CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Ambulances in stealth mode

(9 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by seanspotatobusiness
  • Latest reply from Smudge
  • poll:
    Ambulances should keep their sirens off after a certain time : (2 votes)
    22 %
    Ambluances should maintain full siren volume in emergency transport : (3 votes)
    33 %
    Ambluances should maintain attenuated siren volume in emergency transport after a certain time : (4 votes)
    44 %

    9 votes

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  1. seanspotatobusiness
    Member

    Anyone else think it's unnecessary that ambulances are shooting around with only their flashing lights to warn people? As a cyclist or a driver, I appreciate a full warning. I'm not going to notice the flashing blue lights coming up behind me as a cyclist, and as a motorist, it'd be hit and miss (hopefully miss). The more warning I get, the better. If they're worried about disturbing people, maybe they could compromise the volume - something is better than nothing.

    The other night, I encountered one at a dark cross-road with no way to check what's coming left and right, and also no inclination, since my light was on green, so I just cycled on through its path... If the timings were a bit different, they could have needed another ambulance or two!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    For whatever reason, the law treats the lights and the sirens differently and how they can be used fall under completely different and unrelated acts. I think the way it works is that they actually technically need "a reason" to put the siren on between between 11.30PM hours and 7.00AM - i.e. there has to be something there to warn, it's not put on by default. The lights, on the other hand, have to be on all the time when responding to an emergency.

    So as daft as it sounds, if the ambulance driver can't see you and isn't expecting you to be there, he's not obliged to have his siren on...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Living as I do close to the Royal Infirmary I would not appreciate sirens being deployed by ambulances all of the time. It is illegal to sound your car horn between the hours of 11pm and 7am and a good thing too, in fact you are not really supposed to sound your horn unless it is in an emergency! Try telling that to the idiots who scare the life out of you when you're on your bike, or the ones that are too lazy to go and ring or knock at someone's door. It is the same with ambulances, their sirens are deafening at close quarters and I think I am more likely to have a heart attack frankly when they switch them on when they are almost upon you. If the roads are not busy and there are very few cars about I cannot see the necessity in them using their sirens.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Smudge
    Member

    Indeed, most ambulance crews are pretty decent drivers and will pop the siren on briefly if it will increase safety going over a junction with the possibility of conflict with other vehicles. Also, at night I generally see the beacons reflecting on buildings/windows/vehicles etc when one approaches from behind.

    To be blunt, and hopefully not too rude, if you are driving a conventional car and don't notice a fully lit emergency vehicle coming up behind you then you need to seriously consider your observation techniques whilst driving.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. splitshift
    Member

    I agree with previous comments,MOST ambulance crews excersise a fair amount of common sense and consideration. The sirens and lights are to alert all other road users of their approach.As an hgv driver I generally see/hear these quite early, due to the eleveted driving position. The number of times I have had to toot my air horns or flash my 5million watt lights to get people to notice the ambulance etc is frightening. let them do what they need, granted living next to an A=E might be dodgy but usually the noise only lasts a short time. Imagine how you would feel if an ambulance didnt arrive cause it had had an accident cause it had no siren on ?
    As a driver I am frequently looking in my mirrors,as a cyclist, i am using more senses, listening, but still looking over my shoulder often,lifesavers their called ! How fast do they need to be going soas you dont see or hear em !

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I live around the corner from the Sick Kids A&E. It's the noise of the neighbour's 3 dogs coming down the stairs for their post-midnight walks that keeps me awake.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. ruggtomcat
    Member

    "lifesavers they are called"

    [pedant]Technically 'lifesavers' when referring to looking are the last over the shoulder look a motorcyclist makes before making a turn, and they are always over the shoulder you are turning on. The idea being they are there to catch anyone overtaking you when they shouldn't be. Other bikes when turning left and anyone when turning right. They are given the special name to differentiate them from the normal mirror-signal-maneuver routine.[/pedant]

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. splitshift
    Member

    pedant indeed!
    ok, agree but when i sat my star rider course for mobike, many years ago ,was told to do a lifesaver when any change was about to take place, direction or speed. When taking lessons to drive lorry I was told and try to practice, look in the mirrorS before any change, in cluding changing gear ! .....hardly ever look forward !On my test, lorry, i was looking in my mirrors almost in sync with the wipers that were on drizzle wipe. Am presently teaching my son how to ride on the road,I ride behind him or beside him and ask him ,ok what colour is the car behind us ? woe betide him if he cant get it right. Apparently the IAM are focusing on cyclimg at the mo, would be interesting to hear what they recomend. BUT, common sense should prevail, just have a wee extra look whenever you can ! Listen, most modern ambulances are derv, van based vehicles,a turbo whining and engine straining shoul be easy to notice some time before it reaches you,if its going emergency fast then surely it should have two tones on ! Before any one mentiones I pod, earphones, ....i believe thats driving, and hence riding without due care ?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. Smudge
    Member

    iirc IAM carry over their IPSGA system from motor vehicles (Information Position Speed Gear Acceleration) with specific observation starting before and covering the whole manouevre.
    Your look before any manouvre is quite right obviously but I have to agree with the pedant ( ;-) ) that a "lifesaver" is the last glance in the direction of turn before commencing the turn.

    Brought back some memories of my HGV1 training there, the instructor at one point said, "don't worry too much about the front, that's the easy bit, it's the back of the wagon you need to drive", and the more I drove them the more sense it made lol

    Posted 13 years ago #

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