How to deal with an Approaching Emergency Vehicle
Discussion
Here are a set of guidelines to help you deal with approaching Emergency vehicles.
You might find it useful.
1) DONT PANIC (Mr Mannering!)- It is normal practice for a driver to slam on their brakes when they see an approaching Emer vehicle.
Keep moving until you can find a safe/suitable place where you can pull in safely.Remember that fully laden Fire Engines and Ambulances take some stopping.
2) DONT AUTOMATICALLY PULL OVER TO THE NEARSIDE - If you are in a right hand lane of a Dualcarriageway it sometimes makes more sense to keep to the Offside to allow the Emer Vehicle to go down the middle of the road.
3) WHEN YOU SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU - Pull over to the Nearside to give the driver room to use your side of the road if necessary.
4) LEAVE A GAP - When sitting in Traffic queues leave a gap between the vehicle directly in front (a good guide is to be able to see their rear wheels) so that you can easily manouvre out of the way.
5) PAUSE,LOOK AND LISTEN - After letting the Emer Vehicle pass as their MAY be another behind it.Police vehicles travelling in Convoy will try to use different siren sounds to alert you of their joint prescence.
Hopefully you will find this usefull
You might find it useful.
1) DONT PANIC (Mr Mannering!)- It is normal practice for a driver to slam on their brakes when they see an approaching Emer vehicle.
Keep moving until you can find a safe/suitable place where you can pull in safely.Remember that fully laden Fire Engines and Ambulances take some stopping.
2) DONT AUTOMATICALLY PULL OVER TO THE NEARSIDE - If you are in a right hand lane of a Dualcarriageway it sometimes makes more sense to keep to the Offside to allow the Emer Vehicle to go down the middle of the road.
3) WHEN YOU SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU - Pull over to the Nearside to give the driver room to use your side of the road if necessary.
4) LEAVE A GAP - When sitting in Traffic queues leave a gap between the vehicle directly in front (a good guide is to be able to see their rear wheels) so that you can easily manouvre out of the way.
5) PAUSE,LOOK AND LISTEN - After letting the Emer Vehicle pass as their MAY be another behind it.Police vehicles travelling in Convoy will try to use different siren sounds to alert you of their joint prescence.
Hopefully you will find this usefull
Cheers for that Tonyrec. Should be useful for the same numpties out there who react by braking heavily to emergency vehicles who are travelling in the other direction on a road separated by a central reservation... 
Who are these people- did they get their licences in Christmas Crackers???
>> Edited by nutcase on Monday 9th August 14:14
Who are these people- did they get their licences in Christmas Crackers???
>> Edited by nutcase on Monday 9th August 14:14
What if,
you've on a single lane contraflow in 4 miles of roadworks, with speed cameras, and an emergency vehicle is behind you with it's blue's on.
I'm sorry to say that I would stick to the 50 40 or even 30MPH speed limit these days rather than argue it out with a SCP.
In the past I would have floored it.
you've on a single lane contraflow in 4 miles of roadworks, with speed cameras, and an emergency vehicle is behind you with it's blue's on.
I'm sorry to say that I would stick to the 50 40 or even 30MPH speed limit these days rather than argue it out with a SCP.
In the past I would have floored it.
Tonyrec said:
Here are a set of guidelines to help you deal with approaching Emergency vehicles.
You might find it useful.
1) DONT PANIC (Mr Mannering!)- It is normal practice for a driver to slam on their brakes when they see an approaching Emer vehicle.
Keep moving until you can find a safe/suitable place where you can pull in safely.Remember that fully laden Fire Engines and Ambulances take some stopping.
2) DONT AUTOMATICALLY PULL OVER TO THE NEARSIDE - If you are in a right hand lane of a Dualcarriageway it sometimes makes more sense to keep to the Offside to allow the Emer Vehicle to go down the middle of the road.
3) WHEN YOU SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU - Pull over to the Nearside to give the driver room to use your side of the road if necessary.
