Light and shade - 999 response

A bit of everything in here, small roads, overtakes, high speed dual carriageway and the bright sun light i think made it more challenging to be seen.

[@David_Crayford]

Clear day. 120 mph on the open road and lots of generous hatched markings at the roundabouts. Thanks for another video. Have a great week. 👍

[@lehoff]

Is he allowed to do 120mph? I couldn't see the speedometer. I didn't realise they were allowed to go that fast. The police yes but didn't realise medics could! Learn something new!

[@techheck3358]

@@lehoffthere’s no legal speed limit, but every trust/employer is free to add their own limits if they choose to

[@lehoff]

@@techheck3358 thanks for the info :)

[@Heneling]

@@infiltrat0r it says 120MPH at the bottom left hand corner of the screen at 2:50

[@Make-progress]

@@lehoff​​⁠ Same legal exemptions apply, Chris is appropriately trained, trusts will have “varying” guidelines but yes, as long as it can be justified. I’m happy that the emergency services travel to me or my family as quickly and as safely as possible 👍🏻

[@Holland1994D]

0:20 That trucker had great awareness where it could yield, good job!

[@TheAverageCloud]

Loving all the new camera setups!

[@gblargg]

I like how we've got the driver's face to see where he's looking, and steering wheel, but minimally feathered in.

[@JimmyLemon]

With the blue crane/truck at the start would you have preferred they stop and let you pass even though it would be a blind overtake for you, or for them to carry on to a straight and then slow to let you pass (as they did)? Honest question, not intended to be sarcastic etc.

[@ChrisMartinEMS]

To carry on round the bend would be best. Stopping on the blind bend would have made this more challenging so always preferable to just keep rolling and I'll then choose when to go round once visibility is better. Thx for the question.

[@ThePilotWhoCantFly]

​@@ChrisMartinEMS I'm an truck driver (18 tonne). I don't know if I made a mistake but there was an ambulance behind me on a busy single carriageway (60). There was an off road parking area that had a sharp 90° junction and I had to slow right down to make it and felt that I hindered their progress. Did I make the wrong decision or should I have kept on going?

[@andy0175]

​@ThePilotWhoCantFly probably as Chris says earlier, keep going and let them choose when to overtake. I had a similar situation in an 18 ton lorry when a fire engine caught me up on narrow roads, the only thing I could do was signal that I was aware of him and continue, the way they thanked me when they finally passed told me I'd done right👌

[@alexsmith7354]

Stopping on a bend isn’t a good idea. Best to keep going and stop where safe.

[@victorstergaard2767]

Just stumbled across this channel. Its really impressive, not olny are you an expert driver but also an EMS. So many skills. Keep doing what you do ❤

[@LeopardsinUkraine]

great video as usual. I appreciate the work you put into your videos, 4 cameras showing everything you want to know.

[@loyalsupportisthebestever]

I love the layout Mr Chris. Really nice. Always a pleasure to see your reactions and focus and nice that is is minimal but still fully there, The rear view mirror is a lovely touch. I'd love to see some more pov's in the future if possible too. But thank you for everything you share with us. It's not often we get to ride with the hero's of this world. yes heroes. We'd all be dead if it were not for people like yourself saving lives. Thank you Mr Chris to you, your fellow medical colleagues and all the medical staff in the country and the world for all the incredible dedication, time and effort you give so save peoples lives.

[@ImSkully]

Love the camera setup and another spectacular drive Chris! Thanks for sharing.

[@benhone9987]

Got my first shift as an AAP in a few hours, good timing on the video for me to recap driving :)

[@PadraicOD]

Best of luck Ben from an LAS EMT

[@Moth11]

Hey Chris loved your music back when you were with the band. My favourite album was always a rush of blood to the head. Love your EMS stuff also, keep it up.

[@Mike_5]

This is one of the best driver training videos ever about the need to constantly review each position and move on the drive and immediately consider fall back or Plan B options where available well done Chris

[@ChrisMartinEMS]

Thanks, really appreciate that.

[@Mike_5]

@@ChrisMartinEMS your welcome Chris keep safe out there

[@ThePopz57]

Cracking Driving Chris, great awareness, you look so calm, as if you were out for a Sunday Drive, Drive Safe, Stay Safe.

[@christwigger]

Great job by the merc there at 0:49. Going straight from a left only lane

[@joshuadalton6063]

Sarcasm I think, but to be fair that did look like a left + straight lane.

[@delllbooy]

@@joshuadalton6063 apart from the massive arrow on the road showing left only.

