Been on many blue light runs in my time in the FB...always been a big advocate for blue light awareness to be incorporated with lessons and driving tests...because too many drivers hear and see emergency vehicles and go into a blind panic where they become more of a hindrance than helpfulness.
Shocking how many people going in the other direction stop opposite a car that has pulled over to let them past. How on Earth do they not realise they are just getting in the way? On rural roads, I have always sped up until I can see a place where it’s safe for blue lights to get past then indicate and slow down as they pass to help them get past quicker, on rural roads there is often not enough distance between blind bends to pass safely, so your are better of to keep moving until there is a suitable section of road.
I was very fortunate when I learned to drive in the 90's to have an Instructor who was ex-military and taught me some basic skills with regards to reacting to Emergency Service vehicles in a manner to suit them. It became ironic during my Driving Test, when faced with an ambulance heading towards me and a fire engine coming from behind attending a nearby incident, but I used what I'd been taught. The Test Examiner passed me and commented on how I'd handled that particular aspect, citing I had that extra-spatiale awareness of what was going on around me, a concept I've continued to this day.
As an Emergency Response Driver myself for the Welsh Ambulance Service, I fully agree an incorporation into driving lessons will be great. Our job is not to bully people out of the way! Its all very well and good us being on an Emergency call, but we cant put the public drivers in harms way in the process, What we look for is indications of your intentions I.E break lights, change in direction of the vehicle, or even an indicator on that tells us you are aware that we are there. Otherwise we cannot pass as its unsafe. The car we are following could potentially turn into our path. If we are not 100% sure they know we are behind and intending to pass them. Alot of people do panic and slam their breaks on, and this can cause us to either need to break hard, or change our direction with little reaction time. Its quite exhausting on blues especially if we are on a long, difficult journey. you need to have eyes everywhere whilst being in full control of the vehicle at all times. If we all can be aware of eachother and work a system to help emergency services it will increase response times, and less incidents out on our roads. Thank you to everyone.
You do a great job of thanking people. With everything else going through your head, driving... the job you're going to and to still make the effort to say thanks.
@@TonyWhitley Too much of that sort of attitude from an emergency response driver in the UK and they loose their blue light exemptions. If someone can't keep calm in the high pressure situation then they probably wouldn't pass the blue light training to begin with here.
That black van at 3:34 my word. Complete lack of observations. Nice driving as always. I also love how you critique your own driving. That's how you know you're a good driver.
should be able to report these people to the police, if they are not making regular observations then they shouldnt be driving. even if youre deaf, you can see the emergency vehicles coming. "i couldnt hear them" shouldnt be a viable excuse
@@whitemarmite Idk man, proving someone isnt making regular obs is a tough one. Alse people cant see around corners, hence the audio queues from sirens. But if were gonna make it so theres no excuse then cars shouldnt even come with radios.
@@SlaterGator it was a good 30 seconds of someone with flashing lights, and sirens following someone on a duall carriage way. but that was when the clip started, no idea how long they were approaching for before that. after the caravan, they could have thought about moving back over. as they were done with the overtake, so should be looking to move back as soon as possible to the left lane. even at the end of that drivers inclusion, they went from the right lane, to attempt to go into the middle lane without even signalling. i can gaurantee they were not checking their mirrors at all for that entire duration, another deluded "got to be in front" driver. i can believe that if there were 3 lanes, theyd be sitting in the middle their entire journey. also the no excuses comment, i stated that even a deaf person would have seen the emergency service. so a radio means nothing, because people shouldnt be relying on their hearing for driving. its all about observations, which this driver was not doing.
Some people really do not understand. They think they just need to stop, not realising they’re completely blocking you. Nice to see quite a few good drivers that actually help
I had one lesson once, front of a red set of lights with emergency vehicle a few cars behind...my instructor told me to creep over the stop line but not so far as to go in to oncoming traffic. This gave cars behind a chance to pull forward/over and make space. It seems logical and safe yet it would be considered breaking the law. After passing I was on a large roundabout with 3 lanes, lane 1 and 2 full of cars and just me lane 3, ambulance behind kept its sirens and blues on despite the red light so I crossed the stop line and placed my car infront of lane 1+2 to allow them to continue. There was a red light camera on that junction so either it doesn't work or it was reviewed as OK, I'm not sure but I didn't get a ticket.
The driver who is on response usually makes it pretty obvious what they want you to do, as long as you actually look. If you see lights in your right mirror, they probably want you to move left. If you see lights in your left mirror, they probably want you to move right. If they’re following you with a good gap, and sirens off, they probably can’t overtake, or want you to continue. (Solid white line & roadworks are a couple of examples I can think of where lights would be on, but sirens off and a good following distance kept) Sirens on: they probably want you to ‘stop’ (insert your own interpretation of stop here) Sirens off: they probably want you to keep going, or don’t want to force you through a red light. If you see lights coming towards you, try and read what others are doing, if you can see them slowing down, try and leave a gap for the emergency vehicle to get through (give them options if possible) just don’t stop next to the car on the opposite side of the road that they’re trying to get past. In general, try not to stop next to a traffic island with a ‘keep left’ or ‘keep right’ arrow on it, if possible. If lights are coming towards you and you can see their side of the road has queueing traffic, try and hang back before that traffic island so they can get around that queueing traffic If you’re at traffic lights, they’ll usually straddle 2 lanes, lights on, sirens off, then follow whichever lane flows first, or if people can wiggle far enough to the sides, then they’ll probably take the gap through the middle and probably flick sirens back on, but that might be when they get closer to the junction they’re about to go through. And just because an emergency vehicle has its lights on, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going fast. Ambulances especially will often use blue lights but drive at ‘normal road speed’ or even BELOW it, depending on the condition of the patient in the back - they may need to prioritise comfort and minimal movement above all else. Above all, whatever you do when you see lights and hear sirens - don’t panic and be safe. If you can find somewhere to pull over, then that’s great, but safety above all else.
@@TheVanderfulLife Unless I am mistaken, I am sure blue light response drivers are not allowed to force another driver through a red light, unless directed by a police officer. If there is nowhere for you or them to go, they are to turn their sirens off and wait until the lights go green. Glad you didn’t get a ticket though, that would’ve been harsh.
