Cameras cost lives
Discussion
In case you've not seen this, I think we should campaign for slower ambulances.
1,050 speeding tickets for ambulance service
An ambulance service is spending hours on paperwork dealing with speeding tickets issued to its drivers on 999 calls.
East Anglian Ambulance Service has been sent 1,050 speeding tickets by Cambridgeshire Police in the past 12 months, said ambulance resource manager Philip Balls.
In the same period it received 27 speeding tickets from Suffolk, and none from Norfolk - both counties are covered by the service.
To prove the driver was on an emergency call a form has to be sent to headquarters staff and individual ambulance stations, said Mr Balls.
He said: "On one day a driver could have between six and 10 forms to fill in. There is the speeding ticket to complete and there is an exemption form to complete and send back to police.
"It is time consuming and other counties don't do it so I don't know why Cambridgeshire do.
"Our concern is that the drivers might start slowing down to avoid the paperwork, which could affect our eight minute emergency response times."
Mr Balls said most speeding tickets come from cameras near Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said all emergency services are sent one form per incident asking if they were on a 999 call at the time of the speeding.
The tickets are written once this is proved.
He said: "We have to ensure that people aren't just abusing the system. If an ambulance driver is going above the speed limit and not on an emergency call ... and knocks over a child we would be in trouble."
1,050 speeding tickets for ambulance service
An ambulance service is spending hours on paperwork dealing with speeding tickets issued to its drivers on 999 calls.
East Anglian Ambulance Service has been sent 1,050 speeding tickets by Cambridgeshire Police in the past 12 months, said ambulance resource manager Philip Balls.
In the same period it received 27 speeding tickets from Suffolk, and none from Norfolk - both counties are covered by the service.
To prove the driver was on an emergency call a form has to be sent to headquarters staff and individual ambulance stations, said Mr Balls.
He said: "On one day a driver could have between six and 10 forms to fill in. There is the speeding ticket to complete and there is an exemption form to complete and send back to police.
"It is time consuming and other counties don't do it so I don't know why Cambridgeshire do.
"Our concern is that the drivers might start slowing down to avoid the paperwork, which could affect our eight minute emergency response times."
Mr Balls said most speeding tickets come from cameras near Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said all emergency services are sent one form per incident asking if they were on a 999 call at the time of the speeding.
The tickets are written once this is proved.
He said: "We have to ensure that people aren't just abusing the system. If an ambulance driver is going above the speed limit and not on an emergency call ... and knocks over a child we would be in trouble."
If the vehicles are being driven with their blue lights on then this should be enough indication of a 999 call in progress. (Note at any time 1 strobe will be lit and so captured on camera).
If this is the case how many NIP were issued to thepolice force for their vehicles during the same period ?
If this is the case how many NIP were issued to thepolice force for their vehicles during the same period ?
quote:
If this is the case how many NIP were issued to thepolice force for their vehicles during the same period ?
Ah well, you see that is totally different and unnecessary because uh, um, hmm...
And of course lets not forget those cops who are driving their own vehicles who seem to avoid the points etc. too..
well believe this or not but the fire brigade are no different. Having spoken to my brother (fireman) about this issue he tells me that NO emergency service is allowed to speed. No law makes one or all of the emergency services exempt from Road Traffic Laws.
Refer to the Police Drivers Handbook - Roadcraft it mentions that a driver should not speed even it is for a noble cause.
Hence I say do them all for speeding, going through red lights and especially illegal parking.
Why not?
Refer to the Police Drivers Handbook - Roadcraft it mentions that a driver should not speed even it is for a noble cause.
Hence I say do them all for speeding, going through red lights and especially illegal parking.
Why not?
I regularly have to fill out a report to explain why I tripped a camera whilst on an emergernacy call. Time consuming yes, but it makes it fair to all.
Regarding breaking the speed limit. Under the Road Traffic Act the emergency services have exemptions(when responding to a urgent call,) to speed limits and other hazards such as keep left markers, red lights (strictly treated as give way) etc.
If I remember correctly, the general public also have an exemption to speed limits during emergency driving. For instance if you're taking a choking infant to hospital.
Regards
Rob
Regarding breaking the speed limit. Under the Road Traffic Act the emergency services have exemptions(when responding to a urgent call,) to speed limits and other hazards such as keep left markers, red lights (strictly treated as give way) etc.
If I remember correctly, the general public also have an exemption to speed limits during emergency driving. For instance if you're taking a choking infant to hospital.
Regards
Rob
quote:
well believe this or not but the fire brigade are no different. Having spoken to my brother (fireman) about this issue he tells me that NO emergency service is allowed to speed. No law makes one or all of the emergency services exempt from Road Traffic Laws.
Refer to the Police Drivers Handbook - Roadcraft it mentions that a driver should not speed even it is for a noble cause.
Hence I say do them all for speeding, going through red lights and especially illegal parking.
Why not?
So you'd be happy for the fire service to race to your burning house, but give them a ticket for doing it?
Rob
quote:
So you'd be happy for the fire service to race to your burning house, but give them a ticket for doing it?
Rob
Just out of interest, East Anglian Ambulance Service suggests that's what's going to happen – it reckons ambulance drivers are already slowing down to avoid the paperwork caused by all the NIPs.
But ambulances in other counties don't receive the tickets, so I guess getting tended by an ambulance before you die is just another postcode lottery.
Lucozade (and his fireman) are wrong. From the uk.transport FAQ at www.huge.org.uk/transport/FAQ.html#Q23;
23. Do speed limits apply to emergency vehicles?
No.
Section 87, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984:
'No statutory provision imposing a speed limit ... shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes, if the observation of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose to which it is being put at the time'.
Nothing there about blues and twos, marked vehicles or any of the other myths.
Traffic lights and give way signs have different exemptions which are laid down in the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994.
23. Do speed limits apply to emergency vehicles?
No.
Section 87, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984:
'No statutory provision imposing a speed limit ... shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes, if the observation of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose to which it is being put at the time'.
Nothing there about blues and twos, marked vehicles or any of the other myths.
Traffic lights and give way signs have different exemptions which are laid down in the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994.
zumbruk said: Lucozade (and his fireman) are wrong. From the uk.transport FAQ at www.huge.org.uk/transport/FAQ.html#Q23;
23. Do speed limits apply to emergency vehicles?
No.
Section 87, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984:
'No statutory provision imposing a speed limit ... shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes, if the observation of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose to which it is being put at the time'.
Nothing there about blues and twos, marked vehicles or any of the other myths.
Traffic lights and give way signs have different exemptions which are laid down in the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994.
Quite correct. A friend of mine was doing very silly speeds past police cars, speed cameras and through red lights when taking another friend to A&E 'cos second friend was having a heart attack.
No points no fine. It was quicker (they were both already in the car when attack started) than calling for an ambulance.
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