Driving north on the A34 this morning, doing 70 - 80 mph where possible. An Astra-type van appeared from no-where and sat about 6 inches from my bumper. At first I thought it was police as I saw the familiar neon markings on the bonnet. However, no lights, siren etc. and the word "Medical" in small mirror writing across the bonnet.
I have to say I was pretty shocked by his driving. Very fast and aggressive. I think he must have undertook at high speed to appear behind me so quickly. He undertook me and flew off at very high speed after a mile or so. The words "Urgent Medical" were written on the back door of the van, but in stylised sign writing which leads me to believe that this was some kind of private courier. Could this be right?
I wondered what the legal status of these vans are. I don't believe that anyone has the right to drive in this manner on our roads, even with flashing blue lights. If it was "urgent" and "medical" wouldn't it have at least flashing lights (green, blue or orange - anything to get attention), a police escort or something similar?
This was the first van like this that I have seen, and the only thing that sticks in my mind is the truly dangerous driving. I probably didn't pull over as soon as I could of, but I was worried that if I moved from my lane or touched the brakes to pull into a gap he would have hit me. He was that close. Definitely the worst bit of driving I have seen in a long while. This section of the A34 is stop-start at the best of times and I don't believe he could have stopped without hitting me if the traffic ahead had slowed suddenly.
Anyone know of who this company might be? I would like to enquire if they had an urgent job Oxford-bound on the A34 this morning - and if they made it!!
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Lewis Day do a lot of this stuff in the London area. Their vans are, I think, Transit Couriers and are equipped with blue lights.
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Do blue lights give them equal status to police/abulance service, if blue lights confir any status that is? Would they be able to speed and go through red lights? Also, would they be trained in any way?
Still a bit miffed by my experience this morning - could have quite easily ended up with a surplus of donor spares in the Oxford region. I would hate to think he was on commision.
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I can fully understand the poor driving strategy....
They are probably delivering organs for urgent transplants. To get where they are going as quickly as possible is paramount. If they do have an accident and kill themselves they then turn into a donor which increases availablity on the donor register.
I call that good customer service beyond the call of duty.
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Section 87 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 stipulates that a speed limit shall not apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of a vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.
You may well remember last year or early this year the hoo hah when the chap was reported for speeding whilst carrying a transplant organ.Eventually the case was dropped.
As a result of this The Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament will contain a clause and expand this exemption to include "for other prescribed purposes in such circumstances as may be prescribed (new Reg required to define what these are)or used for training purposes."
Outside training then vehicle will have to be driven by a person who has been trained in driving vehicles at high speed.
The Bill is at yet before Parliament and has yet to receive Royal Assent.
Doubtful the Medivan brigade can claim this exemption as yet.
dvd
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Thanks for the clarification DVD.
I didn't think that the word "Medical" across the bonnet of a van would exempt the driver from all traffic regulations and provide magical protection from all danger. Maybe no-one has told the driver yet - which is quite frightening!!
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See my thread......
>>
Erm...what thread?
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Sorry, wrong terminology I meant post.
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> They are probably delivering organs for urgent transplants.
I dont think so. If something was that urgent the NHS would use an ambulance, helicopter or police car. I would be VERY surprised if any private company was allowed to use blue lights for this sort of thing.
Medical supplies covers a multitude of items. What you saw was probably a multidrop delivery driver trying to make as many deliveries as possible in one day.
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If something was that urgent the NHS would use an ambulance, helicopter or police car. I would be VERY surprised if any private company was allowed to use blue lights for this sort of thing. Medical supplies covers a multitude of items. What you saw was probably a multidrop delivery driver trying to make as many deliveries as possible in one day.
The Lewis Day vehicles in London certainly have blue lights, don't know about sirens. I was very surprised the first time I saw one. Company also run some MPV's as ambulances, presumably out patient etc pick ups.
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I was passed the other day by a couple of Astra hatchbacks, marked 'Ambulance' travelling a few minutes apart, North on the M6 in Staffs. They looked just like Police cars, but with even more lights - as well as full roof bar lights, strobe lights behind the grille, they also had *very cool* blue strobe lights built into the backs of the door mirrors. They had flashing headlights and sirens. They were being driven 'firmly' but it was staggering to see how long it took most drivers to see them!!!
Each one just had a driver, and I assumed that they were probably delivering organs for transplant (but I could be completley wrong).
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Only a few years ago these runs were the job of the police force.
There is quite a well known piece of footage where two police response vehicles are involved in running a heart IIRC across London in the space of half an hour. I've seen it twice on the box. If it took any longer the recipient patient would have just been allowed to die. as it was they left minutes to spare. The transplant patient was interviewed at the end, expressing her gratitude to the whole logistical operation and all those involved.
The reason two cars were in convoy was in case one broke down or had an accident.
It's good to hear that the police are being freed up for other duties in favour of drivers who presumably are trained specifically for this job.
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But the point was that this was a plain white astra van with no lights or sirens present, and the word "Medical" in small letters across the front. That was it. And being driven in a reckless and illegal way. For all I know the guy was on his way to work.
I can understand having vans specifically kitted out with lights/sirens and freeing up police to do what they do best - issue fixed penalties and the like ;o) - but this was just plain shocking.
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