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Ok have noticed the use of sirens by the emergency services has increased lately, I can see the need to get blues and two's going during busy traffic periods, approaching intersections and busy jucntions but at 5 o'clock in the morning on a clear straight road with no-one about FFS. Has there been a change in procedure that dictates that as soon as the vehicle is moving the sirens should be deployed as that's what it appears to be at the moment.
I'd rather they had 'em on than ran into some poor pissed up bastard who didn't realise they were there, straight road or not.
1/10
Not noticed any change up here.
we use them only when needed really depends on whos driving tho some use more some less. half the people on the road still dont see/hear us anyway ;-(
Some services have in certain areas adapted an all out always on approach following the case of a Police Officer running over and killing a young lady in the early hours of the morning. If you in the NE area Tees up over then your going to have to get use to it or complain. I do suggest you complain though if your not happy.
Guys round our way seem to pretty good. They use them only when they think someone hasn't/can't see of hear them.
As said no problem if there's a genuine need for them but clear straight road when there's no-one in front of them is having a laugh
I'm not commenting on a public forum, if you have a genuine concern then write to the appropriate authority. If you can live with it frustrating you then carry on.
I think that, like most public bodies, they're fed up of trying to do the best thing and getting constantly slammed for it. Now they're going with the turn it on, job done approach.
kinell, I'm the first one to get sneery about cops (see the resisting arrest thread) but this is the most pathetic whinge i've ever read.
Is it frequent enough to care?
[i]Now they're going with the turn it on, job done. [/i]
Sort of but will be interesting in the case on going against a Fire Service that had sirens on and the cows trampled a farmer. I'm not sure of the exact details so can't comment but there is a story somewhere of it.
Off to Google.
Ah found it not as clear cut surprise surprise.
[url= http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2010/03/03/siren-fireman-on-manslaughter-rap-for-starting-cattle-stampede-which-killed-farmer-86908-22082500/ ]One version of it[/url]
see, no matter what they do, they'll get slammed and there's always someone who knows better what they should have been doing*
*only they actually don't.
They have such a range of siren tones these days too.
There was a cacophony of sirens round our way last week and it sounded like the aftermath of a 1960's Paris bank heist.
Yep live in the North East and it's definately changed in the last few months, live not far from a hospital and the Ambulance siren's are starting to get silly, the dogs round the back emulate the sirens as soon as they hear them. Ok so who do I need to complain to, local MP??
[i]They have such a range of siren tones these days too.[/i]
There's actually less as each emergency services is starting to use more standard vehicles and modifiers, bulk buying power and all that.
Yep live in the North East and it's definately changed in the last few months, live not far from a hospital and the Ambulance siren's are starting to get silly, the dogs round the back emulate the sirens as soon as they hear them. Ok so who do I need to complain to, local MP??
Is your MP in charge of the ambulance service? Ours isn't.
I'd probably complain to the ambulance/fire/police service.
😉
[i]Yep live in the North East and it's definately changed in the last few months, live not far from a hospital and the Ambulance siren's are starting to get silly, the dogs round the back emulate the sirens as soon as they hear them. Ok so who do I need to complain to, local MP?? [/i]
Thought so.
Start with the North East Ambulance Service themselves you have the right to complain make it clear your concerns and times it happens.
I really can not comment any further but any genuine concerns should be raised.
see, no matter what they do, they'll get slammed and there's always someone who knows better what they should have been doing**only they actually don't.
but they will after consulting STW
Where we live, at night they only tend to sound the siren when they approach traffic lights on red.
We, however, live next to some traffic lights on a main road.
So whereas normally you hear a faint noise from far off getting gradually louder, we just get "BLAH BLAH" suddenly at 3 in the morning.
But while I've got used to that, I can't get used to the Vuvuzuelas.
Many emergency vehicles are now fitted with black box style data recorders storing info about the drivers speed and whether the emergency equipment is activated. If the driver is exceeding the speed limit without the blues and twos on and they are in a collision they are leaving themselves wide open to prosecution for dangerous driving. This new technology may well explain why emergency service personnel are more readily using their sirens etc when needing to get somewhere quickly.
Thanks Bregante, sort of makes sense, arse covering and all that
I use the "if I'm up at stupid o'clock then so is everyone else" reasoning.
😉
I would rather have mine on and annoy someone than not have them on and hit someone. As Firestarter says, even when I have the sirens on full blast I can drive for a mile behind someone who is blissfully ignorant of my presence. And I'd argue that it's more important at 5am, when people driving may be tired or half-asleep or not switched on. Bregante is correct about the black boxes, but we've had them for ages. You can use a 'silent approach' if you're trying to apprehend burglars in the act etc, but I always use them when I deem it necessary - simple as that.
[i]This new technology may well explain why emergency service personnel are more readily using their sirens etc when needing to get somewhere quickly. [/i]
It would but there's very few with these devices fitted, some of our newer vehicles will have traffic cameras on the front for recording accidents. There's no plans yet for devices to record much else the GPS playback will show speeds.
I live within a mile of a major district general hospital, sirens are part and parcel of living here. Got to admit to be away for a few days somewhere quiet is always nice, and the almost continuous ambulance sirens on our return is always "welcome home". Can't say I've noticed an increase though.
It would but there's very few with these devices fitted, some of our newer vehicles will have traffic cameras on the front for recording accidents. There's no plans yet for devices to record much else the GPS playback will show speeds.
all of the vehicles in the area I work have data recorders.
Sometimes you use them, other times you don't. Blues and twos enroute to a Billy Burglar still on scene is usually seen as piss poor skils, as you're giving the heads up to the burglar to get the **** out of dodge.
Police driver round my neck of the woods are now advised to use them when responding to any incident due to claims against the Police. However, there's no law saying they have to use them - merely advisable.
we have also and they can track us in real time at the control room.
[i]all of the vehicles in the area I work have data recorders[/i]
Not a single one has them up here, where the OP lives.
Yeah Bruneep we've had that for quite some time and is now very quick and accurate. My boss can log in remotely into the system and track playback data too.
Local ambos (NW NHS ambulance trust) all have a prominent sticker on the dash stating that every red light needs to be approached as a give way, speed no greater than 10mph.
I know any vehicle on lights & sirens has to approach a red light as a give way, but IMHO if blues & twos makes them more visible and safer to crew, public, and possible patients then I'll put up with the noise; having needed two blue light ambulances in the last year then I'm rather fond of the buggers.
Drac
I think they do, as I have recently been in one which is not only 'black-boxed' but also has cameras front, rear and inside the cab. There is some debate about whether these are allowed to be active, particularly re patient confidentiality, so no one has actually confirmed whether they are in use or not !
There was a previous thread on this and the instructions are that there is no 'driver discretion' regarding use of lights and sirens. They MUST be used at all times when the vehicle is enroute to an emergency ie. enroute to a patient or going to hospital. This was apparently a joint services decision after the Newcastle case which Drac referred to above.
I've just finished a 12 hour shift and I can tell you my head is bloody well ringing 😡