Paramedic first responders - driving standards
Discussion
You may not have these guys in your area but in mine (Beds/Northants) we've got first responding paramedics driving Skoda Octavia Scouts (good cars for the job in my opinion).
They are chiefly there to get to an incident before an ambulance can get there, and in most cases they do a bloody good job and save lives.
However....has anyone noticed how aggressively they drive when on blue? They are a bloody menace, with an "I'M ON BLUE...I'M COMING WHETHER YOU GET OUT OF MY WAY OR NOT!" attitude problem. They really don't look as if they've ever attended a fast driving on blue course in their lives.
The other day, one was coming through from way back behind me in three lanes of rush hour traffic. I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout, he thought he'd cut right across my front and actually gave me the finger for what, I don't know.
It was as if he'd just got a siren and a blue light for Christmas and was not, in my opinion, driving in a professional manner. Are these guys trained to drive in these situations, the same as say a fireman or Police officer?
They are chiefly there to get to an incident before an ambulance can get there, and in most cases they do a bloody good job and save lives.
However....has anyone noticed how aggressively they drive when on blue? They are a bloody menace, with an "I'M ON BLUE...I'M COMING WHETHER YOU GET OUT OF MY WAY OR NOT!" attitude problem. They really don't look as if they've ever attended a fast driving on blue course in their lives.
The other day, one was coming through from way back behind me in three lanes of rush hour traffic. I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout, he thought he'd cut right across my front and actually gave me the finger for what, I don't know.
It was as if he'd just got a siren and a blue light for Christmas and was not, in my opinion, driving in a professional manner. Are these guys trained to drive in these situations, the same as say a fireman or Police officer?
normal bloke said:
You may not have these guys in your area but in mine (Beds/Northants) we've got first responding paramedics driving Skoda Octavia Scouts (good cars for the job in my opinion).
They are chiefly there to get to an incident before an ambulance can get there, and in most cases they do a bloody good job and save lives.
However....has anyone noticed how aggressively they drive when on blue? They are a bloody menace, with an "I'M ON BLUE...I'M COMING WHETHER YOU GET OUT OF MY WAY OR NOT!" attitude problem. They really don't look as if they've ever attended a fast driving on blue course in their lives.
The other day, one was coming through from way back behind me in three lanes of rush hour traffic. I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout, he thought he'd cut right across my front and actually gave me the finger for what, I don't know.
It was as if he'd just got a siren and a blue light for Christmas and was not, in my opinion, driving in a professional manner. Are these guys trained to drive in these situations, the same as say a fireman or Police officer?
4 week driving course prior to starting as a student paramedic on the streets up in North esst. I'm sure that's replicated elsewhereThey are chiefly there to get to an incident before an ambulance can get there, and in most cases they do a bloody good job and save lives.
However....has anyone noticed how aggressively they drive when on blue? They are a bloody menace, with an "I'M ON BLUE...I'M COMING WHETHER YOU GET OUT OF MY WAY OR NOT!" attitude problem. They really don't look as if they've ever attended a fast driving on blue course in their lives.
The other day, one was coming through from way back behind me in three lanes of rush hour traffic. I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout, he thought he'd cut right across my front and actually gave me the finger for what, I don't know.
It was as if he'd just got a siren and a blue light for Christmas and was not, in my opinion, driving in a professional manner. Are these guys trained to drive in these situations, the same as say a fireman or Police officer?
19 years served Paramedic here.
Unacceptable for him to flick the bird and to cut you up. As long as you know what time it was and your exact location they will know who it was if you complain. Maybe a fly in his ear will make him think a bit better next time.
I gave a young boy racer the w
ker sign once, couldn't help myself. I wasn't on blues just driving normally. He had come into a roundabout like a loon and properly lost it sliding sideways but managing not to hit anyone. I was laughing at him while I did it but he took offence and drive to my station to speak to my boss. ( who saw the funny side) luckily for him it was the days before we had cameras on our vehicles otherwise I'd of got the footage.
Which brings me to another point. With so many dash cams around now our driving is under a lot of scrutiny. So you have to drive to the rules.
Unacceptable for him to flick the bird and to cut you up. As long as you know what time it was and your exact location they will know who it was if you complain. Maybe a fly in his ear will make him think a bit better next time.
