I don't know how different this is in the UK, but here in the Netherlands we had an ambulance driver on KZfaq who put it very pragmatically: They know most drivers don't encounter a lot of emergency vehicles. Keep open lanes open, don't endanger yourself, don't do anything to further block them, and if possible, make way. If it's not possible to make way, keep moving (otherwise you're blocking them) but don't speed. There are a few videos on this channel where Chris has provided detailed vocal commentary, and they show that Chris is very much aware when a vehicle has nowhere to go. Don't panic and you'll be fine :)

​@@paulnieuwkamp8067 Would you be referring to Ambuchannel? They had some great videos whilst they were running.

if you’re nervous, just signal your intention and be predictable, we’ll find our way around you. If there’s nowhere safe to move over, like a blind curve or narrow street, just keep rolling at a good speed until you find a safe place, and turn your hazards on to let us know that you see us and are trying.

@@Slaeowulf Have you tried driving in the UK? Compared to many countries in Europe, they are both the most relaxed and most impatient at the same time. The flow of traffic is usually pretty good, until it become slightly busy, and everyone suddenly stops being nice.... But I am a bit surprised by you finding the drivers in the more rural areas rude...if you would have said in the west I would probably agree....but that's the most busy area in the country :P

@@paulnieuwkamp8067 I miss ambuchannel so much

Most ambulance services let you do 20% extra over the marked speed limit

Sometimes more if you can justify it

I wholeheartedly agree. I was fortunate when I passed my test first time, that a few weeks later, my Instructor took me out onto the nearest Motorway to teach me how to drive on them, especially on entering from an On-Slip lane. In Winter months too, he took me out for an hour on wintry roads to teach me safer winter driving tips. He also, in his words, taught me about having that "extra spatial awareness" around me when out driving; I've had 30 years accident free driving as a result.

as he stated in the video, you can't hear the sirens at national speed limit. and on a very sunny day blue lights aren't the most visible.

​@@TheDelta07sevno excuse to be loitering in lane 2 or 3 though is it?

@@steviesteve750 didn't see a Single vehicle loitering in a lane myself. Maybe I missed one but most were using them as designed to reduce traffic as there are vehicles in the first lane

@@TheDelta07sev you aren't supposed to travel in the outer lanes of a motorway unless you are overtaking

and lane hogging

A wild Ashley appears! ❤

🤣

​@@techheck3358 Random Ashley Event.

@@ChrisMartinEMS @ashley_neal Do I smell a colab!? I think I do! :)

Probably have to cut the footage there for the privacy of the people involved in the call they're responding to

I agree, I think you have to be very tolerant and calm to do the job in the first place but I also think you just have to give people the benefit of the doubt that the lack of awareness is a rare lapse rather than their normal state. Because even though I'm very aware of my surroundings as a driver and I almost always catch a motorcyclist or emergency vehicle coming up behind me, I'd be lying if I said I'd NEVER had one catch me unaware. Especially when they are nowhere one second, then right behind you at speed the next. Even if it's wishful thinking, I've learned that if you start giving people the benefit of the doubt on the road, rather than assuming that they are idiots or malicious, it makes driving less stressful. And if everybody did that instead of being so quick to anger at every little thing, the roads would be much nicer and safer places too.

I agree ! Noticed that too ! The speed limit is the same on all 3 lanes! If the inside lane is clear .. use it ! UK we drive on the left not in the middle nor the "percieved" fast lane!

I think the easier way to solve this would be for him not to speak while he drives( i assume he does since we can still hear the sirens) and instead do an overlay commentary that was recorded separately. First of all,it's much more safer if he's concentrated on the road and not what he needs to say

@@BulanuRoz In this case he was doing a ride-along and was explaining the techniques for the observer in the passenger seat. He doesn't talk when he's alone :)

​@BulanuRoz please avoid commenting on things that you've clearly not got any clue about. Commentating driving is a key part of the training required for response driving. Please refrain from commenting anymore until you learn more, so that way you can avoid embarrassing yourself as well as making everyone around you more stupid. Thank you.