Because, in Britain, you don't get taught to drive. You get taught to pass ONE SPECIFIC TEST, about the Highway Code, no driving instructions. You should take a driver's awareness course, it will pay in the long run.
At 0:45 I think the driver of the black car was concentrating on the roundabout in front and was taken by surprise when the emergency vehicle appeared close behind him in his rear mirrors. As you were overtaking on a gradual open left hand bend, the traffic in front of you shielded you from his sight until you were right on top of him. He panicked, stopped thinking and stopped the car. Always an issue to think of: "Have they seen me?" before the next question, "What are they going to do about it?" Passing traffic on a left hand bend is always going to create the possibility of an unpleasant surprise and resulting panic for drivers in front of that traffic. While you have no alternative, forewarned is forearmed in terms of your driving plan. Nice to see what the driver of the red car did at 3:15. I clocked that before your comment, but the comments are great, they really help us see what is going on. Nice driving!
Chris, really impressive driving. As a fellow response driver (police) it is even more impressive to see how you still drive to the ‘system’. Without letting the bad habits creep in. Particularly impressed with 13:55, it would have been so easy to go for the overtake in moment, with the adrenaline and excitement. But it wasn’t 100% safe, backed off, turned off the sirens and waited. Appreciate your work, always admiring your experience.
It is also illegal to overtake at that point, and illegal to pull over. Hence the need to wait with sirens off to discourage someone doing something stupid and putting others at danger.
I am always impressed with Chris' driving and self-reflection on how he could have done things differently and improve. That in itself is a lesson to us all. We only get to (rightly) see the 'exciting and thrilling' part of Chris' job. I use these terms lightly. It's all fun and games until that moment that you see the words 'CRITICAL CARE' on the bonnet and remind yourself of the fact that Chris is urgently trying to get to a patient who is in need of immediate medical care. It is at that moment that one empathises and appreciate the pressure that is on emergency responders as they quickly go from base to the scene. The pressures of driving at speed amongst ordinary traffic and with the information in their heads at what exactly they are rushing towards and how they will deal with the situation when they get there. For them, there is no excitement, thrills or fun and games.
Again, as a normal driver, I really appreciate watching these. It always gives me an idea of what I should be doing and moreover WHEN I should be doing it. I've commented this before, but in your regular driving test, they merely say "give way for emergency services", but not actually use common sense. Watching these videos, it has made me much more aware of what you're doing, and when you want to do it. Blue lights is "I wanna keep us both safe, keep the flow". Blues and two's is, get out of the way, but not to hinder my movement if possible. Great vids, keep them coming, love watching!
Nice breakdown, will use that myself, if nothing else to remind myself that continuing in double whites is often helpful and I'm not necessarily in the way!
Great video Chris and a helpful insight into Blue Light Driving. I recommend your channel to my students to gain knowledge of how to deal with emergency vehicles as it’s not something you can practically set up, more theoretical.
I am driver and your videos have helped me improve my driving when blue light services are close by. Thanks for what you and your colleagues do on a daily basis.
To put up with other's in your way and then attend to someone needing your care i don't know I could handle the stress. Keep up the outstanding work balance 👍
I'm aware that, unfortunately, many drivers don't check what's happening behind them, but this one 16:05 on the A10 roundabout into Ware doesn't even check what's coming in front! As a frequent user of the A602, you've trained me to watch out for you and any other blue lights on this road. Since watching the previous double white line video, I'm now much more aware. Thanks Chris😀 Thanks for being there fast to look after us in Hertfordshire.
These videos with the notes and the self-critique are my favourite. I feel I'll learn something (or a lot) every time I watch one of your videos. Thanks for yet another interesting and educational video.
Well done Chris, these videos should always be incorporated into Tests for new drivers, so they can see for themselves before being thrown in the deep end of how to react correctly, i have been driving since i was 17 yrs of age, had a fabulous Driving instructor, and have remembered all of his tips he gave me at the time to this day, i am 66yrs old now, and still accept every day you learn something new, but i have always always done the right thing by making the correct decision when dealing with Emergency service vehicles in many scenarios, i always strive to keep them moving and not be a hindrance and if i can help them do it seamlessly, i know they appreciate it. Well done EMS!!!
Nice shout run! I was a constable with the TVP for a few years following discharge from the RAF. Blue light runs were one of my favourite challenges in the job. The hardest thing to negotiate is when people just slam on the anchors without realising they are hindering rather than helping. More training should be given in driving lessons and tests to make it easier for blues and twos to get where tey need to go. Great job, good drive.
Footage like this should be handed to the police and drivers who are shown not moving for an emergency vehicle should be sent on a "drivers awareness course".
Except it’s not a legal requirement to move over for emergency vehicles. If you’re intentionally blocking, that’s a separate offence, but nowhere in law does it say that you MUST move over to let an emergency vehicle pass when safe to do so. It absolutely should, but it doesn’t
Sometimes laws like that could do more harm than good, suddenly drivers become desperate to dive out the way of EME vehicles to avoid fines etc which can lead to issues/collisions. Just a thought from another angle.
@@Dust76trIt’s a legal requirement not to to obstruct or hinder the emergency services. The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006. Just another way of saying you must get out of their way.
@Stranger2011 Driving normally isn't obstructing. I personally would NEVER move out the way when waiting at traffic lights. People have been done for that, and until they change the law to protect people it's a hard NOPE.
Since watching your vids I have learnt it is sometimes better to just keep it moving to avoid a block especially when no room to overtake such as country lanes or small roundabouts Thanks for what you do.
Thank you for your insights into blue light driving. I'm starting to prepare myself to get my C1 licence & to start to understand blue light driving for when I join the ambulance service
Its great that you add the comments and reflect on what you could have done better! It takes a lot to self reflect and a lot of drivers get complacent and into bad habits keep up the good work and wishing you all the best in the new year!
One thing I noticed early on was that there were 3 (I think) roundabouts where you could virtually see all traffic. I think that added to road safety rather than your view blocked by bushes and trees etc. I think it should be made law to keep roundabouts with a clear view all round. Great vid as usual.
There's some debate about that... Because most drivers tend to exercise caution when unable to see clearly, having limited view on the approaches tends to slow traffic down, increasing safety... I personally prefer to be able to clearly see all traffic, but I'm fairly cautious already on approaching intersections... But I've witnessed many people who could have done with a lot of bushes making them feel uncomfortable instead of having them slam into cars they've missed seeing.