[@andytherooanduberridermorg9287]

I love watching your videos and get quite stressed at the same time I’ve been driving cars for 12 years and riding motorbikes 25 years and in all that time any emergency vehicle I see them long before they are even near me and I’m already looking to move out the way whereas 10% of the vehicles in your videos just sit there driving as normal and you look as though it’s just the norm and you just get past when you can I admire your patience on that

[@ChrisMartinEMS]

Thanks for that and at some point soon I'm going to be uploading a short about how i overtook a m'bike recently and if there was any more I could have done as they just didn't see of hear me and the overtake ended up being tighter than I would have liked so would value the thoughts of a seasoned biker.

[@andytherooanduberridermorg9287]

@@ChrisMartinEMS if you done all you can do as safe as you could I wouldn’t worry about it chances are he’s one of those riders with ear plugs in and deserves a good scare I used to ride bikes for work and spent that extra bit of money to have the correct accessories I’ve personally got no time for those that put earplugs in but I shall look forward to seeing the video of motorcycle overtake

[@TopherT1985]

Love your videos. Keep up the amazing day job and also these responding videos.

[@Slaeowulf]

It will never cease to amaze me how some drivers can be so very aware of you and do a fantastic job at getting out of the way, and others are just so utterly brainless and actively block you. Honestly, I still think when we renew our licences every 10 years we should have to do a mini version of the test, like a 20 min or so supervised drive, just to make sure we're still fit to drive. Anyway, rant over. Keep up the great work, Chris!

[@DevAnubis]

We should re-sit a theory test every year when renewing insurance (it's an automated test, so scaling it out to 40m tests/year is mostly a problem of desk space and computers, not staffing) and a full practical test every 5 years, and bring forward licence renewal to 5 years as well and do it at the same time to have the DVSA assessor take the photograph and verify the ID. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and the standard is so low that a lot of people don't deserve that privilege.

[@bwljustus8077]

The real Alonso 😂

[@David_Crayford]

I hope Alonso can at least perform CPR when he gets there. 🙂

[@BikingNL000]

My lord, some people really do not have their minds on driving

[@garybrewitt8006]

Thanks Chris another great video of driving at speed. Take care sir 😊

[@stu82pendous]

I've never seen so many oblivious drivers in one video!!

[@Demun1649]

You should try driving an ambulance on a blue run, there are millions of them. The British driving test trains people to pass a test, not how to be a driver. For example, the car in front on the exit from the roundabout, had many chances to pull to the left and slow down, didn't, even though a raised median kerb was coming up. And the last van, had many chances to pull over and slow down, chose not too. I wonder how many think the blues and twos are on a police vehicle, being that it is rather dark for a medic response vehicle. Police cars get blocked more, perhaps because of history between the driver and the police?

[@andy0175]

​@@Demun1649the last van had double white lines down the centre, which Chris is not supposed to cross unless travelling at 10mph or less. The van driver was spot on in his actions.

[@ryanmitcham5522]

@@andy0175 >unless travelling at 10mph or less You've not got that one quite right. On double white lines you can only cross the line to pass a STATIONARY vehicle OR a cyclist, horse or road maintenance vehicle doing 10mph or less. Emergency drivers don't have any additional exemption to this rule. So in this scenario, as it was a van he can only cross the double white line to overtake if the vehicle is completely stationary.

[@Demun1649]

@@andy0175 Andy, at what point, on seeing and hearing an emergency vehicle, on "blues and two's", did that van pull in to the kerb, and slow down. He passed a good place to pull in, but didn't. He was impeding an emergency vehicle on a legal high-speed journey. And nothing you type, will persuade me otherwise. Unlike you, I drove ambulances, and I was deliberately blocked by idiots who think they don't have to give way. "Spot on in his actions", translates to, "He did what I do".

[@KCML82]

Wow, you were hauling! Great ride

[@bryntownshend6528]

Literally drove that route today. What a coincidence!

[@Scot-land]

Stayed very calm when that silly Citroen pulled out in front of you not sure I could of been so calm

[@Jonas-kr3on]

3 days ago I was transporting a stroke into a clinic. The road was busy and cars were everywhere. Most people saw me, heard me and gave way but this one person... kept driving towards me, seeing me and hearing me. But he didn't care, almost crashing into me...

[@lindaj5492]

Presumably a Darwin Award candidate 🙄

[@lautoka63]

Interesting to watch, as always. NZ road code says that, for emergency vehicles, "you must pull over and, if necessary, stop and allow it to pass." Some people can be rather unobservant.