@@jamess.1006Wow what an asshat, you really didn't take into account that in other parts of the world,driving and talking/commentating what you are doing is considered unsafe? I don't believe that simply talking is wrong, but when you got to explain what you are doing and why , that puts the brain into more thinking and less peripheral-attention in the eyes. You are in an emergency situation ,and this is especially true in this case as he drives very fast on very narrow roads , my point was in the context of the video only, and to the comment made by Jules, I can't understand Chris either, and the ONLY thing i was proposing was him doing a voiceover and that will allow him to concentrate more on the driving part. First responders clearly need to talk a lot more than normal drivers,be it radio,or communicating with colleagues, but in the context of this video,it was not needed,and he could have done so in a voiceover,thus minimising the risk. Great job at being an asshole though. Next time instead of trying to be a smartass-know-it-all ,how about you learn different perspectives?

@@jamess.1006 He's obviously wrong, but no need to be (so) rude with him.

I think he’s posted other videos with the speed showing on-screen.

The sirens are controlled using the horn, each beep moves through the sequence of tones.

@@DerekSizeland thanks for that, it makes sense now 👍

Chris is a critical care paramedic, so he gets sent further afield than other paramedics as he generally attends calls that require someone with a greater level of training

The three sirens are essentially used in range/speed brackets. They're each "designed" for different speed/distances, the wailers (slow tone change, constant) is better for long distances/high speed as it travels well. The two tones (the more classic nee-naw) are good for intermediate distances/speeds, and the phasers (rapid fire) are very good for short distances/slow speeds. It's not exclusive that they're used for these specific environments and speed, as some vehicles will possibly only have a subset available. But this is mostly what Chris uses them for, as do many other emergency services. Having multiple sirens with different characteristics and tones also makes it easier for people to notice, as a sound change can be more prominent than a constant noise, which is perhaps a more critical reason to have at least two different types of siren.

Each tone has its own uses, but primarily the ability to change tone is what catches people’s attention. The same continuous tone isn’t as affective as changing tones on approach to a hazard. The wail is a tone which is thrown far ahead and heard at a greater distance, whereas the yelp and Hilo/phaser aren’t so much. Additionally, they can also cause confusion as to where they’re coming from if in a built up area, as they’re a faster tone they’re more susceptible to bouncing off buildings and confusing other drivers, so it’s important to frequently change tones when close to hazards in order to maximise their effectiveness.

Actual job

No, never go through a red light you will get a fine and points if prosecuted. The magistrates wont care that you were trying to be helpful.

He no longer has the Skoda as he doesn’t work in that trust anymore. These videos are from a voluntary organisation.

Not quite - it’s a Critical Care Car - staffed by an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner Critical Care (APP-CC)

Thats all good, please do. @chrisfrantic is me on that platform

Thanks! Will do@@ChrisMartinEMS

On the windscreen to the left i think it's a GPS locations for the Ambulance service to know were each car is and they can give the police/fire a sit rep on time and location on approach or the caller.

ps nice to see a St Albans feature!

Can you explain further? When you say N/S, O/S bend, are describing a shape of a bend or does it stand for something? And why does taking a racing line slow you down?

Mostly that the horn is used to trigger the sirens.

@@Monkeh616 Ohh okay thankyou. I never knew that

IIRC the only vehicles I've seen so far that don't use horn as siren activation is the new Renault Master vehicles which use a button on the end of the indicator stalk. Unsure as to how they're activated on the Mercedes sprinter.

@@S666GRJthat’s trust dependent. Some use the horn, some a foot pedal, some the stalk. Some trusts use the stalk as a radio PTT etc. It changes.

You’re taught to stay in the outside lane at all times. Mirrors will be checked every 10-15 seconds.