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Thread ID: 95273	2008-12-01 00:49:00	Are Cops Permitted To Speed?	Roscoe (6288)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
724467	2008-12-01 00:49:00	When there was an accident between an ambulance and a car some months back, there was some discussion as to what the ambulance could and could not do and it emerged that although the lights and siren give the ambulance priority, it is not a licence to speed. As I understand it, ambulances and fire engines are not permitted to speed. It does seem that police have different arrangements. I frequently work near a very busy main suburban road and emergency vehicles are a common sight. Ambulances and fire engines certainly give the illusion of speed (because of the sound of the siren, no doubt) but as far as the cops are concerned, there is no question. If they are driving anywhere less than 80kph I would be surprised. If you were unfortunate enough to be leaving a side road or crossing the road, the results would be devastating for both you and the cops. That speed is not expected in a suburban street. I would have thought that right-of-way priority would be sufficient. I do not see the need for speed. That is something that is made obvious by driving across the city in the early morning. The trip takes half the time as most of the lights are in your favour or change as you approach, so no waiting. Why is it that the cops have no speed limit but other emergency vehicles need to keep to the speed limit?:horrified	Roscoe (6288)
724468	2008-12-01 00:50:00	Yep, often see cops tearing up a 50kph area at 80+ kph. Dangerous thats for sure.	wratterus (105)
724469	2008-12-01 01:28:00	Well, if your getting beaten to death by somebody, somehow you actually got a call out to them, would you perfer them to drive 50km or as fast as they could? Same with an ambulance/fire etc If there is a law or whatever against them speeding it's ****ing retarded.	rob_on_guitar (4196)
724470	2008-12-01 01:38:00	Well, if your getting beaten to death by somebody, somehow you actually got a call out to them, would you perfer them to drive 50km or as fast as they could? Same with an ambulance/fire etc If there is a law or whatever against them speeding it's ****ing retarded. yeah id rather they speed with the blues and two's going full nut if they are on the way to an EMERGENCY emergency - if its just to go tell some idiot paint sniffers to stop hanging outside of a 24 hour shop yelling at people to do skids in their cars then the cops can take their time	MAC_H8ER (5897)
724471	2008-12-01 01:40:00	When you look at the sheer size of ambulances and fire engines it becomes fairly clear why they can't speed. They're too big, and they are bollocks at handling. Cop cars are designed to be fast, and to handle well while doing so. So until you can invent light water for the fire trucks or a space warp to make the inside of an ambulance larger than the outside then I think they'll stay at the speed limit.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
724472	2008-12-01 02:02:00	I was not asking if it were possible for the vehicles to move fast or not . The question was, "Are cops permitted to speed?" As I said, ambulances and fire engines are not allowed to exceed the limit and that is not because of any limitations imposed by the vehicles . I also pointed out that it is not the speed, so much, that gets you there quickly but the fact that you have priority over other traffic . Speeding will not get you there any quicker if you still have to wait for the lights to change . Rob: As I understand it, the law says that they cannot speed . Certainly, if you were in big trouble, you would want the cops there as fast as . If you were lying dying, you would want the amboes there as fast as . If your house was burning to the ground you would want the fire engines there as soon as . The question I am asking is, why does it seem that the cops are allowed to speed (and they do!) while other emergency services are not?	Roscoe (6288)
724473	2008-12-01 02:12:00	Cops are allowed to speed only at certain times, depending on what they're attending. Cops actually get quite a lot of speeding fines. These are paid by the officers themselves largely.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
724474	2008-12-01 02:14:00	All emergency vehicles should be allowed to speed. Within reason, of course.	qazwsxokmijn (102)
724475	2008-12-01 02:21:00	Cops can do whatever they want. Have you EVER seen a cop being pulled over by another cop for speeding (with his sirens going)? Nope. Why? Because cops are cops and can do what they want.	--Wolf-- (128)
724476	2008-12-01 03:23:00	All emergency vehicles should be allowed to speed. Within reason, of course. Unless the law has changed since the Wellington Free Ambulance wrote this "When a paramedic is attending a Priority 1 emergency (meaning that the situation is 'immediately life-threatening & urgent'), the driver is allowed to engage the ambulance lights and sirens. When these lights and sirens are operating, the ambulance driver is then allowed to drive up to 30 kilometres over the posted speed limit. Paramedics undertake advanced driving courses in order to prepare them for this type of driving." they are allowed within reason. 30kph over any limit is the point where it becomes dangerous driving. Some services have chosen to stick to the limit probably because it looks bad when they do have accidents.	PaulD (232)
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