonder if those who were planning on obeying the road regulations in the proposed scenario would continue in the same manner... or would they drive through others gardens with the throttle nailed to the board etc? Interesting dilemmas.
Edited by Steven_RW on Wednesday 4th May 18:09
Ill put my hand up and say I drove like a tt that day - Passing on the hardshoulder and using all sides of the road. I even ran down the A77 with the average cameras and never got a ticket. As said it was as fast as I could go. Using a verge to get through a line of traffic at the Raith with horn going etc... Just doing what I could. I dont think unless you have been there that you really appreciate just what it is that goes through your mind. You dont want to wait, you dont want any holdups, you just want to be there, you know it may be the last time that you will see them. You know that this is it. You dont get the call to get down there for nothing...
I know I must have updset someone as a few days later there was a chap at the door, and two traffic coppers stood there. Can we come in sir ? Is that your car sir ? Where where you on Saturday sir ? No agression but that serious way they seem to do so well, Yes you can, yes it is and I was making my way to Ayr on Saturday. I got a call from the hospice about my mother, One of them went away and made a few enquiries on the radio, the other one asking more questions about my driving. then the other one come back, story checked out. Very sorry to hear about this sir. And both just left, nothing else was said. nothing. Guess there is some discretion at times. I do know I probably wouldnt have stopped if the police had been behind me that day.
Just the way it is. When it comes down to it were human, and its our nearest and dearest that matter the most. Yes you can say it was irresponsible and that it was reckless. But was it ? Is it ? Do I drive like that normally ? Nope. Never.
t that day - Passing on the hardshoulder and using all sides of the road. I even ran down the A77 with the average cameras and never got a ticket. As said it was as fast as I could go. Using a verge to get through a line of traffic at the Raith with horn going etc... Just doing what I could. I dont think unless you have been there that you really appreciate just what it is that goes through your mind. You dont want to wait, you dont want any holdups, you just want to be there, you know it may be the last time that you will see them. You know that this is it. You dont get the call to get down there for nothing...I know I must have updset someone as a few days later there was a chap at the door, and two traffic coppers stood there. Can we come in sir ? Is that your car sir ? Where where you on Saturday sir ? No agression but that serious way they seem to do so well, Yes you can, yes it is and I was making my way to Ayr on Saturday. I got a call from the hospice about my mother, One of them went away and made a few enquiries on the radio, the other one asking more questions about my driving. then the other one come back, story checked out. Very sorry to hear about this sir. And both just left, nothing else was said. nothing. Guess there is some discretion at times. I do know I probably wouldnt have stopped if the police had been behind me that day.
Just the way it is. When it comes down to it were human, and its our nearest and dearest that matter the most. Yes you can say it was irresponsible and that it was reckless. But was it ? Is it ? Do I drive like that normally ? Nope. Never.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff