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Review urged as 'blue light' accident figures revealed

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Published Date: 10 March 2008
By Hilary Duncanson
NINE people have died in accidents involving emergency services vehicles in Scotland over the past five years, figures released yesterday revealed.
Statistics show that so-called "blue light" vehicles have been involved in 5,431 accidents over the same period, resulting in 55 serious injuries.

The figures, which exclude the fire service, were revealed by the transport minister, Stewart Steve
nson, in answer to a parliamentary question tabled by Margaret Smith MSP, the Liberal Democrats' justice spokeswoman.

As well as police cars and ambulances, "blue light" refers to a range of vehicles responding to emergencies, including those of the mountain rescue service.

Ms Smith has written to key figures in the justice sector, asking them to look at how the number of accidents can be cut.

She said: "The fact that emergency service vehicles are the cause of so many accidents and fatalities is extremely concerning.

"These figures indicate that we need a serious look at what can be done to reduce the number of accidents that they are involved in. I have written to both the justice secretary and the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, calling for a review of the procedures used by emergency service vehicles to look into how accidents can be minimised."





The full article contains 218 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 March 2008 11:37 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: The emergency services
 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 10/03/2008 08:45:27
Maybe it's something to do with the fact that so many police cars drive at whatever speed they want to, with impunity, even when they are not on the way to an emergency, or involved in any chases or similar.
2

Neanderthal75,

Rocky Mountains USA 10/03/2008 09:37:38
Hello All,

Ms. Smith's words clearly indicate that several things:

1. The woman is raising this issues as a political ploy, to enhance her personal ambitions.

2. The woman is NOT interested in reducing such accidents, because she raises her concerns in a data vacuum.

3. The woman is obviously daft.

Nearly 5500 accidents during the last 5 years? Great, out of how many TOTAL 'runs/calls' during that same 5 year period? Providing only a partial set of numbers gives us ZERO information about whole picture: politicians do such when they have a political axe to grind.

9 deaths over a five year period? Again, from a total of how many runs/calls AND compared to how many lives SAVED, during the same period?

Further, Ms. Smith necessarily implies that the FAULT for ALL these accidents and deaths, resides SOLELY with the Public Services Members: I see, that must mean that in EVERY one of the nearly 5500 accidents, ZERO civilians were at fault!

Wow, such deep and innovative thinking, from yet another Bureaucrat!

Guga, how about you stop with the subjective emotionalism, long enough to actually address the issue honestly, openly, and objectively?

Cheers from the Rockies
3

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 10:54:20
Sometimes, as can be seen on Police, Camera, Action and other such programs, it is necessary for the police to crash into a car in order to stop it.

Are these incidents included in the 5,431?

4

Guthrie,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 11:47:34
Apart from idiot police drivers, you also get a lot of idiot normal drivers. Last week I was driving down the A1 on Friday night. It was dark, and there was a long line of traffic moving at about 55mph, with gaps between cars. A police car with blue lights and siren appeared behind me, so I moved over to let it past as soon as I checked it was safe to do so. At this point the A1 was wide anough that you could move your car partly over the white line and let cars past without them veering over the centre line. The police car got past me and then was stuck behind the car in front of me for 4 or 5 seconds. The driver was occupying the centre of the carriageway, and appeared not to realise there was a police car with flashing blue lights behind it. Eventually, they moved over. I've seen far too many drivers act like confused rabbits when they see an emergency vehicle.
5

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 13:41:43
#5:

Everyone was lucky that the nugget didn't just brake. I am sick of seeing people just brake whenever they see blue lights or hear sirens. I've even been behind people when they've braked upon seeing a police car comeing towards them on the other side of the road---despite the fact that the vehicle had a clear path.

I think that the root cause of this the rediculous propaganda we are forced to suffer nowadays. The message being given out is that provided you are driving within the speed limit, you are safe. This has the psychological effect of lulling drivers into a false sense of security and therefore not thinking. Unfortunately, this has had the effect of seeing accident figures steadily rise since the mid-1990s, despite there being thousands of "safety cameras" around that "improve road safety".


Neanderthal, you talk a lot of sense.
6

Guthrie,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 15:15:36
I would rather put it down to the ingrained fear of persecution that people have, and also a guilty feeling whenever they see anyone of authority. The police of course are looking for anomalous behaviour, since it indicates you have something to hide. I think you assign far too much to your own persecution complex.
7

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 17:39:33
#7:

Ingrained fear of prosecution? Yes. Quite possible. Feeling of guilt? Again quite possible.

In most walks of life, there has been less and less opportunity for people to make their own minds up over the last 10 years. As people have been "encouraged" to conform and a greater percentage have gradually complied, there is a growing tendancy for those people to see those who refuse to follow the herd as mavericks, "irresponsible" or even idiots.

Those who follow the rules tend to do so to the letter---blindly and un-thinkingly (because to think for oneself is not encouraged. Nanny knows best). As we all know, rules cannot cover every situation, let alone one so complex as driving.

So what happens when a situation arises that isn't covered by the rules, such as a police car with blues and twos? As you say, there is a fear of prosecution---whether justified or not. This causes any possible process of rational thought to stop and the driver typically freezes. They then start to feel guilty that they "might" be breaking the law in some way and then some of them probably even go into fight or flight mode which clouds their judgement even more.

They then usually either do one or other thing. Either they do somthing totally illogical and stupid or more often, they hit the brakes. Hitting the brakes brings them comfort. They are moving more slowly as a result and as such (so they think) are safer.

That is where my logic comes in. I possibly haven't explained this very well but I think you'll see my point.
8

Guthrie,

Edinburgh 10/03/2008 18:33:10
Actually, I have seen no definite evidence that peoples tendency to follow the herd and conform is any greater now than it was in, say, the 1950's, or indeed the '30's, or 1830's for that matter.

However, regarding the drivers and blue lights, that is indeed probably what is happening. I think driving lessons need to be improved.
9

Neanderthal75,

Rocky Mountains USA 10/03/2008 22:28:20
Hello Guthrie,

Surely you do jest sir! You've not seen any definite evidence that people are more wont to conform today, than in decades past?

I take it that you've missed the raging debate during the last TWO DECADES, concerning Political Correctness?

There are whole pages of words and phrases which one either 'should not' or 'can not' say in public discourse; in some veins leading to actual prosecution of 'hate crimes'.

Further, on EVERY university campus today (in both Great Britain and the USA), there are entire subject matter which cannot and will not be discussed openly, honestly, fully, and without fear of retribution.

Factually speaking, there are subjects which in reality, are NEVER discussed openly; and this mind you, on a location which is SUPPOSED to ENCOURAGE debate, research, investigation, and vigorous discourse.

People in both our societies have been brow beaten by the Social Progressives, whom have used the cudgel of Political Correctness, to establish THEIR 'vision' of what 'society' 'should be.'

The result? The equivalent of Brown Shirt tactics on university campuses (campii?) by administration members, professors, campus activist groups, etc. The mantra goes "You shan't 'denigrate' this group or that group, or this nationality or that nationality, because if you do, you are a 'hater', a 'bigot', 'closed minded', 'intolerant', etc.

These tactics have the decided result of quashing open debate, honest inquiry, and the resolution of serious problems which face us all.

Cheers from the Rockies

 

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