Individuals driving around in fake emergency vehicles is, unfortunately, not something new. Clearly these people never had the courage or dedication to join the real emergency services, but didn’t want to ‘miss out’ on driving around on blue lights.
One such vehicle was recently stopped by Police in Wales and the driver has been suitably ‘processed’ after a joint effort between the Welsh Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
The individuals who do decide to drive these fake vehicles are danger not only to members of the public but are also a menace to the ‘real’ emergency services.
When these fake emergency vehicles are spotted by the general public, then they assume that they are real and so end up giving way, pulling over or driving through red lights in order to let the fake emergency vehicles pass.
Members of the public would probably look on in dismay and shock as these ‘Walter Mitty’ characters dart around with blue lights on their cars driving in a way that real blue light drivers would be truly ashamed of.
Blue light drivers receive at least three weeks of intensive training and are assessed on their driving skills on at least a yearly basis depending on the level of driving accreditation.
A Tweet shared on @SWPSwansea said:
“Male arrested this morning for driving this ambulance in Penclawdd for driving whilst disqualified/no insurance+other offences.
“Great team work by #team3townhill @SWP_Roads #GowerNPT + @WelshAmbulance.
“Please note this is not a @WelshAmbulance vehicle nor is the driver an employee”.
Anyone with a keen eye would probably notice that there is something ‘wrong’ with this vehicle owing to the after-market wheels and seats which have been fitted to the car.
But many others would have assumed that this shoddy looking vehicle might have actually been an ‘official’ RRV.
So its good news that this driver (and his vehicle) have been taken off of the road. For now at least….
Male arrested this morning for driving this ambulance in Penclawdd for driving whilst disqualified/no insurance+other offences. Great team work by #team3townhill @SWP_Roads #GowerNPT + @WelshAmbulance.Please note this is not a @WelshAmbulance vehicle nor is the driver an employee pic.twitter.com/MKQUkoG938
— South Wales Police Swansea (@SWPSwansea) November 12, 2018
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Great job getting this menace off the road – an insult to anyone who has gone through blue-light driver training @SWP_Roads | @WelshAmbulance (thanks to @samaboutsoon for the 'heads up' with this story) https://t.co/dIEMxdO7OS
— Emergency_Services_Humour (@ES_Humour) November 13, 2018
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More bullshit misrepresentation by the cops. The vehicle was impounded for insurance, and the driver was summonsed disqual driving. If the vehicle is used “for ambulance purposes”, it may have the blue lights on it as the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 say that it can. It can have a siren, as the Construction and Use Regulations say that it can. If it is being used for ambulance pruposes, and sticking to the speed limit would hinder its use, it can exceed the speed limit because S87 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 permits this and gives a full defence. The driver must have a “certificate in driving at high speed”. The Secretary of State failed to make regulations when S19 Road Safety Act 2006 was enacted, hence there are dozens of walter mitty driving intstructors offering bullshit courses lasting 2 day, 3 days, 5 days and so on – and they do not even have to be a qualified driving instructor if the vehicle they are instructing on exceeds 3500kg. There is no legal requirement to retake the test every year. So that it bullshit. If the driver was wearing “I’m a fucking paramedic” in neon lights on his romper suit, the coppers can do nothing. It is not an offence that the police can prosecute. It is for the Health and Care Professions Council to prosecute under the Health and Social Care Professions Order 2001. In their 18 year history, they have prosecuted nobody. Another bunch of shitgibbons. If the driver was in possession of prescription medicines, even if out of date, the coppers can do nothing. The prosecuting authority is the Medicines and Healthcare Regulation Authority. Unless he has used them and can be proven to have used them, there will be no prosecution – and that only applies to injected drugs. The MHRA do not concern themselves with inhaled medications. If they have been stolen from the NHS, the NHS will have to sign a loss statement for a prosecution to take place. They will never do this, as they will be prosecuted for failing to keep medications safe, and will get raped by the CQC in addition. If the walter is seen driving with the lights switched on, there is no stand alone offence. The only offence he can be charged with is driving without reasonable consideration for other road users. So, once again, the cops are claiming glory by telling a torrent of bullshit and expecting people to believe it.
Where in the post did the police say any of the things you’ve described are unlawful? The only offences they have mentioned are disqualified driving and no insurance. No-one mentions anything about drugs. Where’s the massive chip on your shoulder come from?
I see half of ambulances flying around London on blue lights are not NHS ambulances but private ones such as At John Ambulance or some other private agency. No go figure that.. NHS out sourcing blue light runs …
And the article states he was prosecuted for no insurance and being disco driver… No mention of prosecution for an offence under vehicle lighting regs for displaying a special warning light, or for s36 rta failng to comply with certain signs or speed limit offences.
There are two limitations to speed and emergency services and that is Polixe purposes and being a fire authority. An ambulance just has to be for ambulance purposes. They fucked that up as technically Airport Fire Services have no legislation to cover them if they have to speed out side the airport boundary fence only a wishy washy pretence they are then working for a local authority.
There have been succesful prosections for dodgy ambulances when apparently speeding and it centres around the skills of the ‘medic’ on board and the equipment. Some on who has only been trained in putting on plasters and has a Tesco first aid kit may not meet that grade.
Good on them for taking an uninsured numpty off the road, but the general statement being told is slightly misguided ..