WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

Hi Guys,

I noticed an ambulance travelling down Guildford Road going 'Priority', however it just had its sirens on and no red/blues what so ever. Can they do that?

I know certain turn out vehicles can have the lights and sirens independant of each other, however I didn't think it would be wise to run the sirens without the lights. There were a few confused people at the lights as they didn't know where the emergency vehicle was coming from.

Just curious about the SOP if anyone knows, not having a whinge at all.

Cheers- Yohan =)

I had that once as well a few years ago.

No idea if they can run separate, highly doubt it would be SOP to do it, my feeling is either a fault or wrong button.

Come to think of it I've seen a Police van do it (at night!) as well.

The Road Traffic Code 2000, regulation 281 states

281 . Exemption for drivers of emergency vehicles (other)

A provision of these regulations does not apply to the driver of an emergency vehicle that is not being used for official duties by a police officer if —
(a) in the circumstances —
(i) the driver is taking reasonable care; and
(ii) it is reasonable that the provision should not apply;
and
(b) the vehicle is a motor vehicle that is moving and the vehicle is displaying a blue or red flashing light or sounding an alarm.

The last statement (b) covers it clearly as being ok. IMHO it would be preferable to have both lights and sirens in operation.

I've seen that Road Traffic Act and have had to read it a few times for the BFB, however does anyone know about SJA's SOP?

You're probably right, either hit the wrong button or some sort of fault.

SJA say you cant run the siren with out the lights.

That being said, i know of a few instances where sirens have been stuck on....

In the old push button days you can operate them independantly. Don't know about when they have a touch screen. Dare say they have an electrical fault or didn't realise the disco lights weren't on.

Wouldn't be SOP to have sirens only.

On our trucks sirens can't be activated unless discos are on.

I dont know about the new Ambicad system.

In the old fords there was a P1 button

In some of the BFS vehicles they have a controller that allows you to turn on sirens LED and strobes/rotators all independantly, so you can run a siren without the lights on. but at the same time, if there was a fuse blown on the lighting circut, chances are the siren/lights LED indicator would be on, but the lights themselfs would not have been on.

Iv seen alot of ambulances going P1 with lights on but no sirens, is this mentioned in the SOP?

nra555 wrote:In some of the BFS vehicles they have a controller that allows you to turn on sirens LED and strobes/rotators all independantly...

In no BFS vehicle i know of can you activate the siren without the warning lights.

auntys_eyes wrote:

nra555 wrote:In some of the BFS vehicles they have a controller that allows you to turn on sirens LED and strobes/rotators all independantly...

In no BFS vehicle i know of can you activate the siren without the warning lights.

some of the vehicles iv been in have different controllers to the green/yellow/red buttons in the LTs and other appliances.
the ICVs use other controllers too.

Ambulances can go lights without sirens - mostly during the evenings so as to not wake people. The exception to this, is when they approach any sort of intersection etc.

I've been on a few P1's with SJA as a vollie, and from the Pinjarra area - at nights, not always sirens blaring, unless we encounter traffic or approaching an intersection.

G

As G has outlined Ambulances can go P1 with out sirens, here are some other reasons.

Low traffic levels where you dont need to be heard, open roads, un congested freeways, quiet back streets
Night time
Where using the sirens may impact the reassurance of the patient or family
I've also turned them off when passing through un-contested construction sites for the sake of the workers ears

A big one, Going through the Norhtbridge Tunnel, When the tunnel was 1st built, SJA found out the hard way, there were 3 workers in the tunnel when a ambulance when through on P1, and they all ended up with burst ears.

The issue isn't running with lights only thought, its running with siren only.

And I've been in the tunnel with SJA going P1 with siren, loud but not ear breaking.

All police and FRS vehicles have the ability too run lights and sirens independently as well... It isn't a difficult mistake to make... Not the first time it has happened and definitely won't be the last... At the end of the day it's not a big deal...

singkenten wrote:All police and FRS vehicles have the ability too run lights and sirens independently as well... It isn't a difficult mistake to make... Not the first time it has happened and definitely won't be the last... At the end of the day it's not a big deal...

All FRS vehicles I have seen have only three settings - off, lights only or lights and siren.