Livid with police tonight

abigail621 said:
when i was ill and taken into hospital by ambulance from yard they switched everything off before pulling up not to scare the horses
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If you need to request any of the emergency services to attend a situation where horses are present (such as above), explain the situation at the time of placing the call and ask for a 'silent approach'.

Have been in situations a couple of time whilst out exercising on P2Pers and found someone/seen accident and had to make a 999 call; in each instance those attending were fab.
 
I used to live in an area notorious for car chases & me & my boy would regulary encounter police vehicles travelling at speeds with the siren blaring. Luckily you could hear the siren coming from quite a way away so my boy wasnt fussed at all & soon got used to it, was good experience for him I think as he is now not sound spooky at all, put a plastic bag in front of him though & he becomes a mess lol!!
 
To say i am disgusted at some of the responses on this thread is an understatement.
Yes ok the staff in the emergency services did choose to do that job, but hell would most of you cope with a day in their shoes i know i would not, they do the most wonderful job and we all rely on them at some point in our lives.
How anyone would think of putting in a complaint because their horse spooked is wrong in my eyes, do you also take the registation of every car that speeds past you or every bus/lorry that lets off their air brakes, no the emergency services are just to much of an easy target.
I hope none of you ever fall off you horse or encounter a driver with road rage and need these services to come and help you because god forbid another 10 riders might be out the same day and all expect the emergency servies that are on the way to help you or give you pain relief to stop and wait while their precious horse decides to let the vehicle past.
My god wake up and get in the real world, every ohter road user does not have to fit in around us horse riders we have to fit in with all the other road users, and we wonder why horse riders have a stuck up reputation after reading some of the replies on this thread i am starting to believe it
 
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Trolt said:
Have nothing useful to add that I haven't already said - but I really wanted to second ^^ that post. Really well said.



My dads latest RTA was a guy who got run over by an arctic. The elderly gentlemen couldn't be ID'd facially because of the tyre mark running across his face. They had to retrieve his brain from the other side of the road as it had literally exploded out. Not to mention calming down and supporting everyone who had witnessed the incident.

But to quote Spudlet: hey, he got paid for it, so that's ok then!?
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I don't think anyone would dispute that the work the emergency services have to do is difficult and often horrific and maybe they do not get paid as well as they should but I would also say that when people CHOOSE to work in the emergency services, whether as a police officer, a nurse, a paramedic, firefighter it is made pretty clear what type of jobs you're going to be involved in and people do have training before they can work in the services. It's not like they just fall into it like many office workers (including me) do - it is generally a chosen career path as they want to help people. If they're not happy doing it then like any job they could quit.

I moaned about the job I worked in - what I was expected to do for no thanks and little reward. What did I do? I quit!

Anyway, that's off topic a little - I do think emergency services should abide by the rules of the road as it were as we're all expected to do but I appreciate it isn't possible to forsee everything that may be up ahead (although they do receive advanced driver training). I guess in a case like this anyone would be shocked as you'd immediately think "what if" but actually once you sat down and thought about it you may then think "well, nothing DID happen" and it's not a common occurrence. Myself, I probably wouldn't complain but just see it as one of those things that you have to deal with and I'd be thankful nothing did happen.
 
I had a fire engine steam past me (opposite side, so coming towards me) on the other side of the road on blind bend while I was out riding, I thought I was going to die, blue lights but no siren, so didn't even know they were coming, soon as it came round the bend I waived them down in shock horror and they completely ignored, in fact she put her foot down even more when she sailed it round the corner in a 30mph zone, I was spitting feathers.


Fair enough get to where your going when in an emergency, yes exceed the speed limits but pity sake don't cause an accident or death getting there, you still need to use your common sense and drive carefully!
 
Kenzo said:
I had a fire engine steam past me (opposite side, so coming towards me) on the other side of the road on blind bend while I was out riding, I thought I was going to die, blue lights but no siren, so didn't even know they were coming, soon as it came round the bend I waived them down in shock horror and they completely ignored, in fact she put her foot down even more when she sailed it round the corner in a 30mph zone, I was spitting feathers.