4) LEAVE A GAP - When sitting in Traffic queues leave a gap between the vehicle directly in front (a good guide is to be able to see their rear wheels) so that you can easily manouvre out of the way.
5) PAUSE,LOOK AND LISTEN - After letting the Emer Vehicle pass as their MAY be another behind it.Police vehicles travelling in Convoy will try to use different siren sounds to alert you of their joint prescence.
Hopefully you will find this usefull
Good stuff Tony but..........
Sometime ago I saw a TV prog where a camera crew was in a police Range Rover on a dual carriageway.
Police had the siren on and lights flashing but since the driver in front was not able to pull to the left lane due to traffic, he kept at the 70 limit.
Police driver was heard to say, " Look at this fool, why doesn't he put his foot down?"
Given today's socialist inspired war on the driver, what is a chap to do? Exceed the limit and hope he will not be pulled?
It's a difficult decision if your point 2 above is not an option.
bryan35 said:
What if,
you've on a single lane contraflow in 4 miles of roadworks, with speed cameras, and an emergency vehicle is behind you with it's blue's on.
I'm sorry to say that I would stick to the 50 40 or even 30MPH speed limit these days rather than argue it out with a SCP.
In the past I would have floored it.
This happened to a smart forum member. He got zapped at 36 in a 30 by a scamera. Sent a letter offering an explanation, which was turned down!! Then got all the rubbish about speed kills. Sorry but after that escapade I would either stop or continue at the limit.
When pulling into nearside in this situation I tend to give a signal to let other road users know what I'm up to. Just wondered if someone operating under blues & twos is likely to observe / benefit from it?
>> Edited by TahitiBlue on Monday 9th August 16:24
>> Edited by TahitiBlue on Monday 9th August 16:24
>> Edited by TahitiBlue on Monday 9th August 16:24
>> Edited by TahitiBlue on Monday 9th August 16:24
mcflurry said:
This happened to a smart forum member. He got zapped at 36 in a 30 by a scamera. Sent a letter offering an explanation, which was turned down!! Then got all the rubbish about speed kills. Sorry but after that escapade I would either stop or continue at the limit.
NO!!! That is outrageous!
I've commented before that was being followed along the A30 past blackbushe when plod came up behond at speed with blues on...was as far over as I could get, but when it was very clear he wasnt going to be getting past (cos of heavy traffic coming other way and not paying attention) he gave me a very clear signal to 'give it some beans'.....which I happily did....got big thumbs up and smiles after pulling out of way at around 100 as road then widened.....
Nightmare said:
This happened to a smart forum member. He got zapped at 36 in a 30 by a scamera. Sent a letter offering an explanation, which was turned down!! Then got all the rubbish about speed kills. Sorry but after that escapade I would either stop or continue at the limit.
NO!!! That is outrageous!
I've commented before that was being followed along the A30 past blackbushe when plod came up behond at speed with blues on...was as far over as I could get, but when it was very clear he wasnt going to be getting past (cos of heavy traffic coming other way and not paying attention) he gave me a very clear signal to 'give it some beans'.....which I happily did....got big thumbs up and smiles after pulling out of way at around 100 as road then widened.....
oops, messed that up, sorry. Not used the quote thing before.
'Hello is that some 18 year old thick spotty pushbike riding nerk at the xxxx safety camera partnership?, yes I've received an NIP for travelling at 97 MPH in the 30 MPH roadworks at yyyy. The reason is because there was a police car behind me who indicated it was OK to put my foot down. He also gave his thumbs up at the other end for a job well done.'.
'Ah dohn fink he did, an you woz musta been speedin, and a dohn fink you will can see the pikchuz'
(that's what Hull was like by the way when I spoke to them)
'Hello is that some 18 year old thick spotty pushbike riding nerk at the xxxx safety camera partnership?, yes I've received an NIP for travelling at 97 MPH in the 30 MPH roadworks at yyyy. The reason is because there was a police car behind me who indicated it was OK to put my foot down. He also gave his thumbs up at the other end for a job well done.'.