0:46 Learnt from a Dutch Ambulance channel. You can go a whole loop of roundabout (not mini roundabout) so that the ambulance can pass you safely. It is understandable when people urge to give way but end up make mistake in panic.
Some nice fast smooth driving, pity a lot of drivers have absolutely no idea how to react, or even know you are there till the last minute….I tend to drive with my window cracked open an inch at all times , it’s amazing how early I can react to an emergency siren , while those around me are completely unaware…..thanks for the upload, and safe travels on the future shouts 👍🇮🇲👌
I crack my windows on entering cities, otherwise I'm deaf from the buffetting of the past 2+ hours 😅gets dead confusing sometimes though in London when I can hear sirens but they're echoing off buildings and sound like they're coming from all angles!
@@williamstrachan Yeah I find narrow streets difficult working out where they're coming from. It's much worse on my motorbike I find - the helmet really messes with my hearing directionality so that paired with the echos leave me trying to look every way simultaneously.
I take my hat off to you. Narrow British roads, heavy traffic everywhere you go and bus stops right in an active lane. You'd love it on our roads. So much wider. Cheers from an Australian paramedic.
Chris, do you ride a motorcycle, or have you in the past? I ask because you clearly have that "sixth sense", i.e. inferring drivers' likely intentions and movement from subtle cues. I wondered whether this was all gleaned from response driving, or whether you learnt it elsewhere.
Great job. 4 Cs. Clean, Controlled, Calm, and Communicative. Nailed. Maybe cycling the siren through different tones more readily might have got that black van's attention sooner but otherwise great driving. Would love to see you and Ashley Neal make some content together.
I think having the speedometer on screen so people can see how much of a impact people who don’t move over correctly impact on the urgency of your journey. Brilliant informative video though. Keep up the good work folks.
If I've only learnt one thing from your videos, it's that the worst thing I could do if a blue light vehicle is behind me is to stop without assessment. Better to keep moving whilst planning how to make space. There are good examples of potentially well-meaning drivers hindering you in the first part of this one!
Good to see there were some savvy drivers mixed in with the oh-shit-drop-anchor brigade! Slick stuff as per, and great assessment of where you didn't work perfectly 👌🏻
great video! Keep them coming, so interesting to watch! I know watching sometimes you do get drivers who literally have no clue but however some people DONT KNOW where to stop or show a direction for you to head in as that happens everywhere so them situations i wouldnt get angry in a way but keep calm however! I do smile though when people actually understand likee and actually move, work together, let this driver in front, wave them to go past or behind etc etc! I bet you get a right smile when you see people actually helping one other :) Love the videos.
That was incredible driving really impressive how smooth and stable the car was throughout. It surprised me on the motorway slip road though I thought doing what you did was best by keeping the sirens on to give people on the motorway early warning that a vehicle on an emergency call was joining
At motorway speeds, because of the road noise etc, you can pretty much only hear the siren when it’s really close to you anyway, not like on a residential street where you can often hear the sirens 30+ seconds before you see the vehicle.
Some people just have no clue what to do when they hear/see an emergency vehicle approaching. They do silly shit like just stop and sometimes end up blocking you rather than getting out of your way. An example of this can be seen by the two dummies at 0:50 on the mini roundabout. Then you have people that are totally switched on like the car on the roundabout at 1:51 seen your coming and gave way to you, brilliant awareness by that driver.
Great video as always Chris. I know nothing about how these things work but it strikes me the horn beeping each time you turn on and off the siren confuses road users thinking you're beeping them and so sometimes they move when you hadn't intended them to.
Brilliant drive as always. Only overtake I wouldn't have gone for is the overtake on the flatbed at 15:15. Although I appreciate you have a slightly different view to the camera, it could have been interesting if a motorcycle was coming the other way not on the correct line. As for the sirens joining motorways, it's something I agree with. Sometimes you want to be discreet until your established, but its sometimes only on reflection we spot these things. And 07:11 never feels right lol
Can't help feeling that the horn-activated siren causes issues, e.g. when in double-white-lines and double horn to cancel causes drivers that are otherwise continuing to find a gap instead stop, sometimes on blind corners.
That was my main takeaway from this too. To us, Chris was clearly cancelling the tones due to the double white lines and effectively blind crest to reduce the pressure on the driver until it was safe for them to move, but the double horn comes across as a more agressive "move now".
As a previous blue light driver, videos like this highlight the inability of some people on the road and that today's driving test only teaches you how to function a vehicle not road sense or safety
I like to think I am a very good/competent driver/rider (with 20yrs road experience), but some of these moments even with blues and twos I would struggle with. Hat off to our response drivers/vehicles. Every second counts when it's an emergency. edit: I would do the same as the van, indicate, pull to the kerb and slow down if safe to do so.
As a long-time resident of Stevenage, I am familiar with the whole route. I thought you handled your approach to the right turn into Paynes Park in Hitchin very well, as it appears that the driver in front of you was hesitant and cars sometimes change lanes quite late there. Similarly, I thought you were impressively decisive by taking the left-hand lane when you approached the Stevenage North A1(M) junction, even though you were turning right. I have seen emergency vehicles do that before though! On the Broadhall Way roundabout junction with Monkswood Way in Stevenage (near the football ground), you again managed to be use your initiative by weaving through when there were cars queueing and their drivers were a bit indecisive. Between Stevenage and Watton-at-Stone, I suspected that you might encounter problems, as the road is quite narrow and a bit twisty. I noticed that you held back for a bit there - I suppose you couldn't really do anything else! Slightly further on, as you mentioned, you were helped by a van doing some sensible driving before pulling over near the Dane End turning. As you approached the A10, past the recycling centre, the road again narrowed and I still remember about six or seven years ago pulling in to let a police car with a flashing blue light pass and the driver a little way in front did likewise but there was still traffic coming in the opposite direction and the police driver had to come to a grinding halt because the gap was too narrow. That incident is strangely etched in my memory and I occasionally wonder what could have been done to have helped in that situation. Having seen this video, I think the answer is that the driver in front of me should have kept going, at least until the road widened just before the A10 junction.
At 6:10 why couldn’t you have gone in behind the Honda Jazz on the far left? Only would have had one car to clear inside of trying to squeeze through a load more and potentially pushing them into the roundabout causing more danger?
Vast majority pull over to let you thru. Those that are a 'big slow' need to watch videos like this and learn. One day it could be coming to help you...
It amazes how much faith and trust you put into other drivers moving out of the way especially when you move into the lane they are driving towards you in. I have no faith at all of any driver keeping in their lane around me at slow speeds 🙈
Great video as always Chris, love your driving and giving thanks when warranted, I always thought that you were allowed to overtake on double or single white lines if safe to do so, I no longer drive but enjoy the education of watching you realising that you cocked up slightly and admitting it, the UK should be like a lot of the European Counties, as in that it is against the Law to hinder or impede any Emergency Vehicle that is traveling on EG: Blue Lights. Drive Safe, Stay Safe.
Really good video. Interesting to see the difference as I’m from Australia. All emergency services are exempt from road traffic laws when travelling lights & sirens. Also we tend to use travel down the opposite carriage way for a much longer distance if there is a central reservation or roundabout ahead. we don’t really bother waiting for the traffic we are always taught to drive for other peoples mistakes. I also found it quite annoying all the different changes in tones Personal view.
Also legal in Australia to break any other traffic rule to give way to emergency vehicles... Anything is allowed as long as you do it safely, and only for the time/distance required to allow the emergency vehicles through.
Do you feel the horn as a way of controlling the sirens works? I know it’s standard but sometimes I think people are thinking you are beeping at them to move out the way when in fact you are turning the sirens off so as to not make them feel pressured. Do you have to take your hand off the wheel rim to do it too. Would a paddle or something behind the steering wheel not be better?
I thought the same. It would probably make some people feel like they've done the wrong thing, and potentially make them do something different next time they're in that situation, and end up making an actual problem.
Our fire trucks have a foot switch to the left of the clutch peddle. Fire trucks also have air horns so changing using the horn would make quite a racket...
Always been curious after i saw an ambulance clip a parked park in Bedford many years ago. What is the procedure if you were to clip a car on blue lights? Carry on, short stop to tell them to call the authority or a full stop as any normal collision.
I can't speak to the UK, but in Australia, for Fire, we are required to stop and advise dispatch we are out of commission and need to be replaced. For a minor ding we can then provide the driver we hit with our name, and the name of the appliance that has hit them, and take their name and their vehicle number plate. Assuming this is all done quickly and there are no injuries we can then continue. I suspect police here can carry on but not sure, and have no idea on ambulances.
Lovely drive. Interested as to why you cancel the tones on double white lines - the stretch of road upon which I live has double whites, and emergency vehicles never cancel tones when using this stretch.
Some good drivers in this clip, and also some utter clowns who seem completely oblivious to your presence and how they can help by pulling over, holding back or whatever.
The number of drivers who just "stop" - rather than thinking - how can we collectively make it easier for this emergency vehicle to pass through... is astounding.
Nice run Chris. At @6:10 I worried that drivers might feel pushed out into the roundabout. I might of turned sirens off here, but then you could have been stuck waiting for a natural break in traffic from the right.
I think they should mandate a digital rear view mirror for vans etc. who have no means to look behind apart from the normal side mirrors. ps. Great driving!
That would just be another thing not to check for the same drivers. Van mirrors do a good job of giving a view to the rear as they are, provided they're being used.
I wish you had full telemetry overlay, like lights, indicators, brake, gear etc. A lot of people would benefit from being able to see what was being done and when with respect to car handling.
![[POV] ENTIRE City BLOCKED For Newborn Emergency Transport](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QKVWNxihKcs/mqdefault.jpg)
Been on many blue light runs in my time in the FB...always been a big advocate for blue light awareness to be incorporated with lessons and driving tests...because too many drivers hear and see emergency vehicles and go into a blind panic where they become more of a hindrance than helpfulness.
Shocking how many people going in the other direction stop opposite a car that has pulled over to let them past. How on Earth do they not realise they are just getting in the way?
On rural roads, I have always sped up until I can see a place where it’s safe for blue lights to get past then indicate and slow down as they pass to help them get past quicker, on rural roads there is often not enough distance between blind bends to pass safely, so your are better of to keep moving until there is a suitable section of road.
I was very fortunate when I learned to drive in the 90's to have an Instructor who was ex-military and taught me some basic skills with regards to reacting to Emergency Service vehicles in a manner to suit them. It became ironic during my Driving Test, when faced with an ambulance heading towards me and a fire engine coming from behind attending a nearby incident, but I used what I'd been taught. The Test Examiner passed me and commented on how I'd handled that particular aspect, citing I had that extra-spatiale awareness of what was going on around me, a concept I've continued to this day.
As an Emergency Response Driver myself for the Welsh Ambulance Service, I fully agree an incorporation into driving lessons will be great. Our job is not to bully people out of the way! Its all very well and good us being on an Emergency call, but we cant put the public drivers in harms way in the process, What we look for is indications of your intentions I.E break lights, change in direction of the vehicle, or even an indicator on that tells us you are aware that we are there. Otherwise we cannot pass as its unsafe. The car we are following could potentially turn into our path. If we are not 100% sure they know we are behind and intending to pass them.
Alot of people do panic and slam their breaks on, and this can cause us to either need to break hard, or change our direction with little reaction time. Its quite exhausting on blues especially if we are on a long, difficult journey. you need to have eyes everywhere whilst being in full control of the vehicle at all times. If we all can be aware of eachother and work a system to help emergency services it will increase response times, and less incidents out on our roads. Thank you to everyone.
You do a great job of thanking people. With everything else going through your head, driving... the job you're going to and to still make the effort to say thanks.
I'm astonished the audio is not full of "WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE ****ING WAY YOU DOZY ****!!!". The Zen Buddhism lessons must be working ;-)
@@TonyWhitley answer is simpler: not a aggressive moron driver
@@TonyWhitley Too much of that sort of attitude from an emergency response driver in the UK and they loose their blue light exemptions. If someone can't keep calm in the high pressure situation then they probably wouldn't pass the blue light training to begin with here.
That black van at 3:34 my word. Complete lack of observations. Nice driving as always. I also love how you critique your own driving. That's how you know you're a good driver.
should be able to report these people to the police, if they are not making regular observations then they shouldnt be driving. even if youre deaf, you can see the emergency vehicles coming. "i couldnt hear them" shouldnt be a viable excuse
Absolutely oblivious…
@@whitemarmite Idk man, proving someone isnt making regular obs is a tough one. Alse people cant see around corners, hence the audio queues from sirens. But if were gonna make it so theres no excuse then cars shouldnt even come with radios.
But it had wanker plates and cool paint, the outside lane is his.
@@SlaterGator it was a good 30 seconds of someone with flashing lights, and sirens following someone on a duall carriage way. but that was when the clip started, no idea how long they were approaching for before that. after the caravan, they could have thought about moving back over. as they were done with the overtake, so should be looking to move back as soon as possible to the left lane.
even at the end of that drivers inclusion, they went from the right lane, to attempt to go into the middle lane without even signalling. i can gaurantee they were not checking their mirrors at all for that entire duration, another deluded "got to be in front" driver. i can believe that if there were 3 lanes, theyd be sitting in the middle their entire journey.
also the no excuses comment, i stated that even a deaf person would have seen the emergency service. so a radio means nothing, because people shouldnt be relying on their hearing for driving. its all about observations, which this driver was not doing.
Some people really do not understand. They think they just need to stop, not realising they’re completely blocking you. Nice to see quite a few good drivers that actually help
Yeah, it’s like; your car doesn’t magically disappear, mate. Make sure you make room for who have to get around you!
I’m a fairly new driver and your videos are the only way I’ve learnt how to deal with emergency vehicles, no lessons ever really covered
I had one lesson once, front of a red set of lights with emergency vehicle a few cars behind...my instructor told me to creep over the stop line but not so far as to go in to oncoming traffic. This gave cars behind a chance to pull forward/over and make space. It seems logical and safe yet it would be considered breaking the law.
After passing I was on a large roundabout with 3 lanes, lane 1 and 2 full of cars and just me lane 3, ambulance behind kept its sirens and blues on despite the red light so I crossed the stop line and placed my car infront of lane 1+2 to allow them to continue. There was a red light camera on that junction so either it doesn't work or it was reviewed as OK, I'm not sure but I didn't get a ticket.
I know quite a few people that have failed because of emergency vehicles on their test as they’ve either panicked or just didn’t know what to do
The driver who is on response usually makes it pretty obvious what they want you to do, as long as you actually look.
If you see lights in your right mirror, they probably want you to move left.
If you see lights in your left mirror, they probably want you to move right.
If they’re following you with a good gap, and sirens off, they probably can’t overtake, or want you to continue. (Solid white line & roadworks are a couple of examples I can think of where lights would be on, but sirens off and a good following distance kept)
Sirens on: they probably want you to ‘stop’ (insert your own interpretation of stop here)
Sirens off: they probably want you to keep going, or don’t want to force you through a red light.
If you see lights coming towards you, try and read what others are doing, if you can see them slowing down, try and leave a gap for the emergency vehicle to get through (give them options if possible) just don’t stop next to the car on the opposite side of the road that they’re trying to get past.
In general, try not to stop next to a traffic island with a ‘keep left’ or ‘keep right’ arrow on it, if possible. If lights are coming towards you and you can see their side of the road has queueing traffic, try and hang back before that traffic island so they can get around that queueing traffic
If you’re at traffic lights, they’ll usually straddle 2 lanes, lights on, sirens off, then follow whichever lane flows first, or if people can wiggle far enough to the sides, then they’ll probably take the gap through the middle and probably flick sirens back on, but that might be when they get closer to the junction they’re about to go through.
And just because an emergency vehicle has its lights on, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going fast. Ambulances especially will often use blue lights but drive at ‘normal road speed’ or even BELOW it, depending on the condition of the patient in the back - they may need to prioritise comfort and minimal movement above all else.
Above all, whatever you do when you see lights and hear sirens - don’t panic and be safe. If you can find somewhere to pull over, then that’s great, but safety above all else.
@@TheVanderfulLife Unless I am mistaken, I am sure blue light response drivers are not allowed to force another driver through a red light, unless directed by a police officer. If there is nowhere for you or them to go, they are to turn their sirens off and wait until the lights go green.
Glad you didn’t get a ticket though, that would’ve been harsh.
Because, in Britain, you don't get taught to drive. You get taught to pass ONE SPECIFIC TEST, about the Highway Code, no driving instructions. You should take a driver's awareness course, it will pay in the long run.
At 0:45 I think the driver of the black car was concentrating on the roundabout in front and was taken by surprise when the emergency vehicle appeared close behind him in his rear mirrors. As you were overtaking on a gradual open left hand bend, the traffic in front of you shielded you from his sight until you were right on top of him. He panicked, stopped thinking and stopped the car.
Always an issue to think of: "Have they seen me?" before the next question, "What are they going to do about it?"
Passing traffic on a left hand bend is always going to create the possibility of an unpleasant surprise and resulting panic for drivers in front of that traffic. While you have no alternative, forewarned is forearmed in terms of your driving plan.
Nice to see what the driver of the red car did at 3:15. I clocked that before your comment, but the comments are great, they really help us see what is going on.
Nice driving!
Black Audi at 7:55 doing a great job of giving you a clear run to the roundabout.
Chris, really impressive driving. As a fellow response driver (police) it is even more impressive to see how you still drive to the ‘system’. Without letting the bad habits creep in.
Particularly impressed with 13:55, it would have been so easy to go for the overtake in moment, with the adrenaline and excitement. But it wasn’t 100% safe, backed off, turned off the sirens and waited.
Appreciate your work, always admiring your experience.
It is also illegal to overtake at that point, and illegal to pull over. Hence the need to wait with sirens off to discourage someone doing something stupid and putting others at danger.
Love that you see learning experiences for yourself, and provide learning experiences for us viewers. Awesome work buddy.
I am always impressed with Chris' driving and self-reflection on how he could have done things differently and improve. That in itself is a lesson to us all. We only get to (rightly) see the 'exciting and thrilling' part of Chris' job. I use these terms lightly. It's all fun and games until that moment that you see the words 'CRITICAL CARE' on the bonnet and remind yourself of the fact that Chris is urgently trying to get to a patient who is in need of immediate medical care. It is at that moment that one empathises and appreciate the pressure that is on emergency responders as they quickly go from base to the scene. The pressures of driving at speed amongst ordinary traffic and with the information in their heads at what exactly they are rushing towards and how they will deal with the situation when they get there. For them, there is no excitement, thrills or fun and games.
Love the honesty in the video, thanks for the work you do.... and the uploads!
Again, as a normal driver, I really appreciate watching these. It always gives me an idea of what I should be doing and moreover WHEN I should be doing it. I've commented this before, but in your regular driving test, they merely say "give way for emergency services", but not actually use common sense. Watching these videos, it has made me much more aware of what you're doing, and when you want to do it. Blue lights is "I wanna keep us both safe, keep the flow". Blues and two's is, get out of the way, but not to hinder my movement if possible. Great vids, keep them coming, love watching!
Nice breakdown, will use that myself, if nothing else to remind myself that continuing in double whites is often helpful and I'm not necessarily in the way!
Great video Chris and a helpful insight into Blue Light Driving. I recommend your channel to my students to gain knowledge of how to deal with emergency vehicles as it’s not something you can practically set up, more theoretical.
I am driver and your videos have helped me improve my driving when blue light services are close by. Thanks for what you and your colleagues do on a daily basis.
Your calm thought process as you assess and process each situation and hazard is top class
Thanks again, Chris, for sharing and being honest and professional with your comment of recognising an area of improvement. First class coaching.
Great videos of blue light runs Chris, especially showing the public just what we have to contend with when running to a treble nine job.
To put up with other's in your way and then attend to someone needing your care i don't know
I could handle the stress. Keep up the outstanding work balance 👍
I'm aware that, unfortunately, many drivers don't check what's happening behind them, but this one 16:05 on the A10 roundabout into Ware doesn't even check what's coming in front!
As a frequent user of the A602, you've trained me to watch out for you and any other blue lights on this road. Since watching the previous double white line video, I'm now much more aware. Thanks Chris😀
Thanks for being there fast to look after us in Hertfordshire.
These videos with the notes and the self-critique are my favourite. I feel I'll learn something (or a lot) every time I watch one of your videos. Thanks for yet another interesting and educational video.
Nothing I hate more than drivers not looking in their mirrors and seeing you early. Well done for staying calm, I know I’d be absolutely fuming!
Chris always great to see your driving skills amazing,keep up the good work saving lives
Well done Chris, these videos should always be incorporated into Tests for new drivers, so they can see for themselves before being thrown in the deep end of how to react correctly, i have been driving since i was 17 yrs of age, had a fabulous Driving instructor, and have remembered all of his tips he gave me at the time to this day, i am 66yrs old now, and still accept every day you learn something new, but i have always always done the right thing by making the correct decision when dealing with Emergency service vehicles in many scenarios, i always strive to keep them moving and not be a hindrance and if i can help them do it seamlessly, i know they appreciate it. Well done EMS!!!
Nice shout run! I was a constable with the TVP for a few years following discharge from the RAF. Blue light runs were one of my favourite challenges in the job. The hardest thing to negotiate is when people just slam on the anchors without realising they are hindering rather than helping. More training should be given in driving lessons and tests to make it easier for blues and twos to get where tey need to go. Great job, good drive.
I always look forward to these longer videos, Excellent work! Thank you.
Fantastic video Chris! I find your videos really engaging and educational, please keep posting you're doing a great job.
Footage like this should be handed to the police and drivers who are shown not moving for an emergency vehicle should be sent on a "drivers awareness course".
Except it’s not a legal requirement to move over for emergency vehicles.
If you’re intentionally blocking, that’s a separate offence, but nowhere in law does it say that you MUST move over to let an emergency vehicle pass when safe to do so.
It absolutely should, but it doesn’t
@@Dust76tr I agree, it is stupid that it is not law that you should move out of the way of emergency vehicles.
Sometimes laws like that could do more harm than good, suddenly drivers become desperate to dive out the way of EME vehicles to avoid fines etc which can lead to issues/collisions. Just a thought from another angle.
@@Dust76trIt’s a legal requirement not to to obstruct or hinder the emergency services. The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006.
Just another way of saying you must get out of their way.
@Stranger2011 Driving normally isn't obstructing. I personally would NEVER move out the way when waiting at traffic lights. People have been done for that, and until they change the law to protect people it's a hard NOPE.
Thanks Chris, another awesome video, great driving through heavy traffic. Lots of double white lines on the route too make it difficult.
Great to see you back posting response vids i really enjoy them
Since watching your vids I have learnt it is sometimes better to just keep it moving to avoid a block especially when no room to overtake such as country lanes or small roundabouts Thanks for what you do.
Thank you for your insights into blue light driving. I'm starting to prepare myself to get my C1 licence & to start to understand blue light driving for when I join the ambulance service
Its great that you add the comments and reflect on what you could have done better! It takes a lot to self reflect and a lot of drivers get complacent and into bad habits keep up the good work and wishing you all the best in the new year!
I like your style of commenting on the good drivers and not berating those that have made errors in their decision making.
Been drving for almost 10 years, just learnt a few things to aid in allowing emergency vehicles to pass quicker and safer. Thanks
One thing I noticed early on was that there were 3 (I think) roundabouts where you could virtually see all traffic. I think that added to road safety rather than your view blocked by bushes and trees etc. I think it should be made law to keep roundabouts with a clear view all round. Great vid as usual.
There's some debate about that... Because most drivers tend to exercise caution when unable to see clearly, having limited view on the approaches tends to slow traffic down, increasing safety...
I personally prefer to be able to clearly see all traffic, but I'm fairly cautious already on approaching intersections... But I've witnessed many people who could have done with a lot of bushes making them feel uncomfortable instead of having them slam into cars they've missed seeing.
Regardless of the things you say you did wrong, you do an amazing job Chris, and you're an amazing driver as well! I could watch these videos all day!
Did pretty much that exact route 2 days ago, great driving and so interesting to see it from that point of view.
0:46 Learnt from a Dutch Ambulance channel. You can go a whole loop of roundabout (not mini roundabout) so that the ambulance can pass you safely. It is understandable when people urge to give way but end up make mistake in panic.
