DEGREE OF SAFETY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES
VERKEERSONVEILIGHEID VAN HULPVERLENINGSVOERTUIGEN
Drivers of emergency vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire engines) often show a driving behavior with an increased risk. The use of flashing lights and special horns and the nature of their task make it possible for them to have priority at junctions, to use exclusive right of ways, and to drive at high speeds. However, they should always ask themselves whether such driving behavior is justified. Each year more than a hundred victims are killed or injured in accidents in which emergency vehicles are involved. In more than 90% of the cases special signals were used. Most of these accidents occurred inside built-up areas and at junctions. In more than 60% of the accidents the emergency vehicles ignored the red light. Specialized driver training and an improvement in driver behavior is needed. A more stringent application of instructions and a better control of the instructions can also increase safety.
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Corporate Authors:
Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
Bezuidenhoutseweg 62
The Hague, Netherlands 2594 AW -
Authors:
- HWAY-LIEM, O
- Publication Date: 1986
Language
- Dutch
Media Info
- Pagination: 56 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Ambulances; Behavior; Crash causes; Drivers; Emergency vehicles; Fire vehicles; Police vehicles; Signalized intersections; Traffic signals; Traffic violators
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00477783
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
- Report/Paper Numbers: REPT-86-22
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Dec 31 1988 12:00AM