'Ah dohn fink he did, an you woz musta been speedin, and a dohn fink you will can see the pikchuz'
(that's what Hull was like by the way when I spoke to them)
I was on the A13 last week coming out of London and twice a police vehicle came up behind the traffic with lights and siren on . . . nobody moved out of the way . . . . nowhere to go except through red lights or speed through the plethora of cameras. Second one was a police van and he ended up turning off his siren and lights whilst waiting at traffic lights at a right turn and turning them on again when the traffic moved. I've never seen a police car being ignored like that before, it was almost as if it wasn't there.
Oddly enough, an ambulance seemed to clear a path through the traffic witin seconds on a previous occasion, even HGV's finding somethhre to go . . . I guess the only difference is that the Ambulance service don't run the Scamera partnerships !
Oddly enough, an ambulance seemed to clear a path through the traffic witin seconds on a previous occasion, even HGV's finding somethhre to go . . . I guess the only difference is that the Ambulance service don't run the Scamera partnerships !
mcflurry said:
What if,
you've on a single lane contraflow in 4 miles of roadworks, with speed cameras, and an emergency vehicle is behind you with it's blue's on.
I'm sorry to say that I would stick to the 50 40 or even 30MPH speed limit these days rather than argue it out with a SCP.
In the past I would have floored it.
This happened to a smart forum member. He got zapped at 36 in a 30 by a scamera. Sent a letter offering an explanation, which was turned down!! Then got all the rubbish about speed kills. Sorry but after that escapade I would either stop or continue at the limit.
Not quite the same but an ambulance with lights came up behind me this eve. I could see it was a fair bit behind and I was on a right hand blind bend leading to a roundabout so I floored it till the road straightened then indicated and moved left where the vision was better for an overtake. I know that cars coming in the opposite direction can come through here at up to 60 (50 limit).
Tonyrec said:
Here are a set of guidelines to help you deal with approaching Emergency vehicles.
You might find it useful.
1) DONT PANIC (Mr Mannering!)- It is normal practice for a driver to slam on their brakes when they see an approaching Emer vehicle.
Keep moving until you can find a safe/suitable place where you can pull in safely.Remember that fully laden Fire Engines and Ambulances take some stopping.
2) DONT AUTOMATICALLY PULL OVER TO THE NEARSIDE - If you are in a right hand lane of a Dualcarriageway it sometimes makes more sense to keep to the Offside to allow the Emer Vehicle to go down the middle of the road.
3) WHEN YOU SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU - Pull over to the Nearside to give the driver room to use your side of the road if necessary.
4) LEAVE A GAP - When sitting in Traffic queues leave a gap between the vehicle directly in front (a good guide is to be able to see their rear wheels) so that you can easily manouvre out of the way.
5) PAUSE,LOOK AND LISTEN - After letting the Emer Vehicle pass as their MAY be another behind it.Police vehicles travelling in Convoy will try to use different siren sounds to alert you of their joint prescence.
Hopefully you will find this usefull
Alternatively do what they do in Italy - follow the Ambulance with Blues/Twos through the city traffic jam, red traffic lights etc.
(probably better not to do this to a Cop car though 
) A while back I was turning into cartgate services on the A303 in Zummerzet. As I started to move across the roundabout I spied an ambulance heading towards me indicating to turn towards Yeovil. Using the full length of my truck I completely blocked the roundabout, so nothing could get past me and hold him up. As he got closer I made eye contact, gave him the flash, and was rewarded with a thumbs up and a grin as he shot straight onto the roundabout without delay.
Phil
Phil
I just lurve drivers who hear the two tones approaching, apply their brakes and then move their steering wheel without moving...fantastic.
The other favourite is drivers who stop suddenly in lane 3 of the A406 for example when it is clear to change lanes, as they just panic at the sight of the approaching police car.
Recently when travelling on blues and twos along the A40 into London, I have been followed by a number of private motorcycles traveling too close to me and cutting through filtering lanes of traffic, if they ignore the KEEP BACK illuminated sign on top of the Traffic car, I stop and offer words of advice. They just don`t appreciate how dangerous it is, other drivers move for the Police car and then swing back or change lanes without looking for the motorcycle.
