Emergency blue light ambulance drive and PTS drive

Demonstration video from CERAD (certificate of emergency response ambulance driving) Qualification on ambulance driving training course.
First part of video demonstrates routing PTS training drive using at all times the system of car control from the Roadcraft police drivers handbook keeping to speed limits with a strong emphasis on patient comfort with smooth braking and pull push steering.
This routine ambulance drive has a full talk through commentary drive to the students to show how the drive is planned for maximum comfort by using the system of car control on approach to hazards and dealing with the hazards using careful observations, early anticipation and planning and a skillful use of the vehicles controls to ensure smooth braking using acceleration sense and steering for stability and comfort for the patient's in all traffic situations.
This style of drive also has a strong emphasis on Eco friendly driving to maximise the fuel consumption and limit emissions saving money on fuel and vehicle wear and tear.
The 2nd part of the video shows an ambulance blue light training run and demonstrates the contrast between routine PTS driving and blue light emergency driving where the emphasis is on making progress through traffic using the Roadcraft police driving manual system of car control
The video gives commentary on the exemptions claimed which in this video is treating red traffic lights as a give way using intelligence use of the sirens and lights so as to not sppok traffic into the ref light. The plan is to keep the vehicle moving and watch for the path of least resistance , if none is available to hold back. The video demonstrate negotiating through the red light if safe and justifiable to do so.
Exemptions are claimed for ignoring keep left and keep right signs if it is safe and justifiable and oncoming traffic is aware of our presence.
The video demonstrates exceeding the statutory speed limit where safe and justifiable to the NHS trust capping speed.
Overtaking using system of car control being aware of the moment of realisation from vehicles and planning for early extended positioning for maximum views of the road.
commentary of overtakes to the students showing safe and justifiable negotian making progress through traffic.
Dealing with road markings especially solid white lines according to the law laid down in the highway code demonstrating the ambulance has no exemption on solid white lines in the centre of the road and must not cross or straddle the solid line nearest to us unless overtaking according to the rule 129 of the highway code.
The 2nd video shows the contrast in the 2 styles of driving from routine driving to emergency blue light ambulance driving to the CERAD students

[@rubentiago9581]

Watched this video before going onto my blue light run and it’s really helped me on expectations 😁 🚑

[@sidrah5692]

I’m doing my blue light course and these videos helped majorly! They are easy to understand and a brilliant resource! Great to watch before you start the course.

[@sorrentoism]

Thanks Sydra

[@dominicminett1854]

Thanks Woody for a brilliant commentary driving run yesterday before my re-assessment in emergency response driving. And for the feedback which really helped in my reassessment right afterwards (which I passed with my best drive ever). Wonderful videos - should be compulsory viewing for all students on L3CERAD courses.

[@sorrentoism]

You are very welcome Dominic I'm glad it all ended well for you. Good luck in your new career as an emergency response ambulance driver

[@markshillinglaw3003]

Thanks for all you do 👍👍

[@sorrentoism]

Thank you Mark, I'm only a trainer, the guys that do the real job are amazing.

[@scottculley5799]

these videos make more sense, the more i watch them it all flows soooo well

[@sorrentoism]

Thanks Scott, I'm really pleased it's helping you.

[@nasa1985]

No shit Sherlock.

[@ChrisHills-bf5rj]

This is a great help, Many thanks.

[@slackythe2nd]

Great instruction as ever Woody! 😁

[@sorrentoism]

Cheers Ben.

[@bennorman8544]

Doing my Cerad course with Keith and this is really helpful thank you

[@sorrentoism]

Big day today Ben first day on blues

[@TheWendable]

I never cut lanes and its uncomfortably weird being a passenger with the lane cutting. Every one should watch this, pedestrians included. You’re so careful even considerate in choosing the perfect time to pop the siren on, so you don’t startle people. TY

[@sorrentoism]

Thanks for your nice comment Wendy

[@user-ig1xo3om2x]

You talk about using hatched areas to increase clearances (and/or extend vision). Around where I live in the West of Scotland this is a bad idea for 3 main reasons:-
1) Loose gravel in the hatched areas
2) They're painted high enough above the road surface to cause drumming through tyres and suspension
3) Particularly if the road's wet they can cause loss of adhesion, and quite possibly increase braking distances.

[@mikedinni6318]

Please do more of these videos

[@sorrentoism]

Hi Mike I've been off sick for 7 months and just started back again I will do some more

[@mikedinni6318]

@@sorrentoism can't wait.
Just an observation though, sometimes you approach things so slowly that you actually confuse other motorists. Or you sit so far back from them when trying to overtake, I think it confuses some people. Is this just for training, or do you teach that approach as a permanent thing?

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

Hi Keith, great videos. Can you just confirm for me the P1 > P4, i assume P1 is nearside near the kerb & P4 is offside of your side of the carriageway towards or slightly over the central markings ?
I’ve not heard the sayings before.
Thanks, Simon.

[@sorrentoism]

Hi Simon, thank you for your question. It's something I was taught and many of my colleagues use in ambulance training to instruct positioning to our students. We split the road into 6 sections
P1 nearside P2 normal driving position (centre of your lane.
P3 just nearside of the centre, P4 straddling the centre, P5 centre of offside of the road and P6 near to the offside kerb. Hope that all makes sense Si.

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

@@sorrentoism Thanks Keith, makes sense. I live on a Main Rd and we often get Ambos in, what you would call, P6 passing stationary traffic. It’s a bit sad but I always, in my head, sign that Eminem song that goes “ round the outside, round the outside “ 🤣

[@sorrentoism]

Generally the P6 position is used when passing either a larger vehicle like a bus or passing a junction on the nearside. P6 gives us more vision and moves us away from danger zones.

[@Mike_5]

The Moped rider is going to meet their Met Police colleague PC Bonnet very soon as the BMW 530D area car arrives and causes them to stop

[@slautoengineering]

Interesting you mentioned a couple of times that your maximum allowed speed is only 20mph above the posted speed limit, is this still the case for your service/area? It was implemented where I am but then scrapped as some roads (30's and 40's) were deemed suitable for a higher speed than 20 above providing, of course, it was justifiable.

[@sorrentoism]

Hi Si, thank you for your comment. The speed exemption is variable as it depends what trust you work for. The last course for LAS I was on, the limit was 15 mph over the red posted signs, nsl roads were 20 above. East of England is where I do a lot of my work is 20 above (10 above in a 20 zone)
SWAST has a speed exemption of 50% . So it really does depend who I'm working for and what guidance they give

[@livestream3946]

@@sorrentoism none of them have a speed exemption x amount over the limit. They may have a policy but the law is you either have a S87 RTR exemption or you don’t. If you do you can exceed by any amount as long as your driving is still that of a safe and competent driver.

[@sorrentoism]

Yes, I'm fully aware of that, thank you. We train to trust policy if that makes it more clearer for anyone.

[@robaviation.7904]

Nicee driving! Which make ambulance is this?

[@sorrentoism]

Hi, thank you, this is a Renault traffic used for training and also as a HDU vehicle.