Ambuchannel 112, RIP.
So it was you, spotted my van at 3:02 great video as always really interesting to see from your point of view.
Feels like a SIM. Excellent driving. Outstanding quality of driving
Some nice fast smooth driving, pity a lot of drivers have absolutely no idea how to react, or even know you are there till the last minute….I tend to drive with my window cracked open an inch at all times , it’s amazing how early I can react to an emergency siren , while those around me are completely unaware…..thanks for the upload, and safe travels on the future shouts 👍🇮🇲👌
I crack my windows on entering cities, otherwise I'm deaf from the buffetting of the past 2+ hours 😅gets dead confusing sometimes though in London when I can hear sirens but they're echoing off buildings and sound like they're coming from all angles!
@@williamstrachan Yeah I find narrow streets difficult working out where they're coming from. It's much worse on my motorbike I find - the helmet really messes with my hearing directionality so that paired with the echos leave me trying to look every way simultaneously.
I take my hat off to you. Narrow British roads, heavy traffic everywhere you go and bus stops right in an active lane. You'd love it on our roads. So much wider. Cheers from an Australian paramedic.
Thank you for the video. Sat on the edge of my seat. Not just the excitement and concentration. The back has fallen off and I need a new chair.
Update. Next door moved out and left a half-broken gaming chair by the bins. I am such a lucky Womble.
Chris, do you ride a motorcycle, or have you in the past? I ask because you clearly have that "sixth sense", i.e. inferring drivers' likely intentions and movement from subtle cues. I wondered whether this was all gleaned from response driving, or whether you learnt it elsewhere.
Yes, used to ride for several years commuting to work in the early years
Awesome. And remember, he's got to save lives after this.
Great job. 4 Cs. Clean, Controlled, Calm, and Communicative. Nailed. Maybe cycling the siren through different tones more readily might have got that black van's attention sooner but otherwise great driving.
Would love to see you and Ashley Neal make some content together.
I think having the speedometer on screen so people can see how much of a impact people who don’t move over correctly impact on the urgency of your journey. Brilliant informative video though. Keep up the good work folks.
If I've only learnt one thing from your videos, it's that the worst thing I could do if a blue light vehicle is behind me is to stop without assessment. Better to keep moving whilst planning how to make space.
There are good examples of potentially well-meaning drivers hindering you in the first part of this one!
Good to see there were some savvy drivers mixed in with the oh-shit-drop-anchor brigade! Slick stuff as per, and great assessment of where you didn't work perfectly 👌🏻
as a hgv driver may i say your drivng is
amazing..
Great videos great respect for all 999 services
good driving. please post more, very helpful.
I've driven that route so many times many years ago, nice to see it again and how its changed. Great driving.
great video! Keep them coming, so interesting to watch! I know watching sometimes you do get drivers who literally have no clue but however some people DONT KNOW where to stop or show a direction for you to head in as that happens everywhere so them situations i wouldnt get angry in a way but keep calm however! I do smile though when people actually understand likee and actually move, work together, let this driver in front, wave them to go past or behind etc etc! I bet you get a right smile when you see people actually helping one other :) Love the videos.
Another great video! Thank you for doing these. Also great to see your self-feedback too!
Incredible peice of driving. Kudos!
That was incredible driving really impressive how smooth and stable the car was throughout. It surprised me on the motorway slip road though I thought doing what you did was best by keeping the sirens on to give people on the motorway early warning that a vehicle on an emergency call was joining
At motorway speeds, because of the road noise etc, you can pretty much only hear the siren when it’s really close to you anyway, not like on a residential street where you can often hear the sirens 30+ seconds before you see the vehicle.
Another great drive Chris, and it’s great to see that you are still learning and continuously learning and developing your driving skills. Great work
I know that road well nice and Safe driving skills i appreciate the work that you do
That was a long intense drive. Thanks for the video!
Chris reminds me of the driver with the glasses in the Steve McQueen film Bullet, cool as a cucumber. Watch it you haven’t seen, great film.
it scares me on how many drivers are just not paying and in there on world when driving still another great and safe journey
Hi Chris thanks for another excellent video.,driving at speed like you do sir😊 take care mate. Gary.
Some people just have no clue what to do when they hear/see an emergency vehicle approaching. They do silly shit like just stop and sometimes end up blocking you rather than getting out of your way. An example of this can be seen by the two dummies at 0:50 on the mini roundabout. Then you have people that are totally switched on like the car on the roundabout at 1:51 seen your coming and gave way to you, brilliant awareness by that driver.
Great video as always Chris. I know nothing about how these things work but it strikes me the horn beeping each time you turn on and off the siren confuses road users thinking you're beeping them and so sometimes they move when you hadn't intended them to.
Brilliant drive as always. Only overtake I wouldn't have gone for is the overtake on the flatbed at 15:15. Although I appreciate you have a slightly different view to the camera, it could have been interesting if a motorcycle was coming the other way not on the correct line.
As for the sirens joining motorways, it's something I agree with. Sometimes you want to be discreet until your established, but its sometimes only on reflection we spot these things.
And 07:11 never feels right lol
It's crazy seeing you drive these roads I'm so familiar with.
I'll be a HGV driver soon, I'll try my best to stay out your way if I ever see ya xD
I love watching these videos but I always hope that the patient makes it out alive of whatever emergency you are attending.
Can't help feeling that the horn-activated siren causes issues, e.g. when in double-white-lines and double horn to cancel causes drivers that are otherwise continuing to find a gap instead stop, sometimes on blind corners.
That was my main takeaway from this too. To us, Chris was clearly cancelling the tones due to the double white lines and effectively blind crest to reduce the pressure on the driver until it was safe for them to move, but the double horn comes across as a more agressive "move now".
Hi Chris you can certainly handle a car very professional safe driver
Brilliant video, I so missed these when you had your break from uploading.
As a previous blue light driver, videos like this highlight the inability of some people on the road and that today's driving test only teaches you how to function a vehicle not road sense or safety
I like to think I am a very good/competent driver/rider (with 20yrs road experience), but some of these moments even with blues and twos I would struggle with.