Fair enough get to where your going when in an emergency, yes exceed the speed limits but pity sake don't cause an accident or death getting there, you still need to use your common sense and drive carefully!
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Given how heavy a fire engine is, if they braked on a corner they most certainly would have flattened you! You need to keep power on in any vehicle when you corner or you will loose control :o

I doubt it was deliberate, I'm sure they were driving with care and common sense, and a need to get there ASAP.....the rules followed are 20mph over the speed limit is justified if on an emergency call
 
Definately report. Police obviously have to get wherever they're going quickly but they cant cause another accident along the way. I was impressed last weekend when I was out with the trailer as a fire engine approached with sirens going etc. but as soon as they saw we had a horse trailer they turned them off immediately until they'd passed.
 
I my mind, if you are willing to take a horse on the road you should be capable of doing so safely. Police use sirens and warning lights to alert other road users of there presence, what do you think would have happened if the police vehicle had been approaching at the alleged speed without lights or sirens - would this be better or worse?

Think about it......
 
JoG said:
Given how heavy a fire engine is, if they braked on a corner they most certainly would have flattened you! You need to keep power on in any vehicle when you corner or you will loose control :o

I doubt it was deliberate, I'm sure they were driving with care and common sense, and a need to get there ASAP.....the rules followed are 20mph over the speed limit is justified if on an emergency call
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I can see your point but should I have been in a car they would of hit me because they came over the lines or a pedestrian their side (no path) they may of ran them over too, my beef with my situation is, with no siren going how would anyone of known they were about to fly round a blind bend and coming through the village.
 
I also think people need to stop and think here...plenty of comments about the police 'never being around and doing p all'...

Are you not aware of the current cuts being put in place by the government? Our force is loosing quite a few officers...and the paperwork they have to do is immense...

Cut them some slack for goodness sake, they are stretched to the limit through no fault of their own.
 
DragonSlayer said:
I also think people need to stop and think here...plenty of comments about the police 'never being around and doing p all'...

Are you not aware of the current cuts being put in place by the government? Our force is loosing quite a few officers...and the paperwork they have to do is immense...

Cut them some slack for goodness sake, they are stretched to the limit through no fault of their own.
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As you quoted me I'd like to say my RTA was almost 4 years ago now, & I've lived in the same area for almost 21 years & the police presence has always been a joke in the local town.. you also have to laugh when a cop in my uni town whilst witnessing the aftermath of a brawl said to one of the guys involved "well why don't you just go hit him & sort it out?" hmm let me think because its actually illegal! :rolleyes:
 
Kenzo said:
my beef with my situation is, with no siren going how would anyone of known they were about to fly round a blind bend and coming through the village.
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???????? Hang on a minute, have I missed something here???????????
The original OP was complaining about sirens flying past, but you're complaining the emergency services were flying past "with no sirens"....????????
Please tell me, have I lost the plot, is it my age or is this the silliest post ever......:)
Seems "they" can't win, whatever they do....glad I'm not in their shoes.
 
jokadoka said:
???????? Hang on a minute, have I missed something here???????????
The original OP was complaining about sirens flying past, but you're complaining the emergency services were flying past "with no sirens"....????????
Please tell me, have I lost the plot, is it my age or is this the silliest post ever......:)
Seems "they" can't win, whatever they do....glad I'm not in their shoes.
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Yep and no your not going mad. :)

I thought they were supposed have sirens on when being called to an emergency to alert other road users they are coming, that was just my reason for being annoyed in my situation, I'm not commenting on the OP's as I wasn't there.

I suppose unless your in that the situation, it's hard to judge if someone is over reacting or being unreasonable under the circumstances.
 
Perhaps with the government spending cuts we can return to the days of yore, when our brave lads in blue were jolly happy with a single blue flashing light and a bell.
All this NYPD Blue behaviour is totally unnecessary.
 
Oh dear me this thread has really put the cat amongst the pigeons!!! Why is there always the 11 o clock jury? Leave the emergency services alone for goodness sake, you never know when you may need them, and those complaining wouldn't half winge if their loved one died because a vehicle on a blue light run was held up! I work for the Police and can see both sides of the argument. OMG wouldn't it be great if we all lived in a perfect world!! Pics are damned if they do and damned if they don't, whatever they do, there will always be a complaint!!
 
JoG said:
I'm arrogant because I'm sticking up for my colleagues in the emergency services???

Our jobs are pretty thankless at the best of times, it is SO easy for people to see blame with an emergency service and it is always in the press. There is little real thanks for what we do. I have in no way indicated that I would do anything BUT drive safely, i have scraped enough people - or parts of people - of the roads to know full well what the risks are.

