Flashing beacons

[Lakesdigger]

I think wilful obstruction should be recorded on a responding camera and a dedicated back office should prosecute. Fines would keep this self funding

There are differing circumstances though for example I've seen people panic and pull over to let emergency services past right on a blind bend in daylight on numerous occasions. Luckily never seen it end badly but I've seen close shaves. There has to be a balance to it and pulling over to let them past needs to be done safely. I'm not sure watching footage remotely later would always be fair.

 

[JP1]

There are differing circumstances though for example I've seen people panic and pull over to let emergency services past right on a blind bend in daylight on numerous occasions. Luckily never seen it end badly but I've seen close shaves. There has to be a balance to it and pulling over to let them past needs to be done safely. I'm not sure watching footage remotely later would always be fair.

Yep agreed and you may notice that responders even turn off their sirens (even flashing lights) when they consider this to be a risk

At least if they yield (ie stop) other vehicles coming the other way can assist with space creation.

Believe me there is a tiny % who are just awkward (and they know it) . Be different if it was there loved one where time was of the essence

 

[Grassman]

Believe me there is a tiny % who are just awkward (and they know it) . Be different if it was there loved one where time was of the essence

Talking of awkward people there are still a few farmers who refuse to put a sign at the roadside.
One day the ambulance or fire service may need it.

 

[Robt]

Talking of awkward people there are still a few farmers who refuse to put a sign at the roadside.
One day the ambulance or fire service may need it.

If you ever have to call an ambulance. Especially at night try to call from the landline as that location is fed into the onboard system in the ambulance. They will arrive at your door. If you dont have a landline or arent near one. Please use what three words or grid reference. Even better if you have enough staff/family members. Send one to end of drive to flag them down. Minutes do matter and lives are saved by doing this. Sorry to go off topic,

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

If you see flashing lights in the distance, you know to look for somewhere to pull in. It saves having to back up half a mile on a single track road.

And after 5 minutes pulled in a lay by you realise he's turned off or was driving in a field and not coming your way

 

[alomy75]

Yesterday as I left the NDR roundabout to get on the A146 Cromer road out of Norwich I could see a fire appliance responding in the distance and coming towards me. Many cars coming towards me didn't even notice it until it was right upon them clearly demonstrating they never check their mirrors and they have the radio up so loud they can't hear a 200 watt yelper !

To make matters worse I yielded immediately with hazards on and a donut then overtook me and then panicked

That road is pretty wide. if you watch YouTube videos in the States folks yield immediately and stop. If they'd done that on that road the appliance could have safely travelled down the centre line at the vehicle's theoretical maximum speed limiter (around 73mph)

My sis is a paramedic and says the worst thing people can do is stop. You may be off the road but the person behind you might be half off and the person behind that might be blocking it with nowhere to go. Add in an artic and suddenly you’ve made a traffic jam and no one can move anywhere. Carry on steadily as far over as you can get.

 

[JP1]

My sis is a paramedic and says the worst thing people can do is stop. You may be off the road but the person behind you might be half off and the person behind that might be blocking it with nowhere to go. Add in an artic and suddenly you’ve made a traffic jam and no one can move anywhere. Carry on steadily as far over as you can get.

Well we'll choose to disagree (EFADS fire appliance driver)

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

My sis is a paramedic and says the worst thing people can do is stop. You may be off the road but the person behind you might be half off and the person behind that might be blocking it with nowhere to go. Add in an artic and suddenly you’ve made a traffic jam and no one can move anywhere. Carry on steadily as far over as you can get.

Heard the same at a talk given by 2 firefighters, they're reasoning was that however many tonnes of fire truck takes a bit to get back up too speed if something stops in front of them and was best to keep going until you could pull right out of the way or it was clear for them to pass

 

[TheTallGuy]

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/fined-for-moving-out-of-the-way-of-an-ambulance/

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

A lorry of that size would have marker lights in the front and rear top corners to give road users and indication of size.

Would that help?

Every little helps.

 

[Bury the Trash]

If you ever have to call an ambulance. Especially at night try to call from the landline as that location is fed into the onboard system in the ambulance. They will arrive at your door. If you dont have a landline or arent near one. Please use what three words or grid reference. Even better if you have enough staff/family members. Send one to end of drive to flag them down. Minutes do matter and lives are saved by doing this. Sorry to go off topic,

Very useful post thanks, being off topic matters not . i didnt know that about the landline..

 

[DrWazzock]

I rarely use flashing beacons. I go to find one and usually it’s knackered. I remember dad was in court because a car ran into the back of him because his rear lights failed. He said in court if a mother had been pushing a pram across the road she would have had no lights but you would have felt justified to run her over would you? He got off with the no rear lights charge but sadly not the expired tax disc.

 

[DrWazzock]

It staggers me TBH. We have headlights that can see a mouse cross the road half a mile away yet folk get worked up about flashing beacons and rear lights. Do they drive asleep? Fallen trees don’t have lights etc. Cant folk see what’s in front of them?

 

[roscoe erf]

Yep agreed and you may notice that responders even turn off their sirens (even flashing lights) when they consider this to be a risk

At least if they yield (ie stop) other vehicles coming the other way can assist with space creation.

Believe me there is a tiny % who are just awkward (and they know it) . Be different if it was there loved one where time was of the essence

 

[Robt]

Very useful post thanks, being off topic matters not . i didnt know that about the landline..

Yes a landline will give their sat nav the correct direction right to your door.

 

[Robt]

Great video , thank you

 

[TheTallGuy]

Very useful post thanks, being off topic matters not . i didnt know that about the landline..

UK mobile networks support ESL/AML which sends your location to the emergency services on Android (v2.3.7 & above) and Apple phones (IOS11.3 & above) - even if you have turned off GPS or location services as the phone recognises that an emergency call is being made and turns them on to get a "fix". The accuracy is sufficient in many cases that they can even tell which carriageway of a motorway you are on! Not all dispatch rooms currently support AML, but usage is increasing.

 

[David1968]

And after 5 minutes pulled in a lay by you realise he's turned off or was driving in a field and not coming your way

Could be aliens landing as well. You can never be sure...

 

[Robt]

I can live with tractors covered in flashing lights but its the recreational idiots who feel the need to festoon their 4x4s or pickups with them that get on my wick.

You just know that they spend their lives desperately seeking excuses to turn them on. Such as every time they stop at the side of the road to conduct some very important business (nicking firewood etc), or driving about desperately seeking a damsel in distress every time it snows.

This is so true in Suffolk. The slightest hint of snow and every axe murder in a series 1 disco is out with their badly wired and fitted beacons and light bars. They cruise the streets looking for a victim. It’s funny to watch…..

 

[Lofty1984]

It staggers me TBH. We have headlights that can see a mouse cross the road half a mile away yet folk get worked up about flashing beacons and rear lights. Do they drive asleep? Fallen trees don’t have lights etc. Cant folk see what’s in front of them?

Most people don’t look further than their bonnet end