Rank: Super forum user 
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I think we all agree that we have three emergency services - Police, Fire and Ambulance right?
Wrong!
Police and Fire ARE classed as emergency services the Ambulance service is only classed as an 'essential service'. Giving them the same status as Utilities providers, Gas, Electricity etc...
https://submissions.epet...ct.gov.uk/petitions/3825
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Rank: Super forum user
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Steve,
From memory, even the AA referred to themselves as the 'fourth emergency service' (based on their TV advertising a while back)!
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Rank: Forum user
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But what about Coastguards, Mines Rescue, etc?
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Rank: Super forum user
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What about a good landlord (or lady)?
After some weeks in this job a pint is a life saver!!!
Andy
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Rank: Super forum user 
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stevedm wrote:I think we all agree that we have three emergency services - Police, Fire and Ambulance right?
No. Coastguard.
There are then various supporting organisations such as mountain rescue.
I would want to see some evidence that the ambulance service is genuinely not classed as an emergency service other than a disgruntled ambulance-driver saying so in a barely-concealed rant. Who and where classes ambulances as the same as the water board?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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It's been a few years since I've read it so I'm not even going to attempt to quote it but I'll think you'll find the answer in the Civil Contingencies Act.
The only reason Police and Fire might have a different classification is the number of people their actions can affect.
Either way it has no bearing on their authority to use blues & twos.
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Rank: Forum user
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indeed Safety Smurf!
However, We as the Ambulance Service or Fire Brigade aren't deemed as important as Highways Agency Traffic Officers or the Police when it comes to rear facing flashing red lights at RTC's.
Only the Police and HATOS are allowed to use them, which is annoying as 7 /10 times were first on scene and have to protect the scene with the rear of our vehicles!!!
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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HeO2 wrote:indeed Safety Smurf!
However, We as the Ambulance Service or Fire Brigade aren't deemed as important as Highways Agency Traffic Officers or the Police when it comes to rear facing flashing red lights at RTC's.
Only the Police and HATOS are allowed to use them, which is annoying as 7 /10 times were first on scene and have to protect the scene with the rear of our vehicles!!!
Phil
Hi Phil,
I'm pretty positive that the original purpose of the reds was to 'influence' the traffic as opposed to 'warning' the traffic of an accident.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Gosh - I don't think I've seen many rear facing flashing red lights, so hadn't twigged their significance or the fact that they are limited to certain types of vehicles. Moreover, I suspect that the vast majority of drivers don't care. If we see flashing lights of any hue ahead while driving, most of us tend to be on alert and either slow down (especially if the flashing lights are blue!) or be ready to slow down.
While on the subject of emergency services, some forum users may be amused to learn that this week's edition of "Private Eye" refers to the RAF Search and Rescue Service as "Queen Elizabeth's most feared elite special forces combat unit, the RAF Search and Rescue Sheep which Have Fallen Over A Cliff Service". Joking apart, though the RAF S&R Service exists primarily to deal with incidents involving military aircraft, it provides immense support to UK civilian rescue operations including those of mountain rescue teams.
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