Was this justifiable speeding?
Discussion
I thought it was and thats why I did it !
Late saturday afternoon I was coming down the A3 from London when as I approached an exit I watched in slow motion as an Imprezza lost it coming on to the down ramp from the round about, he went side ways up the bank then flipped it and rolled 2 or 3 times before coming to rest on the roof at the bottom of the slip.
My instant reaction was fluck they'll be lucky to walk away from that, I knew that dozens of people would be mobile phoning in the accident and most of them would know the area better than me so didn't bother. However I also knew that I had a full trauma pack including IV's, airways, etc in the boot plus a fire extinguisher so I flicked on the full beam and booted it to the next exit then back and yes I saw around the 150 mark on the clock. I was the second vehicle to actually bother to stop and yes bar a few cuts and bruises the guys in the car were generally alright, all that was really required was to sit them down and get them imobilised and necks braced by hand untill the paramedics got there not really that big a deal.
No one actually clocked my approach speeds as I was there a good 10-15 mins beofore the plod, ambulance, fire etc. But hyperthetically speaking if I had rejoined the A3 after turning round and proceeded to piss off into the distance away from a trafffic car en route to the incident what would have been the likely hood of them turning on me once the mayhem had died down ???? Oh yes and regardless I would do the same again, I carry a trauma kit because I know how to use it and I have done advanced driving courses and qualified to drive emergency vehicles in the past but you can never gauge a jobs worth traffic cop and in my experience Hampshire traffic do seem to be a particulary nasty varient of the breed. Was I acting as an "Ambulance" and could I have used that as a defence?
Late saturday afternoon I was coming down the A3 from London when as I approached an exit I watched in slow motion as an Imprezza lost it coming on to the down ramp from the round about, he went side ways up the bank then flipped it and rolled 2 or 3 times before coming to rest on the roof at the bottom of the slip.
My instant reaction was fluck they'll be lucky to walk away from that, I knew that dozens of people would be mobile phoning in the accident and most of them would know the area better than me so didn't bother. However I also knew that I had a full trauma pack including IV's, airways, etc in the boot plus a fire extinguisher so I flicked on the full beam and booted it to the next exit then back and yes I saw around the 150 mark on the clock. I was the second vehicle to actually bother to stop and yes bar a few cuts and bruises the guys in the car were generally alright, all that was really required was to sit them down and get them imobilised and necks braced by hand untill the paramedics got there not really that big a deal.
No one actually clocked my approach speeds as I was there a good 10-15 mins beofore the plod, ambulance, fire etc. But hyperthetically speaking if I had rejoined the A3 after turning round and proceeded to piss off into the distance away from a trafffic car en route to the incident what would have been the likely hood of them turning on me once the mayhem had died down ???? Oh yes and regardless I would do the same again, I carry a trauma kit because I know how to use it and I have done advanced driving courses and qualified to drive emergency vehicles in the past but you can never gauge a jobs worth traffic cop and in my experience Hampshire traffic do seem to be a particulary nasty varient of the breed. Was I acting as an "Ambulance" and could I have used that as a defence?
I would hope that this is where BiB's discretion would come in.
Surely no one in their right mind would prosecute you for this, unless you drove in a dangerous manner.
As it is, the police would probably be grateful for your help.
When they do turn up, I suspect that leaving you to deal with the casualty allows them to concentrate on the other priorities
Good on you for your efforts!
Surely no one in their right mind would prosecute you for this, unless you drove in a dangerous manner.
As it is, the police would probably be grateful for your help.
When they do turn up, I suspect that leaving you to deal with the casualty allows them to concentrate on the other priorities
Good on you for your efforts!
Davel said:
Surely no one in their right mind would prosecute you for this, unless you drove in a dangerous manner.
Thats the crux of it though, I drove at around 150mph, thats pretty close to the limits of the car and if looked at in isolation for the speed alone could well have landed me a spell in chokey for Dangerous driving. IMO it wasn't dangerous but it was fast, I did slow a couple of times as I approached traffic and in fairness most cars got out the way PDQ with a few flashes as I was closing on them. But I played poker with my driving license and possibly liberty to do what I did.
Whilst I understand that the police are trained in first aid etc, quite a few of them prefer not to actually have to deal with a casualty. Blood and gore is not the most pleasant of things to deal with.
If you're there to work on the casualty, many would be quite happy to create a safe environment around where you're working and keep the traffic flowing, allowing emergency vehilces to get to you.
As you say though, 150'ish could be frowned upon and I doubt even the BiB will drive at that speed. They may allow speeding in a case like this but 150 might be regarded as excessive, even though your intentions are spot on.
>> Edited by Davel on Monday 14th March 14:33
If you're there to work on the casualty, many would be quite happy to create a safe environment around where you're working and keep the traffic flowing, allowing emergency vehilces to get to you.
As you say though, 150'ish could be frowned upon and I doubt even the BiB will drive at that speed. They may allow speeding in a case like this but 150 might be regarded as excessive, even though your intentions are spot on.
>> Edited by Davel on Monday 14th March 14:33
I hear what you're saying and accept that the worst case scenario could have been that I would also have "lost it" and then they'd have had 2 incidents to deal with. When I say 150 that was the peak speed I saw and was actually on an empty stretch with a clear road in front, however I did stay in the 120-130 region for a fair time. I was in an Audi S3 so in fairness I was probably in a car that was slightly more capable than the Octavia vRS and T5's that turned up plus I wasn't carrying half the old junk they were. Having said that I was also in a car that wasn't as capable as the Imprezza that was on its roof and this clearly shows its not down to the car more driver ability, so I've just shot myself in the foot 
On another note the Driver of the Imprezza also let slip to me he'd only had the car a few days so maybe that says something also. I did however advise him that that might not be the best thing to say quite so willingly to any of the uniforms there, but thats frankly not my concern or job to speculate on, so its down to him and the BiB.
Balmoral Green said:
Speed Kills...unless its an emergency vehicle, in which case...Speed Saves.
Likewise, MOP cant drive at speed for jack, they're officially crap, but anyone driving an emergency vehicle at speed is a driving god.
Nein Liebchen.... ist anyone in BiB car in hard shoulder blat on hunt for unexploded doughnuts und effferevescing hot chocolate und espresso coffee - who ist the Zeus/Jupiter character of driving "gods".....
They have tried to limit fire engine drivers to 40 mph on a shout as ist too dangererous und we might as well let people burn to death instead.....und they did try to prosecute an ambulance driver once .... depsite the fact that he had liver to deliver ....
WildCat said:
They have tried to limit fire engine drivers to 40 mph on a shout as ist too dangererous und we might as well let people burn to death instead.....
While I would find it hard to apply speed limits to a fire engine, they are basically HGVs with thousands of gallons of water sloshing around inside. Have you ever watched one trying to go fast? It rolls and heaves and looks more than a handful. It would be good if fire engines were more effectively engineered for speed.
Peter Ward said:It is just a lorry, though.
They have tried to limit fire engine drivers to 40 mph on a shout as ist too dangererous und we might as well let people burn to death instead.....
While I would find it hard to apply speed limits to a fire engine, they are basically HGVs with thousands of gallons of water sloshing around inside. Have you ever watched one trying to go fast? It rolls and heaves and looks more than a handful. It would be good if fire engines were more effectively engineered for speed.
Likewise ambulances which are just top-heavy vans.
Good for you. Humanity isn't dead afterall.
Unless however any BIB's where tucked away or gatso's present, as has already been mentioned in Lincs even ambulance drivers have to go to court, for doing only a ton +5 when on a mercy run. If you were taken to court I don't think the law would be favourable, to easy to prosecute! Plus you'd have to prove you had seen the accident and were gonig back to it.
Good to see there are people out there willing to help others.
Unless however any BIB's where tucked away or gatso's present, as has already been mentioned in Lincs even ambulance drivers have to go to court, for doing only a ton +5 when on a mercy run. If you were taken to court I don't think the law would be favourable, to easy to prosecute! Plus you'd have to prove you had seen the accident and were gonig back to it.
Good to see there are people out there willing to help others.
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