4 Comments

1. 
   Kasey10:17am Tuesday 28th February 2012 ESTReport Abuse

   No they definitely should not! Imagine the up roar if people found out that ambo's weren't getting to the scene as qucikly as they could. Although, we should remain aware of what the repercussions of this may be. Teenage kids or con artists, may attempt to use this excuse for their acts of speeding, believing that it is their right to speed if they was an 'emergency'. Something to be vigilant of

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2. 
   Sandy03:22pm Sunday 19th February 2012 ESTReport Abuse

   Re Ambos getting fined...It may start off as a code 2 call out but things can change so quickly...They do a totally wonderful job.

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3. 
   Kristie10:06am Friday 17th February 2012 ESTReport Abuse

   The facts of this issue have been miscommunicated by the media. I have worked in an ambulance and in ambulance administration - so I have dealt with speeding fines from both sides. When an ambulance is travelling 'Code 1' they are responding to an immeadiately life threatening emergency and are exempt from speeding fines and normal road rules - they have lights and sirens on to warn other motorists and pedestrians that they may be travelling above the normal speed limit. Therefore motorists and pedestrians can make informed decisions about their behaviour around these emergency vehicles. When an ambulance is travelling to a 'Code 2' case (urgent, but not life threatening), the vehicles do not have their lights and sirens on and are not exempt from normal road rules. Paramedics are educated in how to drive with 'urgency' without breaking the law. If ambulances are 'exempt from speeding' under code 2 conditions, therefore without their warning devices active, how are other motorists and pedestrians to know that the ambulance they are about to move in front of is going faster than the posted speed limit. The same rules of road fatalities and physics apply to an ambulance - evey K over is a killer. If an ambulance is speeding along a road way to a code 2 case and child walks onto a pedestrian crossing because it has no lights and sirens on, just like any other car, the ambulance will not be able to slow down and avoid a collision with the child. Code 2 driving is regulated by the Ambulance Act (State) and the Ambulance Driving Code (State-by-state) and has a specific purpose compared to Code 1 driving. Ambulances should not be exempt from speeding on Code 2 jobs unless there are exceptional circumstances.

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4. 
   Paulo W01:24pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 ESTReport Abuse

   No way, perhaps code 2 is something like a kid with a broken arm, well if that was my kid, i would want my kid getting pain relief a.s.a.p, so go for it ambos-go light speed!

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