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Original poster

Ambulance Sirens. Do they switch off automatically with ignition?

45 replies

skeemee · 03/08/2019 11:32

Unfortunately we were in an accident with an ambulance. We didn’t hear any sirens, but driver insists that his blues and twos were on. We dispute this, but hard to prove I would imagine.

After the accident, there was only silence. Would his sirens have been switched off automatically? Or is this a manual operation?

I am losing sleepless nights going over and over in my mind how this accident occurred, and I can’t believe neither me or my passenger heard the sirens coming from behind us. Possible I suppose, but it’s bothering me that there were no sirens still sounding after the accident? I am driving myself sick with worry and it’s really affecting me. Please be gentle!

OP posts:
KnifeAngel · 03/08/2019 11:41

Surely if the ambulance hit you it is their fault. It's always the driver behind who is at fault.

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 11:49

@knifeangel

Yes, that’s what I thought too... Sad
Seems it’s ok to crash into someone in front of you as long as you have the sirens on!

Unfortunately I am now having sleepless night terrors and crying for no reason. I can’t concentrate and feel so low. It’s bloody awful.

OP posts:
dawnc27 · 03/08/2019 11:50

the sirens are only on when there is traffic in the way. so a quiet street with no one in front of them, just lights on. someone in front of them then sirens would be too to alert them in case they havent seen the lights which is why you dont hear them as often in the early hours

dawnc27 · 03/08/2019 11:51

dont they have dash cams now anyway?

coconuttelegraph · 03/08/2019 11:56

How could it be your fault - have they said it is?

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 12:01

@dawnc27 Yes he had a dash cam, but intimated that it probably wasn’t working.

This post is really for my own peace of mind. How likely to not hear sirens (he said were on) before impact? They definitely weren’t on after the accident.

OP posts:
MustardScreams · 03/08/2019 12:03

Surely the ambulances are fitted with a computer system that monitors when sirens are on, speed of vehicle and if it was actually on a job?

It sounds awful op. And the driver sounds like a prize bellend. Are you taking it further?

T0getherindreams · 03/08/2019 12:05

Did he hit you from behind?

Way too much information missing.

ineedaknittedhat · 03/08/2019 12:05

Try not to be intimidated. Ambulance personnel can be notoriously arrogant, particularly the males. He will have had dashcam.

JustMe9 · 03/08/2019 12:07

Years ago a police car crashed into my friends car and in the end the police car (even though they had sirens on!) was at fault and as my friend suffered some injuries he then got a massive compensation payout! So at the end of the day regardless if the sirens were on or off its the amublance drivers fault if he crashed into you!

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 12:07

@coconuttelegraph I am just really worried that ambulance will be favoured simply because sirens were on, although AFAIC that hasn’t been proved or disproved at the moment. It is actually driving me mad worrying that I didn’t hear sirens at all!

OP posts:
roundturnandtwohalfhitches · 03/08/2019 12:13

You need to stop doubting yourself. If you didn't hear the sirens I doubt he had them on. He crashed into you. He's covering his arse. Now he says his dashcam wasn't working. Yh right. I would be raging if I were you.

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 12:14

@T0getherindreams I realise I’m leaving details out. I don’t want to be too specific tbh, as may be a bit outing.

I’m just trying to find out if he would have quickly shut off the sirens immediately after impact. Is this likely considering we were both then immobile on wrong side of road.

OP posts:
roundturnandtwohalfhitches · 03/08/2019 12:14

My friend has a private ambulance for his work. The sirens are exceptionally loud- it would be unlikely you didn't hear them if they were right behind you even if you're music in the car was turned up.

Sandybval · 03/08/2019 12:16

Did you not see it in your rear view mirror? Confused regardless, you would have known if the sirens are on, so he is probably looking out for his job.

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 12:16

@roundturnandtwohalfhitches
Yes I am doubting myself. And my passenger too! What I can categorically state is that there definitely no sirens still on after the accident. Only silence.

OP posts:
Daisychainsgetbroken · 03/08/2019 12:20

But you are allowed to drive if you are deaf. Saying they should have heard me doesn't allow you to drive into someone else. Try not to worry too much

LoafofSellotape · 03/08/2019 12:20

You would've heard the sirens but there is no way you wouldn't have seen the lights, especially right behind you Confused

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 03/08/2019 12:22

I thought they had to be very accountable when they had sirens on, which I always assumed would mean some kind of tracking system.

I doubt from what you've said that the ambulance sirens were on.

The dashcam not working doesn't half sounds convenient eh?

Even if sirens were on and dashcam proves that you didn't move out of the way, I'm certain it will still be the ambulance driver's fault. It's his responsibility to navigate roads safely, and driving into the back of you indicates clear fault on his part, unless you swerved into his way or slammed on as he overtook you safely.

I don't think that Blues and twos change any legal standing or laws of the road; it is my understanding that, for example, an ambulance going through a red light would still be to blame if they hit a car going the other way. They do it, but they do it carefully when it is clear that all traffic all around has stopped and pulled over.

I also think that if you're a decent person your instinct makes you want to pull over if you see or hear them. I'm relentlessly frustrated by drivers on dual carriageways slowing down and pulling over when there's an entire free lane for them to pass! (Mainly because in slowing down they're actually holding up the ambulance, there's a certain stretch of road near me that's near an ambulance station). It's instinctive. If they'd have been on and they were driving safely, you'd have seen/heard them and reacted.

janj2301 · 03/08/2019 12:23

Per DVLA you don't need to tell them if you are deaf except for bus/lorry drivers

AppropriateAdult · 03/08/2019 12:24

Honestly, it really sounds like he's just trying to cover his arse and intimidate you a bit. Even if he had his siren on (and you have another witness who says he didn't), it wouldn't absolve him of responsibility if he crashed into you. Think about it - having your siren on couldn't give you licence to plough down the road without regard for the traffic on it. Cars can't always get out of the way of an ambulance in time, depending on how busy the road is, how many lanes etc, and the ultimate responsibility is always with the driver to avoid an accident.

Ignore him completely and let the insurance companies sort it out.

Chloemol · 03/08/2019 12:24

He hit you from behind, it doesn’t matter if sirens are on or not. They are still subject to the Highway Code and laws of the land albeit we get out of the way if we hear sirens, but if you notice even those with sirens going mostly keep to the speed limit as it can seem ages before they get to you. They also have dash cams, and ambos are checked regularly so I don’t see how the cam can suddenly not be working. He is probably just worried it’s going to affect his job.

Please dont be intimidated by him, if you are really unsure what’s happening speak to your insurance company, they are normally very helpful

Sandybval · 03/08/2019 12:25

Also OP what in particular are you worried about? Are you still feeling anxious about the accident itself, or the possible repercussions? Is he disputing it with the insurance company or just speaking with you? They don't have exemptions for being emergency vehicles, have you spoken to your insurance?

happinessischocolate · 03/08/2019 12:25

I think your focusing on the wrong thing, I would imagine to an ambulance driver turning the sirens off would be as automatic as turning the ignition off.

If someone had their radio blaring really loud and then had an accident I would expect them to immediately turn the radio off, because the loudness would be obvious and distracting the minute you've crashed, same with the siren, it would be weird if he hadn't turned it off.

My sister had a police car crash into her when she was turning right and the police car had sirens and lights going, the police paid out.

Original poster
skeemee · 03/08/2019 12:25

@Sandybval No we did not see him at all. Not sure what speed he was going or anything! The first I was aware was when he smashed into me from behind.
@daisychains Thankyou. I am trying not to worry and definitely overthinking things. It’s all been very upsetting.

OP posts: