Family Emergency. How fast would you go? Be honest.
Discussion
ashleyman said:
I was literally just driving home from the cinema and had an ambulance behind me. Funny that this topic had been resurrected.
Lots and lots of tight bends and double white lines meant that passing me wasn't possible for them. I had that ambulance up my butt for about 3 minutes. I was indicating left so they knew I had seen them, but still carrying on at the 30/33 speed limit so that I wasn't slowing them down when they couldn't pass. After 3 minutes I knew they needed to get past and I was holding them up. I knew the road well and I knew there was a passing spot further up so accelerated and drove to the passing spot as fast as I could (safely) and pulled over to be out of their way.
This is where it gets interesting. It took a while but they passed me and then I pulled out behind them. They're going 35/40 max and I'm at 30. It takes a few more minutes to reach a red light where they treat it as a give way. By the time I get there I'm now 2 car lengths behind them and then my light goes green so I move off and now I'm right behind them. Still behind the ambo and it's slowly gaining speed and distance. Eventually it pulls left onto a 60 dual carriageway. I get there and pull left too and it's an awesome sweeping corner so I have some fun and go down the road at Mach 1 accelerating to 60. I'm gaining on the ambo and eventually pass it - it takes longer to get to 60 than I do!
I then carry on and go through the next town at 30 like a good boy. Eventually the ambulance comes up behind me, passes me again and then I turn off and drive to my house.
The one thing that stuck with me for this whole experience was that 1. the ambo was big, slow and heavy. And 2. If I had a loved one and I was driving that route, I'd be at least 3x faster in the car than that ambulance would have been. Maybe they were working inside the back, maybe not. Either way I couldn't help but think that I would have been faster. Really made me understand why sometimes people want to drive themselves. In an urban setting, ambulance is quicker due to traffic and lights. But in the countryside, car wins.
3. Maybe a patient in the back for whom balls out driving was a bad idea....Lots and lots of tight bends and double white lines meant that passing me wasn't possible for them. I had that ambulance up my butt for about 3 minutes. I was indicating left so they knew I had seen them, but still carrying on at the 30/33 speed limit so that I wasn't slowing them down when they couldn't pass. After 3 minutes I knew they needed to get past and I was holding them up. I knew the road well and I knew there was a passing spot further up so accelerated and drove to the passing spot as fast as I could (safely) and pulled over to be out of their way.
This is where it gets interesting. It took a while but they passed me and then I pulled out behind them. They're going 35/40 max and I'm at 30. It takes a few more minutes to reach a red light where they treat it as a give way. By the time I get there I'm now 2 car lengths behind them and then my light goes green so I move off and now I'm right behind them. Still behind the ambo and it's slowly gaining speed and distance. Eventually it pulls left onto a 60 dual carriageway. I get there and pull left too and it's an awesome sweeping corner so I have some fun and go down the road at Mach 1 accelerating to 60. I'm gaining on the ambo and eventually pass it - it takes longer to get to 60 than I do!
I then carry on and go through the next town at 30 like a good boy. Eventually the ambulance comes up behind me, passes me again and then I turn off and drive to my house.
The one thing that stuck with me for this whole experience was that 1. the ambo was big, slow and heavy. And 2. If I had a loved one and I was driving that route, I'd be at least 3x faster in the car than that ambulance would have been. Maybe they were working inside the back, maybe not. Either way I couldn't help but think that I would have been faster. Really made me understand why sometimes people want to drive themselves. In an urban setting, ambulance is quicker due to traffic and lights. But in the countryside, car wins.
Just to throw in some controversy.
I don't really get the question.
I stick to 30MPH in 30 zones religiously as I do in most 20MPH. This is probably mainly due to once sticking to 20MPH in an unknown tight road in my van when a kid ran out and I stamped on the brakes and just missed him. Totally his fault but had I been doing 30 I'd have no doubt hit him.
I've also done over 150 on my totally quiet at 3am private motorway.
Some will straight away scream idiot but I felt far safer in the WELL suited Audi than I do in my Clio at 80MPH. In my opinion the chances of crashing were minimal, straight empty 3 lane road with not even a lorry in sight.
If it was empty on said motorway I'd just go as fast as I possibly could safely.
There's way more to think about than speed, totally depends on conditions. Through a busy highstreet in an emergency I'm not sure I'd do too much above the speed limit if at all, it will take longer to get there after mowing a pedestrian down.
I don't really get the question.
I stick to 30MPH in 30 zones religiously as I do in most 20MPH. This is probably mainly due to once sticking to 20MPH in an unknown tight road in my van when a kid ran out and I stamped on the brakes and just missed him. Totally his fault but had I been doing 30 I'd have no doubt hit him.