I have tried to point out that there are instances when ONE ROAD USER - a horse - can not be given 100% right of way, for the safety of everyone. An emergency driver will turn lights off WHEN SAFE TO DO SO which may not be instantly, especially on a poor visibility road. Likewise speed can be adjusted if it's safe, if people don't wear HI-Viz they don't get seen in time and so these things happen.

Not all sirens are pedal controlled - police and ambulances are horn controlled, you hit the horn once to switch them on or change the tone of the siren and twice for off. Sometimes you are out on the timing and the siren will change instead of go off.

But the main thing i want to say is - people who work for the Emergency Services are human, they make mistakes, they're not perfect, why do they have to be given such a hard time?????
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emergency medical dispatcher here. I need a "like" button for this post ;)
 
Kenzo said:
Yep and no your not going mad. :)

I thought they were supposed have sirens on when being called to an emergency to alert other road users they are coming, that was just my reason for being annoyed in my situation, I'm not commenting on the OP's as I wasn't there.

I suppose unless your in that the situation, it's hard to judge if someone is over reacting or being unreasonable under the circumstances.
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Phew, I'm glad I'm not going mad :)
 
Fellewell said:
Perhaps with the government spending cuts we can return to the days of yore, when our brave lads in blue were jolly happy with a single blue flashing light and a bell.
All this NYPD Blue behaviour is totally unnecessary.
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because drivers still don't move over?? I had a ambulance RRV come up behind me, blue lights and sirens, spotted it, pulled right over. Car in front of me - totally oblivious and blocking the road
 
I don't work for the ES or know anyone who does.

However if I've been stabbed and I'm laid out bleeding to death I hope the police/paramedics don't fanny around switching lights and sirens on and off/slow down for horses whilst I'm dieing...
 
jenki13 said:
With the responses say my OH/Dad/friend had to see this the other day. I am sorry but that is the job they chose, just like the soldier who may see their mates blown to pieces, or the doctors who treat the patients in hospital with horrific burns etc. Its sad & admirable but at the end of the day It is their job. QUOTE]

The reason I said about what my OH sees wasn't to gain any sympathy on his behalf - as you say it's a path he chose and he deals with it. The point I was making was that BECAUSE he sees this sort of thing, he is far more aware of the dangers of driving, particularly at speed (he says excess speed causes the vast majority of accidents he goes to) and is therefore the last person to put anyone at risk unnecessarily. Sometimes he HAS to drive quickly but this doesn't mean he drives irresponsibly.

Nobody's perfect and I'm sure that some mistakes are made, but they have to make split-second decisions while travelling at high speed - I'm sure that in those circumstances we wouldn't get it right every time either.
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annagain said:
jenki13 said:
Nobody's perfect and I'm sure that some mistakes are made, but they have to make split-second decisions while travelling at high speed - I'm sure that in those circumstances we wouldn't get it right every time either.
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ditto this ^^^^

Noone has any idea whats going through someones mind when responding to a 999 call, whether it police, ambulance or firefighter so until they do i dont see how anyone can comment on what they should or shouldnt have done.
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If the officers were driving inappropriatly then complaining may help adjust their driving behaviour. If it was Ok for the circumstance, then no harm done.

no one is perfect.
 
JoG said:
Yes it would - it takes about 15seconds for the lights to cycle to off, I would have to take a hand off the steering wheel to turn them off, vehicles who may ahve pulled over would then pull out again, I may be in a road position that is dangerous to not have lights on, when the lights come back on the road users who had stopped, then started, then stopped again will not have their full attention on the road and other road users...

And to be perfectly blunt, if you can't control your horse when there is a flashy light get off the road and stop putting yourself, your horse and other road users at risk of injury!!!
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Hurrah for common sense.

I tell you i've never been so glad to see the flashing ambulance that picked me up off the floor a month ago and at the time I was less concerned that my horse would go mad at lights and sirens than me still being alive. Thankfully she just blinked at them and yes causing another accident is never good but at that speed you have very little chance to react and braking hard would cause more noise and loss of control.
 
Everytime you leave the comparitive safety of your private field/yard on horseback you should anticipate the unexpected. Whether that be a speedy cyclist, loose dogs, the irate mum trying to soothe a yound baby in a pram, hot air balloons, low flying jets, helicopters, plastic bags, a flower that last week was just a bulb or a even a freakin UFO - these things happen. The emergency services don't use their blues and twos for the fun of it. No harm done, your horse didn't have a heart attack, you didn't have an heart attack but some other poor sod might have done.
 
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