[@NerdOllie]

Hey Chris, I know you're all for the charity, but why don't you consider something like Buy Me a Coffee? You make great educational driving content for a huge amount of people. I've been watching you for ages and I've been looking for a way to give back to you! All the best - Ollie

[@ChrisMartinEMS]

Something i'll look into, thanks.

[@_Ali.]

Chris, question. If I get a emergency vehicle behind me and I can’t pull over due to road circumstances and carry on driving, how is the best way to acknowledge that I’ve seen you but can’t actually stop because it’s a blind bend or it’s double solid white lines or the brow of a hill etc, indicate left but carry on moving until I can pull in and let them pass?

[@techheck3358]

I’m just a viewer, but that’s what I’d do yes

[@MotherGoose]

We always look for some form of “positive reaction” so the activation of hazards is normally better than a left hand indicator as it says that you are aware we are there but your looking for a safe spot. Just a nearside indicator is often used by people as a “well if my indicator is on they can just pass me” without actually slowing down or stopping which causes problems.

[@NeverGiveUpYo]

I wish I had a siren and those blue lights in my car, hehe.

[@Hotoadle]

Impressive drive; good exposition of technique waxing on/off the roundabouts to maintain flow. 1.29 nice control of risk through communication from positioning; but would you ideally like more from other drivers in this scenario?

[@Wg323]

what more can they do

[@Hotoadle]

​@@Wg323there's a few things to consider. Only one driver signals, everyone is pulling over to create a clear path. But the average speed looks to be 30, so that's a dead stop at 70 if approaching drivers collide with the EMS. HC says a few things, 'pull up and stop if necessary'. That would seem to reduce risks, is that something prefered in *this* instance?

[@user-ig1xo3om2x]

0:20 - Nice bit of Offsiding without committing. 0:58 - I'd blame the Highways Authority there; the island vanishes into the gravel and the hatchings are heavily worn.

[@casca7389]

What car are you driving? Can’t work it out. Great content, as always. Thanks

[@TMCNJ]

Hi Chris, good to see you still uploading 💪🏼 I noticed you’ve upgraded to the hands free siren stalk. How are you finding it?

[@karredal]

Great drive, sometimes I forget you are a medic rushing to help someone.

[@Johns51]

Very impressive . Are the headlights on flash when in off position by day like my fiat or no ??

[@davidgraham7932]

A lot of steering wheel turning - is pull push not the standard for ambulance ERD, or is it just a case of experience now meaning you revert to more comfortable techniques rather than "correct" steering, which I've found can be counter-intuitive for very minor directional changes? Great video as always sir.

[@mikkolukas]

Nice driving skills 🙂👍

[@LucasL512]

Chris, I was just curious in the beginning of the video in the left hand turn, you are trying to peek past the blue truck. I feel like this was unsafe because it might make the truck driver feel pushed and try to move over in a blind turn, which would have created a situation where you needed to brake along with the truck and then try to pass without knowing what's coming up. What was your thought process there, if you remember?

[@MotherGoose]

This is actually correct practice. We never rely on the motorist to give way or react to us. We always look for a space to go and with a vehicle that large, there is no alternative than to have a “peek” and see if it’s clear. It may look antisocial or unsafe but we will only ever commit if it’s safe.

[@LucasL512]

@@MotherGoose I know I recently got lights and sirens training too, from my (limited) experience, you get what you ask for, so I would stay away from pushing in a blind left turn, and wait to peek out as the turn straightens

[@MotherGoose]

@@LucasL512Yeah that’s not wrong either. Everyone has their own driving style and training and experience and any blue light run you can all walk away from is a good one! #ArriveAlive

[@philsjh]

When you were ordering/modifying this car, was there the option to add the UK Emergency Services logic for the headlights and taillights? I've seen some of the Audi fits which actually manipulate the headlights and taillight LED controllers and make them flash in addition to the grille and cabin mounted strobes. Obviously they only work if the headlights are turned off/running on DRLs but curious to know why that isn't a standard configuration option.

[@MotherGoose]

It varies by manufacturer and even model actually. For instance, you can’t flash the Volvo V90 brake lights but you can the XC90. You can’t flash LED headlights like you could the old halogen light builds hence why flashing white LEDS make a greater appearance nowadays. It’s all done by the emergency vehicle fitter and its chance if they can be flashed depending on how the wiring is done in the factory. It’s not something that can be specd during factory build.

[@mikedinni6318]

I feel this was a much more scruffy/ aggressive drive than you usually show.

[@ryanmitcham5522]

I suspect he was travelling to something even more serious/urgent than normal (or just having an off day!) because it did seem more aggressive than normal.

