29-12-16, 11:28 AM
BB
"exempt" until the accident then the Brigade and the Union say "sorry but your on your own"
its a fine line for emergency drivers as they put their jobs on the line each time they proceed to a job, there doesn't seem to be an appetite by the courts to punish as I think there'd be a mass throwing in of licences across all emergency services if it happened. Having said that, I recall a fire engine a few years back passing a herd of cows with the two tones on (idiotic driver should've used a bit of nous and killed them for a few minutes) and it made the cows stampede which in turn seriously injured or killed the farmer. (the OIC also gets done by the brigade as ultimately he is in charge of the appliance....he can order a driver to slow down but cannot order a driver to drive faster)
The CPS were looking to do the appliance driver....I do not know the outcome of the case but one has to be accountable for ones actions.
I'm all for emergency drivers doing whats needed but must confess if one of my family was injured or killed then I'd be looking into it.
as for the jumping red lights by Joe public......the case I mentioned was a car at a red light with a camera to stop red light jumpers. The lead car just pulled through and to the side to allow an ambo or fire engine through and got flashed. Judge said he had every sympathy with Joe but his hands were tied in law and he had to do the driver. It made the National papers
"exempt" until the accident then the Brigade and the Union say "sorry but your on your own"
its a fine line for emergency drivers as they put their jobs on the line each time they proceed to a job, there doesn't seem to be an appetite by the courts to punish as I think there'd be a mass throwing in of licences across all emergency services if it happened. Having said that, I recall a fire engine a few years back passing a herd of cows with the two tones on (idiotic driver should've used a bit of nous and killed them for a few minutes) and it made the cows stampede which in turn seriously injured or killed the farmer. (the OIC also gets done by the brigade as ultimately he is in charge of the appliance....he can order a driver to slow down but cannot order a driver to drive faster)
The CPS were looking to do the appliance driver....I do not know the outcome of the case but one has to be accountable for ones actions.
I'm all for emergency drivers doing whats needed but must confess if one of my family was injured or killed then I'd be looking into it.
as for the jumping red lights by Joe public......the case I mentioned was a car at a red light with a camera to stop red light jumpers. The lead car just pulled through and to the side to allow an ambo or fire engine through and got flashed. Judge said he had every sympathy with Joe but his hands were tied in law and he had to do the driver. It made the National papers
fire never sleeps