A member of the group who are cracking down on abuses of speed by uniformed services took action against an ambulance driver yesterday.
The driver was spotted driving at 90mph down a dual carriageway in a Volvo estate that was identical in every respect to a a police car, aside from the word ambulance. There were no blues and two's.
He turned off onto a slip and proceeded at 50mph in 30mph limit, even though speed calming measure had been taken, in the form of red triangles with the 30 limit highlighted through being painted on the road surface.
He then drove on to an estate highly populated by children over many speed humps at 40 mph.
He pulled up outside a house where we was met by family and friends and where he proceeded to show off the vehicle.
He was confronted with video evidence of his driving style and asked whether it was appropriate to be driving for a service whose purpose is to save lives, in a manner which puts two fingers up to the rest of the public who are getting hammered for doing 35 in a 30. He showed great regret and apologised. His reaction appeared to show that a lesson had been learned. He was buttured that no further action would be taken and he was grateful because he said he would lose his job. The matter is closed.
This action by members of the public SHOULD be undertaken by traffic policeman. But there are none.
The ambulancemans response was untypical. Usually you are met with denials and hostillity as in the case of the Kent & Medway Camera Partnership civillian drivers, who attempt to tun the police on you by telling lies.
This is not about challenging authority for the sake of it. It is important because we are saying "if you really believe that exceeding the speed limit is so crucial to road safery, how come you do not observe the limits yourself?"
Turk182
