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Thread ID: 106436 2010-01-08 06:50:00 driving on wrong side of the road in NZ okay? lance4k (4644) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
846995 2010-01-08 09:59:00 I saw an ambulance with it's lights flashing today driving on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. Don't ambulances have to obey the road rules or can they drive on the wrong side of the road and go as fast as they want?

Can we have some more information please ? What type of road was the ambulance travelling on, and how long was it on the other side for ?
I believe the max speed they can go is now 130km, before they could go any speed that they wanted to.
wmoore (6009)
846996 2010-01-08 10:11:00 Can we have some more information please ? What type of road was the ambulance travelling on, and how long was it on the other side for ?
I believe the max speed they can go is now 130km, before they could go any speed that they wanted to.

Good questions but the OP may not answer.
Sweep (90)
846997 2010-01-08 10:21:00 plod you made me laugh

I believe (mum is an ex ambo person) they can do 50k over speed limit. You wouldnt want a ambulance doin 130 thru suburbs.

This whole threat is disgusting, if me pulling over to let a ambulance past, no matter how inconvenient it is, saves a life I couldnt really give a **** what speed or where the ambo was going. as long as it gets there quick
hueybot3000 (3646)
846998 2010-01-08 10:29:00 The mere fact that the OP asked indicates that there may be a problem. Sweep (90)
846999 2010-01-08 10:35:00 plod you made me laugh

I believe (mum is an ex ambo person) they can do 50k over speed limit. You wouldnt want a ambulance doin 130 thru suburbs.

This whole threat is disgusting, if me pulling over to let a ambulance past, no matter how inconvenient it is, saves a life I couldnt really give a **** what speed or where the ambo was going. as long as it gets there quick

So that means they can do 100km in a 50km and 150km on the motorways.
A few years ago an ambulance hit a elderly woman walking near her home in Auckland, And I believe they reviewed the speeds then.
wmoore (6009)
847000 2010-01-08 10:46:00 So that means they can do 100km in a 50km and 150km on the motorways.
A few years ago an ambulance hit a elderly woman walking near her home in Auckland, And I believe they reviewed the speeds then.

Just because they may (not saying it is correct or not) me allowed to go 50km over doesn't mean they will in any conditions. There may be roads with a 50km/h limit that, when empty of traffic and in good conditions a well trained ambulance driver could safely do 100km/h in. Similarly, on extremely open stretches of highway with no traffic I would have no problem with an ambulance doing 140km/h or so if this could save a life.

Of course I would expect this to happen rarely if ever - but one doesn't want beaurocracy to get in the way of saving lives. The driver still needs to answer for themselves at the end of the day and would be expected to use their judgement well.
george12 (7)
847001 2010-01-08 10:52:00 Just because they may (not saying it is correct or not) me allowed to go 50km over doesn't mean they will in any conditions. There may be roads with a 50km/h limit that, when empty of traffic and in good conditions a well trained ambulance driver could safely do 100km/h in. Similarly, on extremely open stretches of highway with no traffic I would have no problem with an ambulance doing 140km/h or so if this could save a life.

Of course I would expect this to happen rarely if ever - but one doesn't want beaurocracy to get in the way of saving lives. The driver still needs to answer for themselves at the end of the day and would be expected to use their judgement well.

Agreed and the driver has to answer if charged in a court which is what I said earlier.
Sweep (90)
847002 2010-01-08 10:58:00 They need to go on wrong side of the road to get through lights and intersections.
You would be hard pressed not to see the flashing lights or hear the sirens and either stop so they can go around you or pull over.
Much is made about slightly panicked drivers slowing down, stopping when the ambo near them with sirens wailing and lights flashing but at least they are trying to doing something to help.
We all cant be drivers like Marcos Ambrose with fast reflexes and analytical brain.
prefect (6291)
847003 2010-01-08 11:16:00 The mere fact that the OP asked indicates that there may be a problem.

A problem with ambulance drivers? Or a problem with OP?
hueybot3000 (3646)
847004 2010-01-08 11:18:00 A problem with ambulance drivers? Or a problem with OP?

I think it is an OP problem. There are not enough facts on which you can come to a conclusion in my view.
Sweep (90)
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