I gave a young boy racer the w
ker sign once, couldn't help myself. I wasn't on blues just driving normally. He had come into a roundabout like a loon and properly lost it sliding sideways but managing not to hit anyone. I was laughing at him while I did it but he took offence and drive to my station to speak to my boss. ( who saw the funny side) luckily for him it was the days before we had cameras on our vehicles otherwise I'd of got the footage. Which brings me to another point. With so many dash cams around now our driving is under a lot of scrutiny. So you have to drive to the rules.
Maybe he was giving a form of thanks but you did not get a good view, keeping YOUR eye on the road ahead I hope.
Un likely he would give you the proper finger, or perhaps you we driving like a tt.
Still when its your kid that's been splattered across a car you might be thank full for him getting there quick.
and giving that vital help.
Un likely he would give you the proper finger, or perhaps you we driving like a t
t.Still when its your kid that's been splattered across a car you might be thank full for him getting there quick.
and giving that vital help.
normal bloke said:
I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout, he thought he'd cut right across my front and actually gave me the finger for what, I don't know.
Perhaps you continuing to approach the roundabout meant that he had a lot less space for a bollard - as well as making it difficult for him to then leave at the first exit?NHS Ambulance have a 4 week course down here compared to 3 week for Police so in theory have more practise in training. However... Some private firms that outsource to the NHS skimp on the training and only do a few days before letting their drivers loose. I believe this is being clamped down on.
I mainly work on our RRV these days, and it's an extra course on top the of the normal blue lights to work on one due to the extra danger/skill.
I shan't lie, the standard of driving from the general public is horrendous when given a blue light situation. Over the last few years the biggest shift has been in the quality of HGV drivers. They've gone from being the best drivers on the road normally, to being death wagons on a mission.
I shan't lie, the standard of driving from the general public is horrendous when given a blue light situation. Over the last few years the biggest shift has been in the quality of HGV drivers. They've gone from being the best drivers on the road normally, to being death wagons on a mission.
Make me laugh some of them, I attended incident once a senior paramedic officer in unmarked Golf GTI drove so fast I thought he was going to go back in time!
The incident was a lorry has hit a stationary car on the m5 hard shoulder and that car was now in lane 3!
He got on scene before most other services and long before the paramedics and he is not allowed to smart working on any patients as he is there to in this type incident co-ordinate the SWAS response! So it was there so early there was sod all for him to do, but a number of members of the public expressed concern with his driving to me.
In my area the RRV are skoda scouts and in the main very good, they got to my infant daughter dam quick.
Occasionally I think they are putting higher priority on the shout than getting their safely.
The main issue SWAS have in my neck of the woods is their merc ambulances are 4.5tn and commercial tyres so on the motorway they can't go much over 70-75 due to their own regs as the vehicles tyres are not designed for higher speeds or have been deemed as such by management.
The incident was a lorry has hit a stationary car on the m5 hard shoulder and that car was now in lane 3!
He got on scene before most other services and long before the paramedics and he is not allowed to smart working on any patients as he is there to in this type incident co-ordinate the SWAS response! So it was there so early there was sod all for him to do, but a number of members of the public expressed concern with his driving to me.
In my area the RRV are skoda scouts and in the main very good, they got to my infant daughter dam quick.
Occasionally I think they are putting higher priority on the shout than getting their safely.
The main issue SWAS have in my neck of the woods is their merc ambulances are 4.5tn and commercial tyres so on the motorway they can't go much over 70-75 due to their own regs as the vehicles tyres are not designed for higher speeds or have been deemed as such by management.
normal bloke said:
I kept an eye on him from several cars back, kept to my lane, didn't make any dodgy sideways movements and slowed right down. As we all approached a roundabout,
Why didn't you get out of his way? It sounds like you were being an obstacle in his path for no reason. Indicating and moving sideways to create space for an emergency vehicle isn't what most would describe as "dodgy" either. You're the one who's at fault there.https://www.neas.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteering-...
There does not SEEM to be any compulsory advanced driver training listed !
There does not SEEM to be any compulsory advanced driver training listed !
surveyor_101 said:
The main issue SWAS have in my neck of the woods is their merc ambulances are 4.5tn and commercial tyres so on the motorway they can't go much over 70-75 due to their own regs as the vehicles tyres are not designed for higher speeds or have been deemed as such by management.
A relative of mine drives these up and down the country with tiny babies on board. They pin the throttle to the floor and keep it there. 75/80 is all they will do, nothing to do with management or tyres.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff