exam 3 mod 12

Passive Visual Warnings

• Modern emergency vehicles have retro-reflective high contrast colour passive visual warnings, that reflect light from car headlights.
• Ambulances are usually painted yellow to comply with the CEN 1789:2007 European Union Standard for ambulances and medical transportation vehicles (the UK equivalent is BS EN 1789:2007).
• The word "ambulance" is depicted in mirror image on the front of the vehicle using retro-reflective material. This helps drivers in front of the approaching ambulance identify it in their mirrors.
• Emergency vehicles have "checkerboard" or "Battenberg markings" along the length of the vehicle.
• Yellow and green are reserved for the ambulance service, blue and yellow for police, red and yellow for the fire and rescue service and black and yellow for Highways England.

Active Visual Warnings

• Active visual warnings commonly include flashing blue lights, white and blue strobes, and LEDs fitted to the roof, front, sides, and rear.
• Flashing headlights can be used during daylight hours.
• Emergency warning lights must have 360° visibility around the vehicle to be BS EN 1789 compliant.
• Blue flashing lights are only permitted for services specifically defined in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended by the Deregulation Act 2015.
• Most modern emergency vehicles have the facility to disable or have an inbuilt feature that prevents this type of warning light from being activated at night.
• Some airport-serving ambulances have yellow or amber airport beacons fitted. These are only to be used when the vehicle is deployed at the airport's 'airside'.

Audible Warnings

• Most modern ambulances are fitted with electronic sirens to alert people to the presence of the ambulance before they can see it.
• Sirens can usually produce a range of different noises/tones that can be useful in different situations. For example:
  • "Wail" sound is a long up and down variation with an unbroken tone. This is best when traveling on a long stretch of road or in open areas.
• The nature of sirens can be intimidating, so they must be used intelligently in stationary traffic as they could force other vehicles to commit to a potentially dangerous maneuver.
• Deactivation of audible and visual warning equipment should be considered when in standing traffic as it can be intimidating.

Convoy Driving

• When a solo-response driver remains with the patient en route to the hospital, an ambulance crew member may be asked to drive the solo-response vehicle (SRV) to the receiving hospital.
• The SRV must not utilize EWE and must adhere to all road traffic regulations.
• The SRV must not act as an escort to the ambulance.

Siren Use

• Blue flashing lights and sirens influence the behaviour of other road users.
• They do not give any legal entitlement to claim precedence where it is unsafe.
• The public has the right to receive the warning that the equipment is designed to give.
• If you believe that the vehicle in front may not have heard the siren, changing the siren tone may gain their attention.
• Refrain from repeatedly flicking between the siren tones as this may be perceived as aggressive or intimidating.

This quiz explores the standards and visual warnings associated with modern emergency vehicles, focusing on both passive and active warnings. You will learn about the colour schemes, retro-reflective materials, and unique markings used by ambulances, police, and fire services. Test your knowledge on how these visual indicators enhance the visibility and effectiveness of emergency responses.