aussieemt1980
Forum Lieutenant
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I am going to add my 10 cents worth, having once been a fire vollie and a rescue vollie...
In Australia, no one is permitted to fit l/s to their own private vehicles. Period. No ifs, buts and what ifs.
Government emergency services vehicles, yes.
Private emergency services require authority from the relevant government department (such as where I work), and even then, l/s are used under extreme circumstances.
As a fire/rescue vollie, I did not find not having lights and sirens got me to the shed any quicker. I still got the call in the rescue / fire truck at the same time as everyone else: - I was in the truck.
A point of interest, I discussed this with my partner the other day, and he told me of a story where 2 trucks responded to one call, the first truck sped off down the road, l/s blazing, he went in the 2nd truck, no sirens and still got to the scene before the first truck.
It appears that some people get a certain physiological effect from driving a truck with lights and sirens. I know I used to, who wouldn't?
There was a rumour that the local volunteer rural fire service were going to allow their volunteers to use red/blue lights in private vehicles, but it was just that, a rumour, and a volunteer who did so not only got into s**t from his service, but also had words with the local police station about it.
If everyone has l/s on their private vehicles, who is going to take notice in a real emergency, especially if everyone used them for going to the shops?
I do have a red rotator in the car, that is magnetic mount and plugs into the lighter socket in the car, but it is only used if the car is stopped on the road assisting at a car accident when I am first on scene. Otherwise, hazards do the job nicely.
I don't see the need to fit l/s to private vehicles, I firmly believe it is there to overinflate an ego to compensate for other short comings, but if they agency allows it, there must be an identified need.
In Australia, no one is permitted to fit l/s to their own private vehicles. Period. No ifs, buts and what ifs.
Government emergency services vehicles, yes.
Private emergency services require authority from the relevant government department (such as where I work), and even then, l/s are used under extreme circumstances.
As a fire/rescue vollie, I did not find not having lights and sirens got me to the shed any quicker. I still got the call in the rescue / fire truck at the same time as everyone else: - I was in the truck.
A point of interest, I discussed this with my partner the other day, and he told me of a story where 2 trucks responded to one call, the first truck sped off down the road, l/s blazing, he went in the 2nd truck, no sirens and still got to the scene before the first truck.
It appears that some people get a certain physiological effect from driving a truck with lights and sirens. I know I used to, who wouldn't?
There was a rumour that the local volunteer rural fire service were going to allow their volunteers to use red/blue lights in private vehicles, but it was just that, a rumour, and a volunteer who did so not only got into s**t from his service, but also had words with the local police station about it.
If everyone has l/s on their private vehicles, who is going to take notice in a real emergency, especially if everyone used them for going to the shops?
I do have a red rotator in the car, that is magnetic mount and plugs into the lighter socket in the car, but it is only used if the car is stopped on the road assisting at a car accident when I am first on scene. Otherwise, hazards do the job nicely.
I don't see the need to fit l/s to private vehicles, I firmly believe it is there to overinflate an ego to compensate for other short comings, but if they agency allows it, there must be an identified need.
