Caught speeding moving out of road for an Ambulance!

D4VE · 17 Jan 2006 at 12:43

DannyDan said:
Are these actually in operation now? I heard of them being tested a while back but I didn't know it had been put into proper use.

Yup even in buses, theres something in the ground that picks it up and adjusts the signal timings.

Im not an expert, but do work for a transport consultancy.

thepharcyde · 17 Jan 2006 at 12:45

DannyDan said:
Are these actually in operation now? I heard of them being tested a while back but I didn't know it had been put into proper use.

Where I buy one

Firestar_3x · 17 Jan 2006 at 14:21

I didn't think the system was going to be implemented due to the abuse it could suffer, would only take one person to figure the transponder code and it would be traffic light chaos.

Dr Who · 17 Jan 2006 at 14:58

agw_01 said:
That's quite scary Freefaller!

That shows that they don't actually check the photos themselves... they just rely on the camera to make the decision.

True, but what was his father doing in the right hand lane leaving room for an undertaker

D4VE · 17 Jan 2006 at 15:05

Firestar_3x said:
I didn't think the system was going to be implemented due to the abuse it could suffer, would only take one person to figure the transponder code and it would be traffic light chaos.

Im pretty sure its gone in, i remember adding the detector loops to some drawings I did a while back.

jamoor · 17 Jan 2006 at 15:36

What a load of cobblers,
If your dad does get speeding, I am going to think again about speeding/jumping a red light to get outta the way of an emergency vehicle.

andi · 17 Jan 2006 at 15:44

Send a letter explaining, and if neccessary, go to court and explain. You shouldn't have any problem getting it dropped.

The guy who went through the red light for the ambulance pleaded guilty, so there wasn't much chance of him getting it dropped..

Spanker · 17 Jan 2006 at 15:55

Sucks to think that a loved one, anyone in fact may have to die just so that someone doesn't get points on driving license

jamoor · 17 Jan 2006 at 16:04

Spanker said:
Sucks to think that a loved one, anyone in fact may have to die just so that someone doesn't get points on driving license

I would hate it, But I need my licence

Sirrel Squirrel · 17 Jan 2006 at 16:11

D4VE said:
Im pretty sure its gone in, i remember adding the detector loops to some drawings I did a while back.

Is it true that the light sensors on top of the traffic lights can also work out of it's an emergency vehicle approaching due to its flashing lights, I've tried flashing at traffic lights late at night and they sometimes change straight away for me, but then that could just be a coincidence.

agw_01 · 17 Jan 2006 at 17:35

That's a good point Sirrel.

I know the temporary traffic lights set up at roadworks do this.

LoadsaMoney · 17 Jan 2006 at 18:20

Vanilla said:
Not if he had the blues on!

I would'nt count on it, ive heard lots of stories where they have been done, and when explained they were on an emergency, they were still done.

Meridian · 17 Jan 2006 at 18:36

It is NOT a defence for speeding that you were getting out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Whether your attempt at trying it as a defence will succeed will depend on the bench on the day, but expect nothing. If he plans to contest it, get proper legal advice, not that of keyboard warriors.

M

Spleenus · 17 Jan 2006 at 22:38

Sirrel Squirrel said:
Is it true that the light sensors on top of the traffic lights can also work out of it's an emergency vehicle approaching due to its flashing lights, I've tried flashing at traffic lights late at night and they sometimes change straight away for me, but then that could just be a coincidence.

Very unlikely to be true. Late at night signal timings for lights change and they will change when they detect a car heading towards them providing the other routes are not currently busy.

agw_01 · 17 Jan 2006 at 23:19

LoadsaMoney said:
I would'nt count on it, ive heard lots of stories where they have been done, and when explained they were on an emergency, they were still done.

That's just stupid! The laws in this country are a joke!

Lopéz · 18 Jan 2006 at 01:26

Meridian said:
It is NOT a defence for speeding that you were getting out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Whether your attempt at trying it as a defence will succeed will depend on the bench on the day, but expect nothing. If he plans to contest it, get proper legal advice, not that of keyboard warriors.

M

Do you believe that a conviction here would be the "right" result? Just interested

Ultra_Extreme · 18 Jan 2006 at 03:47

Law = If in front of an ambulance showing lights you must attempt to move safely and legally from its path to facilitate swift passage.

As anal as that sounds the law is anal. Breaking the speedlimit to allow an ambulance to pass is no different in real terms to running someone down in order to let it past or more relistically entering say a o entry junction, at least not in the eyes of the law. Hopefully you'll get common sense on your side and not be fined tho. People should remember that its the ambulances job to get to the scene and not yours, help it sure but in the correct fashion, ive seen some godawful stupid manouvers from people moving out of the way of ambulances.

ShakenNstirred · 18 Jan 2006 at 07:20

Immulsifier said:
I think this is an outrage tbh. Dad has just got a ticket through as in sheffield last week he was done for speeding trying to aid an ambulance. Let me explain. He was on a road, downhill, cars parked solid on both sides so no where to pull in. Ambulance comes up behind on way to an emergency and the only option as dad sees it is to speed up to get to the next junction quicker so he can pull in to let it past. He got done doing 35 in a 30 by a camera.

Anyone else got done like this. I think its sickening tbh. 40 years of driving and a clean license and then something like this. Ive got a good mind in future just not to move out of the way for ambulances and stuff it this is potenially the result.

your meant to get out the way as soon as it is safe to do so.
that doesn't include speeding to get out the way I'm afraid.
if the road was full of parked cars then they would see that and know your dad has no were to pull over.
a lot of people panic when they see the flashing lights and do silly things to get out the way

Meridian · 18 Jan 2006 at 07:22

Lopéz said:
Do you believe that a conviction here would be the "right" result? Just interested

I believe it would overnight becaome the most popular defence in the country if it ever succeeded. The unofficial advice from the plolice is to hold you hand up to show that you've seen the emergency vehicle, but stay at a legal speed until you can pull in/over. There is no simple answer here: would it be appropriate for me to hit ninety miles an hour in a thirty to get out of the way for instance? If not, then what speed is OK?

M

D4VE · 18 Jan 2006 at 09:01

Sirrel Squirrel said:
Is it true that the light sensors on top of the traffic lights can also work out of it's an emergency vehicle approaching due to its flashing lights, I've tried flashing at traffic lights late at night and they sometimes change straight away for me, but then that could just be a coincidence.

I think thats all a rumour, as far as I know, although those detectors do detect the presence of a vehicle and change the lights, but I dont think its to do with you flashing your lights as much as your car being there.
With emergency vehicles its all done with these transponders as far as I know. I expect an ambulance has a different transponder to a bus for example, although they both alter the signal timings so they get priority.
As Spleenus says, there are different programs for different periods of the day. There might also be special ones for Sat and Sunday or for a match day if the junction is near a stadium.

Anythings possible, and our junctions are getting more complicated all the time as they are getting so busy now.