I've also done over 150 on my totally quiet at 3am private motorway.
Some will straight away scream idiot but I felt far safer in the WELL suited Audi than I do in my Clio at 80MPH. In my opinion the chances of crashing were minimal, straight empty 3 lane road with not even a lorry in sight.
If it was empty on said motorway I'd just go as fast as I possibly could safely.
There's way more to think about than speed, totally depends on conditions. Through a busy highstreet in an emergency I'm not sure I'd do too much above the speed limit if at all, it will take longer to get there after mowing a pedestrian down.
Josho said:
I stick to 30MPH in 30 zones religiously as I do in most 20MPH. This is probably mainly due to once sticking to 20MPH in an unknown tight road in my van when a kid ran out and I stamped on the brakes and just missed him. Totally his fault but had I been doing 30 I'd have no doubt hit him.
No, you'd have been past him and down the road before he stepped out. mph1977 said:
DoubleSix said:
mph1977 said:
DoubleSix said:
Those of you saying you'd just call an Ambulance and dutifully wait should check out '999 What's your emergency?' on C4....
care to enlighten us with your wonderful insight ? Edited by DoubleSix on Monday 4th July 22:13
also how doe s that sit with the majority of ambulance transports being undertaken without claiming exemptions ...
the first elephant in the room is the tractor production commissars put in place by the dear leader and the great leader, this applies across the NHS as a whole
the second elephant in the room is of course the way in which the Unions are creating a toxic situation within the service ...
mybrainhurts said:
Josho said:
I stick to 30MPH in 30 zones religiously as I do in most 20MPH. This is probably mainly due to once sticking to 20MPH in an unknown tight road in my van when a kid ran out and I stamped on the brakes and just missed him. Totally his fault but had I been doing 30 I'd have no doubt hit him.
No, you'd have been past him and down the road before he stepped out. zarjaz1991 said:
blueg33 said:
You can guess all you like, you are rather presumptive, only a bit older than a child yourself I see.
Aha, an older person dismissing my opinion because I'm young. That's really surprising. 
Besides which, 24 is considerably past being a 'child'.
Surely you can see the difference in understanding and maturity within yourself at 16 compared to 24? How do you think you'll feel at 30 looking back at 24 year old zarjaz? Do you not see learner drivers and think 'look at those tiny children driving cars!' and yet you didn't feel like a child when you passed your test I presume?
The worst part about growing up is realising the old b
ds were right 
Now, where are my pipe and slippers, I'm sure I left them around here somewhere *potters off*
As fast as poss, Had an incident last year where my boy wouldnt wake up... and hadnt eaten. Could of been life threatening as low sugar levels dropped below safe. Ambulance was called to home / wife blind with panic and my daughter was stuck in the middle.
I didnt know the Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDI could read 3 digits on its digital speedo. I think 106 was on it at one point. Didnt really pay much attention.
Poor Citroen wasnt in the best of health when I drove it to work a few days later.
I didnt know the Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDI could read 3 digits on its digital speedo. I think 106 was on it at one point. Didnt really pay much attention.
Poor Citroen wasnt in the best of health when I drove it to work a few days later.
A few years back I had my own emergency.
Saturday morning I was at my country towns [pop about 8000] busy main shopping centre. I suddenly felt quite sick. I somehow realised I was having the beginnings of a heart attack.
Realising how long it takes for our 3 ton ambulances to get anywhere, & doubting they would quickly find me in the crowd, I decided to drive myself to the hospital, about a mile away. Silly perhaps, but it worked.
The car park exited into a very wide suburban quiet street. At the entrance there were 2 cars in the street, one left one right, indicating their intention of entering. They sat stopped, looking at each other, trying to decide who had right of way. Deciding I did not have time for this rubbish, I blaster out, & continued to the hospital. I was not driving very well, so was very careful, but nor mucking about.
I parked very badly in the hospital car park, & was having a little trouble getting out of the car. A police car stopped right behind me. I think he was after me for my exit from the shopping centre, but I must have looked a bit bad, as he asked me if I was OK.
When I said no, I think I'm having a heart attack, he got back into his car & drove off. I walked with some difficulty the 100 yards to the emergency entrance, & a very competent doctor had the clot dispersed, & me on the way to recovery in just a few minutes.
I told my son & daughter who brought me some gear & picked up my car about the cop. I was told later by the receptionist at the cop shop, my 5 Ft 2 daughter had 4 large cops, & a couple of large police ladies cowering away from her, when she went immediately to the station, & blasted then thoroughly for the cop not helping me into emergency.
