Driving

An ambulance has blocked my car in - what can I do?

Our staff will always try to avoid obstructing other road users. If you discover that your vehicle has been blocked in, this could be because the condition of the patient being attended requires immediate intervention; as soon as the patient's condition allows, the ambulance crew will try to move the vehicle to a more suitable location.

On these occasions we understand how frustrating this may be, but we ask you to please be patient and the vehicle will be on its way as soon as possible.

I've seen an ambulance parked on double yellow lines - is this allowed?

Ambulances have an exemption that allows them to park on white or yellow lines providing they are engaged on official duties. This may be required so that they can get as close as possible to the patient they are treating and avoid any life-threatening delays.

Our ambulance crews are trained to ensure that they park vehicles in such a way that will not cause a nuisance to other road users but also ensure that there is no delay in attending the patient.

The tail lifts and stretchers used on our ambulances require an additional 3.5 metres of clearance to operate safely, this can drastically limit the availability of parking spaces available to our crews.

What should I do when I am driving and see an ambulance approaching me with lights and sirens on?

Our ambulance crews are trained to drive the vehicles under emergency conditions. They do drive with all due care and attention; however they do need your help to move through the traffic as quickly and safely as possible.

Here are some tips that will help you stay calm and safe and help our emergency vehicles get to their destination without delay.

• Look and listen

Check your mirrors regularly and make sure your music is not too loud.

• Consider the route and size of the vehicle

You may need to move over even if the emergency vehicle is travelling in the opposite direction.

• Signal your intentions using your indicators

This will help the emergency vehicle and other road users know what action you are taking.

• Pull in or move over safely

You may not need to stop completely.

• Don't stop opposite any obstructions

This will make the road narrower.

• Avoid mounting kerbs/pavements where possible

Be aware of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists.

• Signal when you are pulling away

Motorists behind you may still be moving, be careful when re-joining the road.

• Stay alert

More emergency vehicles may be on the way.

• Make sure your actions are safe and legal

Stay within the speed limit and don't drive through red lights.

When are ambulances allowed to use their sirens?

Ambulance staff can activate the vehicle sirens at any time of the day or night. However, they should only use the sirens when it is appropriate and necessary to make other road users, including those on foot, aware of the presence of an ambulance.

Why are the engines running in your vehicles when they are stood still?

Frontline ambulances carry essential items of clinical and diagnostic equipment that can provide life-saving treatment to patients, transmit 'real time' information to the hospitals and provide advanced tracking and mobile data technologies to ensure ambulances can be on scene within minutes of a 999 call.

All this equipment requires significant power from the batteries on board. Failure to keep these batteries fully charged can result in equipment not working correctly or at worst shutting down which may pose a significant threat to lives. In order to keep the battery charged the vehicle must be left running during some periods of rest.

Ambulance engines may also be left running to ensure the patient compartment, medications and equipment remain at a regulated temperature. In many cases patients are on board requiring urgent medical attention.

When vehicles are on station, vehicles do not need to run their engines as they are plugged into charging units that ensure the vehicle maintains a state of readiness.

Why do you have different vehicles - why aren't they all ambulances?

The ambulance service responds to a wide variety of medical emergencies and this means it is necessary for the types of vehicles to be varied. We have vehicles that can travel off-road, helicopters, small Rapid Response cars and we even have staff who travel on bicycles. This means a member of clinically trained ambulance staff can respond to emergencies and provide potentially life-saving treatment as quickly as possible. This also means that patients who can be treated at home can be so, allowing the vehicles designed to transport patients to hospital can concentrate on patients whose condition is more critical.

Why is there always an ambulance vehicle parked in the same spot?

The ambulance service uses sophisticated planning software to determine the most likely locations of emergency calls. If this is in an area not covered by an ambulance station, vehicles may be moved closer and placed on standby so they may be available to respond to an emergency should one occur.