Ambulance, blues on but no siren
Discussion
If an emergency vehicle has it's blues lit but no siren should you give way to it? I would have thought that the answer was 'yes' but I'm not so sure after witnessing something last night.
I'd stopped at some red lights at a major, and busy at the time, crossroad junction. An ambulance drove up to the junction from the opposite side, not at a speed that I would have considered the vehicle to be in any hurry to get anywhere, with its lights on but no siren. It stopped behind the queuing traffic and no-one appeared to make any effort to let the ambulance through, though in doing so it may have meant one or two vehicles 'jumping' the lights in order to create some road space. The ambulance didn't use it's horn and the driver didn't appear to be too bothered that he was wasn't making progress.
I'd stopped at some red lights at a major, and busy at the time, crossroad junction. An ambulance drove up to the junction from the opposite side, not at a speed that I would have considered the vehicle to be in any hurry to get anywhere, with its lights on but no siren. It stopped behind the queuing traffic and no-one appeared to make any effort to let the ambulance through, though in doing so it may have meant one or two vehicles 'jumping' the lights in order to create some road space. The ambulance didn't use it's horn and the driver didn't appear to be too bothered that he was wasn't making progress.
Edited by CardShark on Friday 30th November 13:06
I'm glad people had the sense to stay put, I saw someone jump a red to make way for an ambulance and got sideswiped for their troubles. If you read up at http://www.bluelightaware.org.uk you'll know that only the Police can force you to jump a light.
I'd assume it meant that the driver may want to make progress, but can see that current conditions don't accommodate it, so is not using the siren and is willing to wait, rather than pushing people into doing something potentially dangerous or unhelpful.
Ditto for when an emergency vehicle appears behind you in an NSL whilst you are travelling at the speed limit and oncoming traffic doesn't permit an overtake. Keep on going as you are!
Ditto for when an emergency vehicle appears behind you in an NSL whilst you are travelling at the speed limit and oncoming traffic doesn't permit an overtake. Keep on going as you are!
trashbat said:
I'd assume it meant that the driver may want to make progress, but can see that current conditions don't accommodate it, so is not using the siren and is willing to wait, rather than pushing people into doing something potentially dangerous or unhelpful.
This has been said previously, Ambo drivers will turn their siren off for this reason.
As has been said, we're (fire service) trained not to force people through red lights. So fairly often if there's nowhere for the vehicles in front to go then we'll just sit at the back of the queue with the lights still on but sirens of.
Didn't know the police were allowed to force people thought the lights though. Can't understand that to be honest.
Didn't know the police were allowed to force people thought the lights though. Can't understand that to be honest.
I was driving a marked Police car on a response run a while ago. Aproached a "priority" chicane which was against me, and had a council van barging me out of the way. Thought it slightly odd until I reached the target address and realised I'd hit the "siren" button rather than the "999" button which activated everything including, erm, the lights 
Davel said:
Could be a case where a smooth ride is needed rather than a fast one - such as a spinal injury or baby in an incubator perhaps?
Just guessing - it's been many years since I drove one....
Close - it means that they have a casualty on board and don't want to cause distress to the patient unnecessarily. They only turn the sirens on when traffic won't give way.Just guessing - it's been many years since I drove one....
I was in one under these exact circumstances after my heart attack and questioned the silence...
Edit to add: To the OP - yes - you should Give Way to blue lights every time. GTF outa-the-way!
We turn off the sirens waiting at traffic lights as was said above - we don't want to force people through traffic lights (legally you don't have an exemption and if you get hit it's not good!). When we're driving along without sirens but with blue lights, we want you to get out of the way, we don't tend to activate the sirens unless we have too, it means they have a better effect when you do activate them!
MMM! the silent approach, great until another road user is hurt and you end up in court! If this method is used we stipulate the driver complies to speed limits and continuously applies a dynamic risk assessment. If sirens are put on late to a hazard it is likely to surprise people and they may react in a way that is not wanted or needed!
trashbat said:
I'd assume it meant that the driver may want to make progress, but can see that current conditions don't accommodate it, so is not using the siren and is willing to wait, rather than pushing people into doing something potentially dangerous or unhelpful.
Ditto for when an emergency vehicle appears behind you in an NSL whilst you are travelling at the speed limit and oncoming traffic doesn't permit an overtake. Keep on going as you are!
Just for the record this man knows what its all about.And I am being serious I take my hat off to him.Ditto for when an emergency vehicle appears behind you in an NSL whilst you are travelling at the speed limit and oncoming traffic doesn't permit an overtake. Keep on going as you are!
The 'no sirens' thing caused my first accident.
I was on a dual carriageway, and the fire brigade were in the vehicle on a side turning, (blues on, no siren) waiting for a chance to pull out. Everyone in front of me passed it, as stopping would have been too dangerous.
Apart from the car in front of me, which performed an emergency stop, and I went into the back of him. (no ABS and I should have allowed more room admittedly)
The fire brigade were on a call out to a fire drill, hence no siren.
I was on a dual carriageway, and the fire brigade were in the vehicle on a side turning, (blues on, no siren) waiting for a chance to pull out. Everyone in front of me passed it, as stopping would have been too dangerous.
Apart from the car in front of me, which performed an emergency stop, and I went into the back of him. (no ABS and I should have allowed more room admittedly)
The fire brigade were on a call out to a fire drill, hence no siren.
Edited by Talk2Dave on Wednesday 12th December 08:16
Talk2Dave said:
The 'no sirens' thing caused my first accident.
I was on a dual carriageway, and the fire brigade were in the vehicle on a side turning, (blues on, no siren) waiting for a chance to pull out. Everyone in front of me passed it, as stopping would have been too dangerous.
Apart from the car in front of me, which performed an emergency stop, and I went into the back of him. (no ABS and I should have allowed more room admittedly)
The fire brigade were on a call out to a fire drill, hence no siren.
Would you contemplate an extension to your thinking as I think you are going there anyway? If one were to postulate that it was actually you that caused that accident, would you argue strongly?I was on a dual carriageway, and the fire brigade were in the vehicle on a side turning, (blues on, no siren) waiting for a chance to pull out. Everyone in front of me passed it, as stopping would have been too dangerous.
Apart from the car in front of me, which performed an emergency stop, and I went into the back of him. (no ABS and I should have allowed more room admittedly)
The fire brigade were on a call out to a fire drill, hence no siren.
Edited by Talk2Dave on Wednesday 12th December 08:16
Bert
BertBert said:
Would you contemplate an extension to your thinking as I think you are going there anyway? If one were to postulate that it was actually you that caused that accident, would you argue strongly?
Bert
No you're quite right. I presumed the car in front would follow suit and pass it. The presumption from myself caused me the accident. I should have allowed a bigger gap.Bert
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