Pity I was not there to see it, it would have done my heart good I'm sure.
Saturday morning I was at my country towns [pop about 8000] busy main shopping centre. I suddenly felt quite sick. I somehow realised I was having the beginnings of a heart attack.
Realising how long it takes for our 3 ton ambulances to get anywhere, & doubting they would quickly find me in the crowd, I decided to drive myself to the hospital, about a mile away. Silly perhaps, but it worked.
The car park exited into a very wide suburban quiet street. At the entrance there were 2 cars in the street, one left one right, indicating their intention of entering. They sat stopped, looking at each other, trying to decide who had right of way. Deciding I did not have time for this rubbish, I blaster out, & continued to the hospital. I was not driving very well, so was very careful, but nor mucking about.
I parked very badly in the hospital car park, & was having a little trouble getting out of the car. A police car stopped right behind me. I think he was after me for my exit from the shopping centre, but I must have looked a bit bad, as he asked me if I was OK.
When I said no, I think I'm having a heart attack, he got back into his car & drove off. I walked with some difficulty the 100 yards to the emergency entrance, & a very competent doctor had the clot dispersed, & me on the way to recovery in just a few minutes.
I told my son & daughter who brought me some gear & picked up my car about the cop. I was told later by the receptionist at the cop shop, my 5 Ft 2 daughter had 4 large cops, & a couple of large police ladies cowering away from her, when she went immediately to the station, & blasted then thoroughly for the cop not helping me into emergency.
Pity I was not there to see it, it would have done my heart good I'm sure.
Hasbeen said:
A few years back I had my own emergency.
Saturday morning I was at my country towns [pop about 8000] busy main shopping centre. I suddenly felt quite sick. I somehow realised I was having the beginnings of a heart attack.
Realising how long it takes for our 3 ton ambulances to get anywhere, & doubting they would quickly find me in the crowd, I decided to drive myself to the hospital, about a mile away. Silly perhaps, but it worked.
The car park exited into a very wide suburban quiet street. At the entrance there were 2 cars in the street, one left one right, indicating their intention of entering. They sat stopped, looking at each other, trying to decide who had right of way. Deciding I did not have time for this rubbish, I blaster out, & continued to the hospital. I was not driving very well, so was very careful, but nor mucking about.
I parked very badly in the hospital car park, & was having a little trouble getting out of the car. A police car stopped right behind me. I think he was after me for my exit from the shopping centre, but I must have looked a bit bad, as he asked me if I was OK.
When I said no, I think I'm having a heart attack, he got back into his car & drove off. I walked with some difficulty the 100 yards to the emergency entrance, & a very competent doctor had the clot dispersed, & me on the way to recovery in just a few minutes.
I told my son & daughter who brought me some gear & picked up my car about the cop. I was told later by the receptionist at the cop shop, my 5 Ft 2 daughter had 4 large cops, & a couple of large police ladies cowering away from her, when she went immediately to the station, & blasted then thoroughly for the cop not helping me into emergency.
Pity I was not there to see it, it would have done my heart good I'm sure.
The irony of course being in the days of thrombolysis - it might have been given sooner if you had dialled 999 ( when crews had thrombolysis on the vehicles)Saturday morning I was at my country towns [pop about 8000] busy main shopping centre. I suddenly felt quite sick. I somehow realised I was having the beginnings of a heart attack.
Realising how long it takes for our 3 ton ambulances to get anywhere, & doubting they would quickly find me in the crowd, I decided to drive myself to the hospital, about a mile away. Silly perhaps, but it worked.
The car park exited into a very wide suburban quiet street. At the entrance there were 2 cars in the street, one left one right, indicating their intention of entering. They sat stopped, looking at each other, trying to decide who had right of way. Deciding I did not have time for this rubbish, I blaster out, & continued to the hospital. I was not driving very well, so was very careful, but nor mucking about.
I parked very badly in the hospital car park, & was having a little trouble getting out of the car. A police car stopped right behind me. I think he was after me for my exit from the shopping centre, but I must have looked a bit bad, as he asked me if I was OK.
When I said no, I think I'm having a heart attack, he got back into his car & drove off. I walked with some difficulty the 100 yards to the emergency entrance, & a very competent doctor had the clot dispersed, & me on the way to recovery in just a few minutes.
I told my son & daughter who brought me some gear & picked up my car about the cop. I was told later by the receptionist at the cop shop, my 5 Ft 2 daughter had 4 large cops, & a couple of large police ladies cowering away from her, when she went immediately to the station, & blasted then thoroughly for the cop not helping me into emergency.
