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...or you'll be left wondering why you've been glared at by a crew 
Most are concerning vehicles on blues & twos (visual and audible warnings) but a few will be for in general
This is what people do but we really wish they would not
In no particular order
Being aware of other motorists will always help
Your ICE may be blaring out but that does not stop you from using your eyes.
Regular mirror checks are a good thing
So:~
1. Do not completely ignore us
Pretending we're not there will not make us vanish
2. Do not stop suddenly
You are in a 1 tonne car
We are in something that varies from 3 - 5 tonnes and has a precious cargo one of which is not tethered.Our stopping distances are longer but, also, we don't want to anchor on
3. Do not stop opposite another vehicle (unless road seriously wide) - this goes for those travelling in the same direction AND those coming the opposite way
4. An ambulance drives to dictated to various conditions.
If travelling lower than the speed you wish to travel do not tailgate(yes people really do) Depending upon circumstance it really is okay to overtake us just don't be fooking stupid about it
5.Do not slow on (i)bends - we do not have bendy or x-ray vision
(ii) on brows of hills (same rule as above)
(iii) by traffic islands (those ones with bollards where pedestrians lurk)
6. Having spotted us consider your speed. Some people believe our bog-standard vans are kitted with jet propulsion. Indicating for us to pass is great but continuing at 60 is not always the best policy esp. on bendy rural roads
7. Try not to create a slalom course. Great in an MX5 - crap in a top heavy van and vomit-inducing for those in the rear
8. There are times when accelerating can work better than slowing - through a set of twists and hillscrests on double white lines if you know the road (or even if you don't) keep a pace going and then clear off to a lay-by or similar
Likewise, if the one in front of us has slowed and you're coming towards us think about accelerating so we have room to move to your side of the road for a safe overtake.
9. Having given way to any one blue-lighter (esp at traffic lights) when you go to move off consider there may be another following behind. Very common with the Water Fairies.
10. Pedestrians: (i)why on earth do you persist in hitting the button on pelican crossings when there's a siren closing in on you? We seriously have to back off even more under such circumstances
(ii) and, for all wide vehicles... do not stand on the edge of the bleedin' pavement. We can and have caught people with our wing mirrors - likewise wagons and other vans
(iii) do not cross a road in the belief we are any softer than other vehicles. We, too, can kill or maim badly
Whether lit up like a christmas tree or not an ambulance always has somewhere to go
If you wish to pootle along at leisure that's cool but please do not hold us up.
You actually could be costing the NHS money in overtime never mind that we are being moved to do emergency cover as another vehicle is attending another incident.
Oh and shutting our lights off straight after passing you has nowt to do with getting going on a butty run. We will have been stood down or need to make a quiet approach to an incident.
Hope i haven't bored you too much
Any questions just ask away
There are no hard and fast rules. All circumstances are different according to conditions.
In towns, people will get up on pavements - whilst i appreciate the gesture i do not expect that and would hate for anyone to create another ambulance-required incident.
Also, traffic lights may have cameras on them. No matter how much you say "I was getting out of the way of a 999er" you will still be fined. Stupid eh? :::nod:::
![]()
EMS (emergency medical service) ambulances are 98% + of the time are this colour. Those who convey people to/from appointments tend to be white with markings on them but we, currently, have one of these on station as our spare and it is EMS
![]()
Anyway - that's it for now
15 days away from that lot
Woohoo!:skip:
Most are concerning vehicles on blues & twos (visual and audible warnings) but a few will be for in general
This is what people do but we really wish they would not
In no particular order
Being aware of other motorists will always help
Your ICE may be blaring out but that does not stop you from using your eyes.
Regular mirror checks are a good thing
So:~
1. Do not completely ignore us
Pretending we're not there will not make us vanish
2. Do not stop suddenly
You are in a 1 tonne car
We are in something that varies from 3 - 5 tonnes and has a precious cargo one of which is not tethered.Our stopping distances are longer but, also, we don't want to anchor on
3. Do not stop opposite another vehicle (unless road seriously wide) - this goes for those travelling in the same direction AND those coming the opposite way
4. An ambulance drives to dictated to various conditions.
If travelling lower than the speed you wish to travel do not tailgate(yes people really do) Depending upon circumstance it really is okay to overtake us just don't be fooking stupid about it
5.Do not slow on (i)bends - we do not have bendy or x-ray vision
(ii) on brows of hills (same rule as above)
(iii) by traffic islands (those ones with bollards where pedestrians lurk)
6. Having spotted us consider your speed. Some people believe our bog-standard vans are kitted with jet propulsion. Indicating for us to pass is great but continuing at 60 is not always the best policy esp. on bendy rural roads
7. Try not to create a slalom course. Great in an MX5 - crap in a top heavy van and vomit-inducing for those in the rear
8. There are times when accelerating can work better than slowing - through a set of twists and hillscrests on double white lines if you know the road (or even if you don't) keep a pace going and then clear off to a lay-by or similar
Likewise, if the one in front of us has slowed and you're coming towards us think about accelerating so we have room to move to your side of the road for a safe overtake.
9. Having given way to any one blue-lighter (esp at traffic lights) when you go to move off consider there may be another following behind. Very common with the Water Fairies.
10. Pedestrians: (i)why on earth do you persist in hitting the button on pelican crossings when there's a siren closing in on you? We seriously have to back off even more under such circumstances
(ii) and, for all wide vehicles... do not stand on the edge of the bleedin' pavement. We can and have caught people with our wing mirrors - likewise wagons and other vans
(iii) do not cross a road in the belief we are any softer than other vehicles. We, too, can kill or maim badly
Whether lit up like a christmas tree or not an ambulance always has somewhere to go
If you wish to pootle along at leisure that's cool but please do not hold us up.
You actually could be costing the NHS money in overtime never mind that we are being moved to do emergency cover as another vehicle is attending another incident.
Oh and shutting our lights off straight after passing you has nowt to do with getting going on a butty run. We will have been stood down or need to make a quiet approach to an incident.
Hope i haven't bored you too much
Any questions just ask away
There are no hard and fast rules. All circumstances are different according to conditions.
In towns, people will get up on pavements - whilst i appreciate the gesture i do not expect that and would hate for anyone to create another ambulance-required incident.
Also, traffic lights may have cameras on them. No matter how much you say "I was getting out of the way of a 999er" you will still be fined. Stupid eh? :::nod:::
EMS (emergency medical service) ambulances are 98% + of the time are this colour. Those who convey people to/from appointments tend to be white with markings on them but we, currently, have one of these on station as our spare and it is EMS
Anyway - that's it for now
15 days away from that lot
Woohoo!:skip:
