How would you have let this ambulance past?
Discussion
I'd be interested in other options I could have considered, and the mechanics of what an emergency services driver can do.
Late last night I was in the wilds of Norfolk. Not really sure which road - not from round there - but even the A-roads there are a often a bit ropey in terms of width, dips, lighting etc. I wasn't rushing - it was pitch black, there were fog banks and I had a good two hours' drive ahead of me.
I spotted an ambulance in the rear view mirror, closing slowly, blue lights but no siren. My initial plan was to speed up as much as was safe and hope I got to a better bit of road where I could pull over - as mentioned the road didn't really have any hard shoulder and I couldn't see what the verge was like (drains, poles, who knows). Causing an accident with an ambulance would have been embarassing.
Unfortunately the road just carried on and the ambulance caught up. I was now driving about as fast as I could safely manage, and had an ambulance behind me. I considered slowing down anyway, but since the ambulance wasn't trying to overtake I was concerned that the driver had decided it wasn't safe, so all I would achieve would be to cause them more of an obstruction than I already was. Couldn't think of anything to do with indicators to communicate (left signal ... does that mean I can see you and will slow down if you pull out, or does it mean I think you should avoid overtaking. Hazards ... could mean I can see a hazard.).
So I was a bit stuck - nowhere to pull over that I could see, and the ambulance appeared unwilling or unable to make an overtake by itself. No way to communicate.
Eventually after far too long for comfort it resolved itself when we got to a wider more lit up bit of road where it got past (just - I eased off rather than braking hard, and then had to brake harder as it pulled out so it didn't collect someone coming the other way).
All a bit too much excitement for an old man, and I wonder what I could have done differently. With the benefit of hindsight slowing to a complete stop initially and letting them go round me would have been better. But not knowing the road and only being able to see as far as my headlights, I'd be concerned that might have forced them into an overtake on a blind ben, dip or similar. I've heard emergency services drivers complain about people just panic braking before.
You should be able to drop an Ambulance pretty easily, they are heavy vans.
In theory you COULD pull out in to the other lane and allow them to undertake but I doubt they would know what you were doing.
Either carry on as you did or slow right up and let them overtake, a trained driver should be able to spot an overtake spot.
I suspect you did the right thing.
In theory you COULD pull out in to the other lane and allow them to undertake but I doubt they would know what you were doing.
Either carry on as you did or slow right up and let them overtake, a trained driver should be able to spot an overtake spot.
I suspect you did the right thing.
Flooble said:
I'd be interested in other options I could have considered, and the mechanics of what an emergency services driver can do.
Late last night I was in the wilds of Norfolk. Not really sure which road - not from round there - but even the A-roads there are a often a bit ropey in terms of width, dips, lighting etc. I wasn't rushing - it was pitch black, there were fog banks and I had a good two hours' drive ahead of me.
I spotted an ambulance in the rear view mirror, closing slowly, blue lights but no siren. My initial plan was to speed up as much as was safe and hope I got to a better bit of road where I could pull over - as mentioned the road didn't really have any hard shoulder and I couldn't see what the verge was like (drains, poles, who knows). Causing an accident with an ambulance would have been embarassing.
Unfortunately the road just carried on and the ambulance caught up. I was now driving about as fast as I could safely manage, and had an ambulance behind me. I considered slowing down anyway, but since the ambulance wasn't trying to overtake I was concerned that the driver had decided it wasn't safe, so all I would achieve would be to cause them more of an obstruction than I already was. Couldn't think of anything to do with indicators to communicate (left signal ... does that mean I can see you and will slow down if you pull out, or does it mean I think you should avoid overtaking. Hazards ... could mean I can see a hazard.).
So I was a bit stuck - nowhere to pull over that I could see, and the ambulance appeared unwilling or unable to make an overtake by itself. No way to communicate.
Eventually after far too long for comfort it resolved itself when we got to a wider more lit up bit of road where it got past (just - I eased off rather than braking hard, and then had to brake harder as it pulled out so it didn't collect someone coming the other way).
All a bit too much excitement for an old man, and I wonder what I could have done differently. With the benefit of hindsight slowing to a complete stop initially and letting them go round me would have been better. But not knowing the road and only being able to see as far as my headlights, I'd be concerned that might have forced them into an overtake on a blind ben, dip or similar. I've heard emergency services drivers complain about people just panic braking before.
