Captain Caveman 76:
There was a case in Hull not long ago of a woman who entered a bus lane to let an emergency ambulance through. The only reason she didn’t get done, iirc, was the bus lane enforcement was on a two week trial.
Stupid woman as the ambo could use the bus lane = lack of her common sense
Off topic, but have you got a silver Discovery on a private plate ROG? Something something something ROG?
Saw it driving impeccably on the A46 near Leicester the other day and thought it might be you.
Winseer:
The days of “Roadside Delivery” by ambulance crews or police patrol car occupants? - Are they over?My daughter was born 12 weeks premature in the back of an ambulance in a lay bye on the A96 (and could have been where she was conceived)
Contraflow:
Off topic, but have you got a silver Discovery on a private plate ROG? Something something something ROG?Saw it driving impeccably on the A46 near Leicester the other day and thought it might be you.
No
Got a yellow SEAT IBIZA with something something ROG on the plate
smokinbarrels:
I don’t see the point in emergency vehicles turning off sirens at traffic lights/queued traffic. If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind a large vehicle such as a lorry or bus how do the vehicles in front even know an emergency vehicle needs to be through? Most car drivers get there phones out at traffic lights and start texting/checking emails and arnt even looking forward, never mind using mirrors!
The reason the lights and sirens are turned off is normally at a busy junction where a vehicle crossing the line into that particular junction would not be safe.
m1cks:
smokinbarrels:
I’ll admit that I make more of an effort to move out of the way of fire and ambulance than I do police. Maybe it’s because a police vehicle is generally more manoeuvrable or fire/ambulance are normally saving lives.
So police vehicles are never on calls to save lives then? could they not also benefit a bit of assistance where possible if it helps them to progress 
Well 2 police cars sailed past me on the M621 years ago while I was parked on the hard shoulder trying to put a smouldering door pocket out, but that’s another story
When I was doing Roadcraft training, it was drummed in to me ALWAYS leave a decent gap behind the car in front when waiting at traffic lights, roundabouts, etc. This was because if an emergency vehicle needed to get through and was having difficulty, then I or the car in front could manoeuvre that little bit more ( either back/forwards/sideways) to assist the vehicle. 'Tyres and Tarmac the instructor always shrieked! 
Yes, yes! Anyway, doing this has actually assisted them if only twice in about 8 years.
I was told to leave the same gap, but so I could maneuver around the vehicle ahead if it broke down.
Yes, that as well. Also if the vehicle in front was rolling back slightly for whatever reason, then you got time to blast your horn, 
Hope Dipper does not read this…
Casper68:
smokinbarrels:
I don’t see the point in emergency vehicles turning off sirens at traffic lights/queued traffic. If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind a large vehicle such as a lorry or bus how do the vehicles in front even know an emergency vehicle needs to be through? Most car drivers get there phones out at traffic lights and start texting/checking emails and arnt even looking forward, never mind using mirrors!The reason the lights and sirens are turned off is normally at a busy junction where a vehicle crossing the line into that particular junction would not be safe.
Sounds like a load of nonsense to me. How you supposed to make progress of you turn lights and sirens off?
smokinbarrels:
Casper68:
smokinbarrels:
I don’t see the point in emergency vehicles turning off sirens at traffic lights/queued traffic. If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind a large vehicle such as a lorry or bus how do the vehicles in front even know an emergency vehicle needs to be through? Most car drivers get there phones out at traffic lights and start texting/checking emails and arnt even looking forward, never mind using mirrors!The reason the lights and sirens are turned off is normally at a busy junction where a vehicle crossing the line into that particular junction would not be safe.
Sounds like a load of nonsense to me. How you supposed to make progress of you turn lights and sirens off?
Stealth mode 
smokinbarrels:
Casper68:
smokinbarrels:
I don’t see the point in emergency vehicles turning off sirens at traffic lights/queued traffic. If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind a large vehicle such as a lorry or bus how do the vehicles in front even know an emergency vehicle needs to be through? Most car drivers get there phones out at traffic lights and start texting/checking emails and arnt even looking forward, never mind using mirrors!The reason the lights and sirens are turned off is normally at a busy junction where a vehicle crossing the line into that particular junction would not be safe.
Sounds like a load of nonsense to me. How you supposed to make progress of you turn lights and sirens off?
Not nonsense at all. Built into the training. You don’t want a panicked driver pulling onto a fast road/junction if it’s unsafe to do so (which often happens), If a collision then occurs that then becomes a Polac (police accident). Also if there is traffic so heavy that to get through a particular junction several vehicles would need to cross the line, again making it to unsafe, the lights and sirens would be turned off and then turned back on once the lights change and safe progress can be made again.
This system is used for dangerous conditions or where progress cannot be made, not at all junctions.
It’s like driving a lorry, you have to treat every other driver as an idiot.
Goldilox:
Yes, that as well. Also if the vehicle in front was rolling back slightly for whatever reason, then you got time to blast your horn,Hope Dipper does not read this…
Although I find rolling back can cause complications the wife is forever asking me to walk towards her a bit during more intimate moments.
Talking of emergency vehicles I had to stop for 2 entering brampton hut the other day, I found it strange they turned the blues and twos off as they entered. Having just left Mcdonalds I didnt notice any emergency situation.
Id say, and have done fir that matter, run the light if its safe to proceed.
smokinbarrels:
Sounds like a load of nonsense to me. How you supposed to make progress of you turn lights and sirens off?
But if there is nowhere for traffic to go then they can’t make any progress until the traffic starts to move. Blasting the sirens when waiting behind traffic that can’t move isn’t going to help, and is more likely to lead to someone doing something that is more of a hindrance than a help.
I’ve had an ambulance come p behind me when I was waiting at temporary traffic lights, they switched the siren off and waited, as there was no-where for them to go until the oncoming traffic had passed. I pulled tight to the kerb and once the traffic had passed I waved them through and they switched the siren back on and went on their way.
I’m not saying they should blast the sirens in every occasion, just when some nugget up front can move that little bit allowing everybody else to move and then allowing the emergency vehicle to make progress.