[@InclusiveDriving]

No way was that speed of 100mph accurate ... you didn't overtake any National Express coaches!

[@MrJoshmister]

are you not going to chane the siren cyle function back to the horn? seem's dangerous having it on that tiny PTT stalk?

[@anoldfogeysfun]

The stalk makes it quicker and easier for him to swap the siren tones more than the constant horn pressing does . . . apart from that, late at night into the early hours, sirens are normal to hear everywhere so you get used to it - but horns tooting away very early in the morning can break a normal persons sleep pattern if they aren't a heavy sleeper . . .

[@tomcat7525]

I read somewhere that unmarked cars are used when there needs to be a low profile, so as not to attract attention like when attending to persons of interest to the public. Does that make sense?

[@MotherGoose]

Depends if it’s an unmarked ambulance vehicle (such as this) or a police vehicle. Ambulance vehicles are often unmarked as they are often used as private vehicles as well or can also be lease vehicles so the cost to add all the battenburg and lighting is not cost effective. Police use unmarked vehicles to catch people unawares and from doing naughty stuff! Hope that makes sense!

[@photosbyernesto9621]

how long does it take some people to look in their rear view mirrors and pull over out of the way?? That van and wagon from 3:00... Seriously!

[@Ed-ws1xe]

0:57 Bad move white car!!! 😡

[@GM-mr7lw]

He's much more calm and patient than I could possibly have been in that situation. Professional.

[@DoctorFish10]

Not entirely unexpected as silver did similar coming on to the roundabout

[@DeBert]

I've said it many times before: people just don't react to the "siren for short distances". There is a reason you won't find them anywhere else across the mainland...

[@cjgeist]

The pass at 1:29 scared me a bit 😬

[@Lacebylad]

Do you ever forego rear vision in order to fully concentrate ahead or is it still the standard Hazzard/ mirror when making this kind of progress?

[@findthebadger418]

Mirrors should be checked every 15 seconds.

[@Lacebylad]

@@findthebadger418 that’s my point, normally yes but if your on a response call is there any reason to constantly check your mirrors when that attention could be diverted to forward vision?

[@findthebadger418]

@@Lacebylad nope, you still looking in the mirrors every 15 seconds to have all around awareness. Still need to be aware of what is happening behind you

[@meisie1571]

Is this an unmarked car? Just wondering what the reasoning behind this would be?

[@cowboy10uk]

It’s his own personal car that he uses when on standby I believe.

[@meisie1571]

@@cowboy10uk Unless an extreme emergency, I can't see a scenario where the risk posed by the use of a personal vehicle would be acceptable... This would almost certainly have to be a provided vehicle.

[@insomniac-afk]

@@meisie1571 great thing you dont make the rules then

[@ChrisMartinEMS]

Its a work provided car that I fund and can use personally as well as for business/responding. Its on a lease scheme that all emergency services will have a version of within their Trusts.

[@gordonm2821]

@@meisie1571- Being fitted with more blue lights, siren and communications radios the chances are his employer played a part. Unless these are dealer options and if so sign me up

[@ZX_64]

it crazy how someone people do not know how to act when when a emergency vehicle is behind them

[@ilikechickensausages2075]

Chris in your opinion could you maybe approach the roundabouts a little slower? I'm not giving you a hard time just asking for your thoughts.

[@findthebadger418]

Why though?

[@ilikechickensausages2075]

@@findthebadger418 Because i thought he was it's hard to see light's on a un marked car especially side light's And having the sun hit a clear LED washes out the blue colour. And finally i can ask because i can.

[@nigels.6051]

The GPS speed goes down to 16mph on a couple of the roundabouts, and 19mph on another, even on the big empty one it gets down to 34mph, it is not as fast as it looks/sounds. You did say "approach", rather than around, but all the traffic on approach seemed to have clearly selected their lanes, so I don't see much danger there, and in the event of an impact, that is about the safest place to have one, since everyone is going in the same direction at not huge speed differences and low speeds, and there are plenty of barriers to prevent anyone ending up in the oncoming lanes, and your foot is already on the brake for a quick reaction. Might be better to use normal lane discipline instead of using the hatchings and driving between lanes, since that would allow others to better understand his intentions. The approach to that blind bend on the exit of the village was more concerning, why drive around the bend in the middle of the road instead of entering it on the left at slightly lower speed and then accelerating through it when it turned out to be clear, which would have been faster and safer? There wasn't a patient in the back requiring that the sharp bend be smoothed out?