Hat off to our response drivers/vehicles. Every second counts when it's an emergency.
edit: I would do the same as the van, indicate, pull to the kerb and slow down if safe to do so.
As a long-time resident of Stevenage, I am familiar with the whole route. I thought you handled your approach to the right turn into Paynes Park in Hitchin very well, as it appears that the driver in front of you was hesitant and cars sometimes change lanes quite late there. Similarly, I thought you were impressively decisive by taking the left-hand lane when you approached the Stevenage North A1(M) junction, even though you were turning right. I have seen emergency vehicles do that before though! On the Broadhall Way roundabout junction with Monkswood Way in Stevenage (near the football ground), you again managed to be use your initiative by weaving through when there were cars queueing and their drivers were a bit indecisive.
Between Stevenage and Watton-at-Stone, I suspected that you might encounter problems, as the road is quite narrow and a bit twisty. I noticed that you held back for a bit there - I suppose you couldn't really do anything else! Slightly further on, as you mentioned, you were helped by a van doing some sensible driving before pulling over near the Dane End turning.
As you approached the A10, past the recycling centre, the road again narrowed and I still remember about six or seven years ago pulling in to let a police car with a flashing blue light pass and the driver a little way in front did likewise but there was still traffic coming in the opposite direction and the police driver had to come to a grinding halt because the gap was too narrow. That incident is strangely etched in my memory and I occasionally wonder what could have been done to have helped in that situation. Having seen this video, I think the answer is that the driver in front of me should have kept going, at least until the road widened just before the A10 junction.
Interesting to see you heading to my home town
Sad to see how absolutely dense some road users are. Great driving.
At 6:10 why couldn’t you have gone in behind the Honda Jazz on the far left? Only would have had one car to clear inside of trying to squeeze through a load more and potentially pushing them into the roundabout causing more danger?
Thank you for the work you do.
1:47 That's a volvo I can tell.
At 2:30, what would you prefer someone to do? Stop or carry on around until it straightens out enough to see there’s nothing coming?
Vast majority pull over to let you thru. Those that are a 'big slow' need to watch videos like this and learn. One day it could be coming to help you...
Not all heros wear capes. Some drive red car with flashing blue lights and sirens 🚨 💙
Applied to become a blood transport driver, was unsuccesful :( goal in life; LGV/HGV or some form of blue light driver.
Thanks for the uploads dude.
It amazes how much faith and trust you put into other drivers moving out of the way especially when you move into the lane they are driving towards you in. I have no faith at all of any driver keeping in their lane around me at slow speeds 🙈
Great video as always Chris, love your driving and giving thanks when warranted, I always thought that you were allowed to overtake on double or single white lines if safe to do so, I no longer drive but enjoy the education of watching you realising that you cocked up slightly and admitting it, the UK should be like a lot of the European Counties, as in that it is against the Law to hinder or impede any Emergency Vehicle that is traveling on EG: Blue Lights. Drive Safe, Stay Safe.
Forde Mondeo at 6:00 wasn't giving you an inch
Really good video. Interesting to see the difference as I’m from Australia. All emergency services are exempt from road traffic laws when travelling lights & sirens. Also we tend to use travel down the opposite carriage way for a much longer distance if there is a central reservation or roundabout ahead. we don’t really bother waiting for the traffic we are always taught to drive for other peoples mistakes. I also found it quite annoying all the different changes in tones Personal view.
Also legal in Australia to break any other traffic rule to give way to emergency vehicles... Anything is allowed as long as you do it safely, and only for the time/distance required to allow the emergency vehicles through.
@@tin2001 yes very true.
th-cam.com/video/9aKST4SB8a4/w-d-xo.html here is how we do it in Australia for comparison.
Crikey, tye A602 has changed a lot since I lived in Whempstead!!
Do you feel the horn as a way of controlling the sirens works? I know it’s standard but sometimes I think people are thinking you are beeping at them to move out the way when in fact you are turning the sirens off so as to not make them feel pressured. Do you have to take your hand off the wheel rim to do it too. Would a paddle or something behind the steering wheel not be better?
I thought the same. It would probably make some people feel like they've done the wrong thing, and potentially make them do something different next time they're in that situation, and end up making an actual problem.
Our fire trucks have a foot switch to the left of the clutch peddle. Fire trucks also have air horns so changing using the horn would make quite a racket...
Always been curious after i saw an ambulance clip a parked park in Bedford many years ago. What is the procedure if you were to clip a car on blue lights? Carry on, short stop to tell them to call the authority or a full stop as any normal collision.
I can't speak to the UK, but in Australia, for Fire, we are required to stop and advise dispatch we are out of commission and need to be replaced. For a minor ding we can then provide the driver we hit with our name, and the name of the appliance that has hit them, and take their name and their vehicle number plate. Assuming this is all done quickly and there are no injuries we can then continue. I suspect police here can carry on but not sure, and have no idea on ambulances.
Full stop. RTC forms and exchange details etc.
Lovely drive. Interested as to why you cancel the tones on double white lines - the stretch of road upon which I live has double whites, and emergency vehicles never cancel tones when using this stretch.
Some good drivers in this clip, and also some utter clowns who seem completely oblivious to your presence and how they can help by pulling over, holding back or whatever.
Hey Chris, can you explain a bit more about what you mean about the confident +ve deflection with the motorcyclist at 11:10?
Positive deflection of the vehicle - moving off to the side.
The number of drivers who just "stop" - rather than thinking - how can we collectively make it easier for this emergency vehicle to pass through... is astounding.
So much respect for the emergency services 👏
Nice run Chris. At @6:10 I worried that drivers might feel pushed out into the roundabout. I might of turned sirens off here, but then you could have been stuck waiting for a natural break in traffic from the right.
Great work! I saw you the other day, when I see a new video I play the game of recognise where you are and the route you're taking.😅
I think they should mandate a digital rear view mirror for vans etc. who have no means to look behind apart from the normal side mirrors. ps. Great driving!
That would just be another thing not to check for the same drivers.
Van mirrors do a good job of giving a view to the rear as they are, provided they're being used.
@@_Steven_S That's true, in the end it is up to the driver.
I wish you had full telemetry overlay, like lights, indicators, brake, gear etc. A lot of people would benefit from being able to see what was being done and when with respect to car handling.
great video as always, keep it up!