The other favourite is drivers who stop suddenly in lane 3 of the A406 for example when it is clear to change lanes, as they just panic at the sight of the approaching police car.
Recently when travelling on blues and twos along the A40 into London, I have been followed by a number of private motorcycles traveling too close to me and cutting through filtering lanes of traffic, if they ignore the KEEP BACK illuminated sign on top of the Traffic car, I stop and offer words of advice. They just don`t appreciate how dangerous it is, other drivers move for the Police car and then swing back or change lanes without looking for the motorcycle.
v8 westy said:
do the "safety" camera partnerships ever get any feedback from the emergency services? more importantly, do they take any notice?
Wasn't it in Lincolnshire recently when an ambulance driver was prosecuted for speeding even though on a mission? That demonstrates their approach to feedback, I think.
I'm not surprised that people are tending now to ignore police on emergencies. While I respond "automatically" to the need for emergency vehicles to make progress, I can understand why some might not feel so willing if they've recently been gatsoed at 32 in a 30.
v8 westy said:
do the "safety" camera partnerships ever get any feedback from the emergency services? more importantly, do they take any notice?
For AGES the camera partnerships were saying that even if they are public emergency service vehices snapped while driving with a blue light they need to fully justify the speeding.
One large ambulance service said they needed to take on a part-time admin assistant to work a couple of days a week just to process the paperwork.
Still the SCP's said that justification is needed etc. until a few weeks back when it was said that if a public emergency service vehicle is snapped with blue lights on the matter would be automatically dropped.
Gareth
Tonyrec said:
Here are a set of guidelines to help you deal with approaching Emergency vehicles.
You might find it useful.
1) DONT PANIC (Mr Mannering!)- It is normal practice for a driver to slam on their brakes when they see an approaching Emer vehicle.
Keep moving until you can find a safe/suitable place where you can pull in safely.Remember that fully laden Fire Engines and Ambulances take some stopping.
2) DONT AUTOMATICALLY PULL OVER TO THE NEARSIDE - If you are in a right hand lane of a Dualcarriageway it sometimes makes more sense to keep to the Offside to allow the Emer Vehicle to go down the middle of the road.
3) WHEN YOU SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU - Pull over to the Nearside to give the driver room to use your side of the road if necessary.
4) LEAVE A GAP - When sitting in Traffic queues leave a gap between the vehicle directly in front (a good guide is to be able to see their rear wheels) so that you can easily manouvre out of the way.
5) PAUSE,LOOK AND LISTEN - After letting the Emer Vehicle pass as their MAY be another behind it.Police vehicles travelling in Convoy will try to use different siren sounds to alert you of their joint prescence.
Hopefully you will find this usefull
Not round here
1) PANIC. Look around startled at the funny noise coming from somewhere. Slam on the brakes to test the driving skills of other motorists.
2) PUZZLE as all the other cars try to get out of the way of this noisy vehicle. Assume it is nothing to do with you.
3) QUEUEJUMP look there's a big gap there I'll just nip into it, there's plenty of time, and I need to get home before Eastenders starts.
4) SWEAR at the trafpol who for some unaccountable reason is jumping up and down shouting "Get out of the f***ing way you cretin"
5) WHINGE in the pub afterwards about the appalling quality of Police Drivers these days.
autismuk said:
1) PANIC. Look around startled at the funny noise coming from somewhere.
This problem is partly due to numptyism but a great part of it must be due to the sirens themselves. The modern electronic wailing sirens are very difficult to locate if you can't see the blue lights yet because the tone is too pure for the ear's DF systems to work on, which was not the case with the old-fashioned air horn types (the same reason why a phone with an electronic squeaker is much harder to locate in a room full of phones than one with a real bell).
Is this deliberate, so that the scrotes on the receiving end of the shout don't know which way to run? Or is it just another case of using an electronic system because it's cheaper/hi-tech and cool, regardless of the fact that it's crap?
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