Topic
Topic ID 6131
25/08/2011 by SallyB
Sirens after midnight
No offence but there are a few sirens going off in Bengeo right now. It's nearly twenty past midnight. There can't be much traffic to get out of the way. Just interested in the rules on siren usage after midnight. No criticism (don't know much about police car law!) [:)]
Replies
Reply ID 82805
25/08/2011 by Joe
Well there's this :
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2007-03-20c.128398.h
"Regulation 99 allows use of a siren only to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which a vehicle is being used, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the road."
I can't see that at that time there would be a lot of other that users that would need to be warned of the presence of the emergency vehicle.
Also interestingly enough it doesn't say anything about having to get out of the way [;)]
Oh just wanted to add, you can always pop up to Bengeo Street this evening and as the local plod [;)]
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2007-03-20c.128398.h
Reply ID 82846
26/08/2011 by carlos fandango
As I understand it there is no legal obligation to get out of the way of a blue flashing light unlike some other counties in Europe.
Reply ID 82847
26/08/2011 by buzz
quote:
Originally posted by carlos fandango
As I understand it there is no legal obligation to get out of the way of a blue flashing light unlike some other counties in Europe.
That is correct. However, dependent upon the circumstances, someone who deliberately fails to allow a police car through could be considered to have committed the offence of "obstructing a Police Officer in the execution of his duty"
Reply ID 82850
26/08/2011 by CSP
If anybody had held up the paramedic heading for my house in his fast response unit a few weeks ago I would be dead.
Reply ID 82856
26/08/2011 by carlos fandango
well what the law says and what is common sense are two completely separate things.
Reply ID 82920
31/08/2011 by newgirl
I live quite near to the town centre and this late night siren lark has definitely got worse. [V]
Reply ID 82923
31/08/2011 by buzz
As far as I am aware,in the case of Police use, sirens can only be used if the incident has been assigned an "Immediate" response status by the Control Room, but there is no hard and fast rule laid down about the use of sirens late at night. At one time it was definitely considered infra dig to use them unless absolutely necessary. There are some occasions when they most certainly should not be used, ie. a report of "suspects on premises" ie a burglary in progress. Whilst in such circumstances it is important to get to the incident quickly and safely, it is also important not to warn the perpetrators of the impending arrival of police. Where a report has been received of someone's life in danger, or a report of a serious RTA then their use could be justified. As for the majority of late night calls, I would suspect they are largely to reports of a disturbance. There could be two schools of thought as to the use of sirens in those circumstances. One might say that the sound of the approaching police would help to quell the disturbance. A cynic might suggest that on hearing the sirens the offenders would disperse, and the Police would therefore not have to do anything. Would be interested to hear what police have to say in relation to this. Bear in mind, however, that not all late night sirens may be attributable to police. As far as I can recall, the Fire Brigade would justify such use by saying that someone trapped in a burning building may be encouraged to hold on for a few minutes knowing that help was on the way.
Reply ID 82960
01/09/2011 by SallyB
Thank you buzz. And thank you especially for highlighting that it might not just be police cars, but other emergency services too - I have no idea why I assumed it was the police. Your explanation makes perfect sense. Hopefully nobody was in serious danger the night I made the OP.
8 replies