I do see, though rarely, the odd emergency vehicle with it's sirens on and think "really ". You may see it a lot if your in an area where they carry out their initial and refresher training?
Jeez - That was close!
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They were on their way out - I suspect to a local blackspot crossroads where there's a prang every couple of weeks. I take a 2 mile detour to avoid that junction at peak times. Have seen too may accidents there including sitting with a guy right up to the point they cut the roof off his car.
Are they obliged to use them in a built up area Andy, if so that may be why. We have a friend who's a paramedic and she also drives the Ambulance and even she says some drivers go a bit OTT.
Tony.
Tony.
He only had blue lights - no need for a siren - out in the middle of the country with no junctions in the immediate vicinity.
We do get lots travelling around town with sirens on constantly. Lesser of two evils. When out walking the dog its one hell of a shock when one switches them on right behind you.
If en-route Tony generally yes. However, if in a traffic jam they are trained to switch off to prevent other taking unnecessary risks. Not after 11pm or before 7am unless crucial to warn and navigate an obstruction. They have 3 differant kinds of sounds "nee naa nee naa", "woo woo woo" and warblers for when approaching junctions and or roundabouts that focus the attention of the other road users. Drive to Arrive is the mandate though.
Didn't realise you had to shout nee naa nee naa etc.
The guy on the left is Nee and the guy on the right is Naa. All together for the warblerDidn't realise you had to shout nee naa nee naa etc.
Drove 10k to a shout in Germany some years back in a 28 ton fire vehicle and I only had "Nee" all the way so I had to improvise and replace "Naa" with the road horn. Oh how we laughed 
You been on a New Year office bash today?
Delerious with tiredness Mike, first day back and I could kip on a chicken's lip mate
and is it just me that thinks that the latest LED based blue lights are extremely good at blinding you. I know they need to be seen, but in my opinion they are too bright at night.
Got to look good though
but agreed, especially if raining they can be a bit dazzling.
I know someone who drives an ambo and goes to buy cream cakes at the locale bakers with the blues & two's on....
Not the first or last.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Brow of a hill, hump backed bridge, you never know what is on the other side, could be a submarine surfacing as my old driving instructor would say, always approach with caution, give yourself plenty of time to react, better to arrive late than not at all...not preaching, it is probably the only thing that stuck with me from my learner days, that and don't drive through water, as you don't know how deep or what is submerged in it (probably that submarine)...drive safe guys especially in this weather...Zeds are designed for the sun and open clear roads anyway...
Mine said, "Treat every other driver as an idiot" and you'll be ok. He was right too.
Tony.
My Dad taught me that as well. I don't apply the rule on Zed cruises quite so stringently though.
I had the same driving instructor. Driving, a to a large part is about continually assessing risk. Having driven over a million miles without any accident (except being smashed into from behind and pushed in front of and then under an 18 wheeler for half a mile by a driver who had fallen asleep - another story) I believe I know where the risks are and how to assess them. I wouldn't drive into a situation with any un-assessed or unacceptable risk. The car in front of me had just driven through 2 seconds or so before and the road was therefore clear, only to then be faced by an oncoming vehicle on my side of the road closing at a rate of 90mph or more. Far more dangerous and unexpected than a submarine in a puddle. You can't legislate for that. It was the other car stopping suddenly and in a dangerous place without assessing the options for the poor ambulance driver behind and who was invisible to me until he swerved out.
Taking what you say literally would mean that the speed limit on country roads (in fact all single carriageway roads) at night would have to be 20mph to ensure that you can stop just in case any vehicle coming the other way decides to pull out and drive on your side of the road at any time. I didn't do anything wrong or take any risk short of driving may car. its a stretch of road that claimed the life of a neighbour 18 years ago. It hasn't got any safer and is always driven with caution.
The weather was clear but the roads damp. I didn't see the page in the manual about not driving my Zed at night and in poor weather though.
Going to have to sell my Zed if that's the case.
Z
zedonist
Guest
What's the alternative to driving at 20mph? Playing the odds and hope you don't kill someone?
Remember the speed limit is exactly that a limit, you still have to drive to the conditions and with due care and attention.
And I'm not saying you didn't btw.
Be interesting to hear a cops point of view on it...
Don't sell the Zed just yet I've heard we will be having sun in 3024
Remember the speed limit is exactly that a limit, you still have to drive to the conditions and with due care and attention.
And I'm not saying you didn't btw.
Be interesting to hear a cops point of view on it...
Don't sell the Zed just yet I've heard we will be having sun in 3024