passing an emergency services vehicle - lights ablaze
Discussion
f-fuxake said:
They don't use two tones on motorways do they?
He meant the lights.Depends, if you were doing 70MPH then it's fine, if you were doing 120MPH probably not so good...
They could have had a patient in the ambulance so didn't want to go too fast to chuck them about?
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 28th September 08:37
It gets me with fire engines - they are geared to hit a maximum of around 60-70MPH depending on load. So when a fire engine is on the motorway, its amazing to see everyone holding back and not overtaking. Ok, it might be going to an accident on the motorway itself, but equally it might be using the motorway to go a couple of junctions down. Its not as if the firemen on board are going to call the police if you happen to go past at 75MPH....
have overtaken a few fire engines on the M1, all within the limits.
Nearly everytime the fire truck is doing 65ish and everyone is packed behind it.... cue me blasting past at 75mph (feels fast due to the massive 10mph difference) at that point everyone else realises thats its actually ok (until someone on here tells me differently) to overtake it, even with the blue lights going, cue everyone else scrabbling to get to the outside lane....
Must point out that all of the trucks have not being going to motorway accidents and I have been fortunate not to look at cock as they overtake me back a mile or so later at the accident.
Nearly everytime the fire truck is doing 65ish and everyone is packed behind it.... cue me blasting past at 75mph (feels fast due to the massive 10mph difference) at that point everyone else realises thats its actually ok (until someone on here tells me differently) to overtake it, even with the blue lights going, cue everyone else scrabbling to get to the outside lane....
Must point out that all of the trucks have not being going to motorway accidents and I have been fortunate not to look at cock as they overtake me back a mile or so later at the accident.
Sushi said:
When I ruptured a disc and had to take a trip in the ambulance they had the lights etc but would not go very fast in case they did any more damage.
On a reverse side of this, followed an ambulance that was taking my wife to hospital as an emergency - we were hitting 105MPH with ease and I was a little surprised! Put the willies up me though, just how much of a serious situation was this?off_again said:
Sushi said:
When I ruptured a disc and had to take a trip in the ambulance they had the lights etc but would not go very fast in case they did any more damage.
On a reverse side of this, followed an ambulance that was taking my wife to hospital as an emergency - we were hitting 105MPH with ease and I was a little surprised! Put the willies up me though, just how much of a serious situation was this?patmahe said:
I wouldn't overtake an emergency vehicle, with its lights on. It just goes against my instincts, I suppose its a fear of causing any kind of obstruction to them, however unlikely. It will in all probablility be a brief delay to me if any at all.
On an empty 3-lane motorway, about 1am on a Sat night/Sun morn? you'd sit behind it for fear of obstructing it?hmm. mkay.
Fire trucks and ambulances are pretty slow to start with, particulary fire trucks if they come on at a junction and will take till the next junction to get to 70!
It could be worse, numpties could slow down for highways agency vehicles or any vehicle with any remotely refective material anywhere! Oh they do.

It could be worse, numpties could slow down for highways agency vehicles or any vehicle with any remotely refective material anywhere! Oh they do.

ukwill said:
patmahe said:
I wouldn't overtake an emergency vehicle, with its lights on. It just goes against my instincts, I suppose its a fear of causing any kind of obstruction to them, however unlikely. It will in all probablility be a brief delay to me if any at all.
On an empty 3-lane motorway, about 1am on a Sat night/Sun morn? you'd sit behind it for fear of obstructing it?hmm. mkay.
Maybe if I was stuck behind them in your situation for several miles, I'd consider an overtake, but if I was only held up for a short while I think I'd just relax and not let it bother me.
patmahe said:
ukwill said:
patmahe said:
I wouldn't overtake an emergency vehicle, with its lights on. It just goes against my instincts, I suppose its a fear of causing any kind of obstruction to them, however unlikely. It will in all probablility be a brief delay to me if any at all.
On an empty 3-lane motorway, about 1am on a Sat night/Sun morn? you'd sit behind it for fear of obstructing it?hmm. mkay.
Maybe if I was stuck behind them in your situation for several miles, I'd consider an overtake, but if I was only held up for a short while I think I'd just relax and not let it bother me.
Of course on an empty motorway, you give it some space and drive past it. Not as if you are going to cause any issue.
If it's busy, then you are just getting in the way of the vehicle and/or giving him something else to worry about..i.e. having to look both forward for gaps in the traffic and backwards for people trying to get somewhere 1 minute earlier.
If it's busy, then you are just getting in the way of the vehicle and/or giving him something else to worry about..i.e. having to look both forward for gaps in the traffic and backwards for people trying to get somewhere 1 minute earlier.
patmahe said:
ukwill said:
patmahe said:
I wouldn't overtake an emergency vehicle, with its lights on. It just goes against my instincts, I suppose its a fear of causing any kind of obstruction to them, however unlikely. It will in all probablility be a brief delay to me if any at all.
On an empty 3-lane motorway, about 1am on a Sat night/Sun morn? you'd sit behind it for fear of obstructing it?hmm. mkay.
Maybe if I was stuck behind them in your situation for several miles, I'd consider an overtake, but if I was only held up for a short while I think I'd just relax and not let it bother me.
I've gone past them before now. But when I pulled off at the next junction I left plenty of space between me and the end of the queue at the roundabout. Which the fireengine then used to get past me without trouble.
Mind you they still couldn't get past the retards in front who as usual think if you see a fire engine/ambulance you should stay stationary... muppets.
Mind you they still couldn't get past the retards in front who as usual think if you see a fire engine/ambulance you should stay stationary... muppets.
off_again said:
Sushi said:
When I ruptured a disc and had to take a trip in the ambulance they had the lights etc but would not go very fast in case they did any more damage.
On a reverse side of this, followed an ambulance that was taking my wife to hospital as an emergency - we were hitting 105MPH with ease and I was a little surprised! Put the willies up me though, just how much of a serious situation was this?Didn't get to the hospital in time and my son was born in the back of the ambulance at the side of the road! Mother and baby were fine.
HellDiver said:
GTIR said:
Fire trucks and ambulances are pretty slow to start with, particulary fire trucks if they come on at a junction and will take till the next junction to get to 70!
The Supercharged Volvos they use here can get to 70 an awful lot quicker than that. Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