Pity I was not there to see it, it would have done my heart good I'm sure.
and these days you've just delayed your transfer for PPCI ...
surveyor said:
mph1977 said:
4x4Tyke said:
The question should be; how does my being there quickly weigh against risking mine and other people's lives.
.
exactly .
The Mrs had her tonsils out a year ago and one night shortly after the scab must have come away as she suddenly started coughing up blood. 111 told me to take her to A&E.
Relatively calm for 5 minutes before it suddenly started running from her mouth like a tap and she was pulling huge clots out to stop herself choking. I stepped on it for sure, red lights, overtaking slow traffic the lot. Speed bumps were wholloped so hard I thought I was going to break something. Thankfully it was 3am and in Bradford so I probably just looked like a typical driver, but my wife's Kuga has never gone round bends so quick before. It actually did the job quite admirably for such a large lump.
She collapsed in the doorway to A&E but thankfully wasn't life threatening. The amount of blood in the footwell suggested otherwise though
Careless - perhaps but when you are confronted with that situation there is tunnel vision and fk everything and everybody else.
Relatively calm for 5 minutes before it suddenly started running from her mouth like a tap and she was pulling huge clots out to stop herself choking. I stepped on it for sure, red lights, overtaking slow traffic the lot. Speed bumps were wholloped so hard I thought I was going to break something. Thankfully it was 3am and in Bradford so I probably just looked like a typical driver, but my wife's Kuga has never gone round bends so quick before. It actually did the job quite admirably for such a large lump.
She collapsed in the doorway to A&E but thankfully wasn't life threatening. The amount of blood in the footwell suggested otherwise though
Careless - perhaps but when you are confronted with that situation there is tunnel vision and f
k everything and everybody else.mph1977 said:
In Hasbeen's case it could have oh so easily been ' driver collapses at wheel and mows down 20 people stood at bus stop ' as per glasgow bin lorry incident - car / van / lorry vs person is still messy regardless.
Obviously you have never seen an Oz country town mph1977. Hard to find a bus stop, when there are no busses. In fact it would be hard to find a pedestrian to hit, even if you were so inclined. Australians rarely walk anywhere, particularly in country towns. Apart from a few mad lycra wearing folk, gnerally in city centres, we don't even ride bikes.I did mention I know how long it can take for one of our lumbering ambulances to arrive anywhere. The only two occasions I have called an ambulance, one of these for a stroke emergency, we gave up waiting after an hour & an hour & a half respectively, & drove the person to the hospital ourselves.
So yes I could have harmed myself, but was unlikely to cause harm to anyone else, where as I could easily have died waiting, many have.
I have been reading some of these posts from page 1.... Condolences to people who have lost nearest and dearest. And to those people who have turned out OK... Good. Glad to hear it. Just goes to show everything and everyone can change in a split second. Blink and someone could be gone. Lets all remember that.
Remember whats important.
Take care everyone.
Remember whats important.
Take care everyone.
Edited by cpjitservices on Wednesday 6th July 14:39
mph1977 said:
They were not passing you because they do not have an exemption to pass moving vehicles against a solid line
this entire thread is based in fallacy as has been explained numerous times yet still the pH drivign gods continue to advocate dangerous practices.
So if I had come to a complete standstill whilst on the road with double white lines then that means they're allowed to pass me?this entire thread is based in fallacy as has been explained numerous times yet still the pH drivign gods continue to advocate dangerous practices.
Just asking so I know what to do if it happens again. I always make the best effort to remove myself from their path as quick as possible so was surprised when they weren't passing.
i was behind a car whose driver was having a heart attack. he crashed into an oncoming car and split his head open, after being catapulted thru side window. if he had called an ambulance, he probably would still alive today, as well as not potentially killing someone else on the way to the hospital.
ashleyman said:
mph1977 said:
They were not passing you because they do not have an exemption to pass moving vehicles against a solid line
this entire thread is based in fallacy as has been explained numerous times yet still the pH drivign gods continue to advocate dangerous practices.
So if I had come to a complete standstill whilst on the road with double white lines then that means they're allowed to pass me?this entire thread is based in fallacy as has been explained numerous times yet still the pH drivign gods continue to advocate dangerous practices.
Just asking so I know what to do if it happens again. I always make the best effort to remove myself from their path as quick as possible so was surprised when they weren't passing.
Only the Police have an exemption to solid lines
mph1977 said:
read the highway code - what does it say ...
Only the Police have an exemption to solid lines
I don't know. That's why I asked. Hadn't realised other emergency services didn't have exemptions. I've seen many ambulances crossing double solid whites. Only the Police have an exemption to solid lines
Edited by ashleyman on Wednesday 6th July 22:57
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