I once had a similar situation with a police car, 50 limit. I tried to let them overtake, but oncoming vehicle meant an abort. I then accelerated to 60, or occasionally a few over. Drove progressively, but sanely, through the bends. As soon as I could pull over, I did.Late last night I was in the wilds of Norfolk. Not really sure which road - not from round there - but even the A-roads there are a often a bit ropey in terms of width, dips, lighting etc. I wasn't rushing - it was pitch black, there were fog banks and I had a good two hours' drive ahead of me.
I spotted an ambulance in the rear view mirror, closing slowly, blue lights but no siren. My initial plan was to speed up as much as was safe and hope I got to a better bit of road where I could pull over - as mentioned the road didn't really have any hard shoulder and I couldn't see what the verge was like (drains, poles, who knows). Causing an accident with an ambulance would have been embarassing.
Unfortunately the road just carried on and the ambulance caught up. I was now driving about as fast as I could safely manage, and had an ambulance behind me. I considered slowing down anyway, but since the ambulance wasn't trying to overtake I was concerned that the driver had decided it wasn't safe, so all I would achieve would be to cause them more of an obstruction than I already was. Couldn't think of anything to do with indicators to communicate (left signal ... does that mean I can see you and will slow down if you pull out, or does it mean I think you should avoid overtaking. Hazards ... could mean I can see a hazard.).
So I was a bit stuck - nowhere to pull over that I could see, and the ambulance appeared unwilling or unable to make an overtake by itself. No way to communicate.
Eventually after far too long for comfort it resolved itself when we got to a wider more lit up bit of road where it got past (just - I eased off rather than braking hard, and then had to brake harder as it pulled out so it didn't collect someone coming the other way).
All a bit too much excitement for an old man, and I wonder what I could have done differently. With the benefit of hindsight slowing to a complete stop initially and letting them go round me would have been better. But not knowing the road and only being able to see as far as my headlights, I'd be concerned that might have forced them into an overtake on a blind ben, dip or similar. I've heard emergency services drivers complain about people just panic braking before.
Solocle said:
I once had a similar situation with a police car, 50 limit. I tried to let them overtake, but oncoming vehicle meant an abort. I then accelerated to 60, or occasionally a few over. Drove progressively, but sanely, through the bends. As soon as I could pull over, I did.
I normally speed up too if a space is needed for them to pass, and I then slow and indicate whilst moving over for them to execute the pass, but I try to keep movingTraffic stopping for a blue light vehicle can be the worst thing they can do, usually causes gridlock and the vehicle can't get through. Normally better to slow but keep moving whilst allowing space for the vehicle to pass.
As for going through a red light, try not to, if you get flashed then doing so for a blue light vehicle isn't a defence. Trained blue lighters should turn their blue lights and sirens off when they approach traffic queuing at a red light, so as not to force anyone through.
Edited by The Gauge on Sunday 12th October 20:19
If there's a straight good sighted stretch of road, then slow down and let the ambulance past.
You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
Nibbles_bits said:
If there's a straight good sighted stretch of road, then slow down and let the ambulance past.
You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
what's your advice as an experienced blue light driver for the actual circumstances described in the OP?You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
Keep going at a speed that is safe for them.
If a well sighted stretch of straight road presents itself, indicate left and if safe to do so slow, even better come to a full controlled stop.
The ambulance will work around them.
You have no exemption to exceed the speed limit.
Going faster than comfortable with is only going to increase the risk to yourself and other road users, including the ambulance.
If a well sighted stretch of straight road presents itself, indicate left and if safe to do so slow, even better come to a full controlled stop.
The ambulance will work around them.
You have no exemption to exceed the speed limit.
Going faster than comfortable with is only going to increase the risk to yourself and other road users, including the ambulance.
BertBert said:
Nibbles_bits said:
If there's a straight good sighted stretch of road, then slow down and let the ambulance past.
You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
what's your advice as an experienced blue light driver for the actual circumstances described in the OP?You'll likely see this before the emergency services vehicle following.
As a blue light driver of just over 6 years - please STOP if and when it's safe to so.
If you only slow and vehicles coming the other direction also only slow, any overtaking opportunity is closed....VERY quickly.
Driving as fast as you safely could is just delaying the ambulance even more and going at a speed where it is unsafe for the ambulance to overtake.
Surely slowing down would have been a better option unless it was miles of double whites or a single track lane I'm sure an advanced driver would have hsd an opportunity to overtake if you wasn't pacing them.
Surely slowing down would have been a better option unless it was miles of double whites or a single track lane I'm sure an advanced driver would have hsd an opportunity to overtake if you wasn't pacing them.
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