[@Anriandor]

4:42 What exactly was that hand movement? 🤔

[@NorthernNewEnglandDashcam]

Looks like he had to reach down for the siren horn button

[@SimonJM]

Unusual (and disappointing!) to see you have to step on the brakes at 0:58

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

Are you south central ambulances?

[@andy0175]

Herts NHS Trust I believe, based in letchworth

[@ilikechickensausages2075]

Over 200km/h

[@turnbull321]

ABS testing

[@nigels.6051]

ABS is there to be used, using it well in difficult conditions is a skill that should be learned as part of a standard driving course.

[@meturns4666]

There are soo many levels of stupid drivers in this video , people are basically clueless 70% of the time . Great v8deo Chris , thx for your service.

[@magu_cpm]

In fact, ANA's Wi-Fi is not free, but rather requires a fee.

[@loucipher67]

Audi driver training videos are boring

[@XYDogAustria]

Aber von den Autofahrern rafft keiner was Typisch Notorische Rechts Fahrer.

[@tomcat7525]

I cant understand why he is driving an unmarked car, so many people have their music up loud so may not here a siren, then they think they hear it but cant see an emergency vehicle?

[@troii617]

im pretty sure he uses this car as his normal daily driver aswell, thats probably why

[@Djnffnoeosmfasjjd]

This is his own car for leisure and for work. His work requires blue lights and sirens so he gets them. The car has a tonne of lights and theres a 200w siren speaker, I think if you miss him you shouldn’t be on the road.

[@Rroff2]

I had one come up behind me a few days ago, unmarked grey Skoda Superb, they weren't using their siren and only had small blue lights in the grill and on the wing mirrors and in bright sunlight I didn't even notice it was an emergency vehicle for a few moments - fortunately twigged before I held it up. A marked unit with siren I'd have noticed way back.

[@GM-mr7lw]

It's a fair question. It may be his daily driver, but why does he use his daily car for these sorts of things? What's the reason for not having something much more clearly marked? (I'm assuming there is a reason, I just don't know what it is!)

[@Djnffnoeosmfasjjd]

@@GM-mr7lw Because he’s on call? It’s a waste of resources for him to take a marked car out when he may not even be called. Doing it in his own car means he knows he has everything he needs, he knows where it is and he can literally get in his car after running out of Tesco and can get his foot down.

[@davidbowen60]

I’m sorry but as much as you have to get there as quickly as possible you took a few high risk chances the general public need more time to react ( Advanced driver for over 30 years) other wise a good ride take care🇬🇧👍

[@MotherGoose]

Which bits?

[@davidbowen60]

@@MotherGoose approximately the first 4 minutes

[@nigels.6051]

@@MotherGoose Driving over all the tire cutting debris on the hatched areas of the roundabouts and then doing 125mph down the straights? Get a tire blowout and then hit one of those lamp posts at 125mph and you are most likely dead. In general, our roads are not designed for those speeds, and the barriers will not necessarily keep you away from oncoming traffic and life threatening roadside obstacles like they would at lower speeds, although in this case the 125mph bit did have good barriers and did have all the lamp posts protected, not all the sign posts but maybe the car would win over them? My main question is if this amount of haste is actually necessary/justified? He seems to be travelling quite long distances in some of these videos, a defibrillator and someone who knows how to use it, should be available much closer, so I would expect this to be rapid response rather than first response, I don't understand the need for these longish journeys at such high speeds, a level down in risk would seem more reasonable. I know almost nothing about the job though, maybe by saving one minute on a five minute journey, he can save 100 extra lives per year while injuring only 1 person per year on average, I'm happy to be educated... On this video, I was actually more concerned abut the bit through the village; there appears to be an assumption that there will not be a bicycle or horse just around one of those corners, with a vehicle coming the other way so that you can't overtake to avoid a collision. Is the driving intended to guarantee zero accidents, or just to ensure that if an accident occurs then the risk of serious injury is acceptable low? Clearly if someones life can be saved by the fast driving then there is an argument for risking minor damage and minor injury to others, but I suspect that it is very rare for someones life to be saved by these long high speed journeys, someone else should have made a short journey and got there first, and if that wasn't enough, I'm not sure that the secondary response justifies risking other people's safety, especially when most of the patients will likely be nearing the ends of their lives anyway, and most of the injuries will be to children on bikes, teenagers on horses, or other healthy people with lots of future life left to live, and of course our driver - we want him to arrive safely and do whatever it is that is so important!

[@andy0175]

​@@nigels.6051but, as you correctly stated, you don't actually know!

[@ryanmitcham5522]

To be fair this video wasn't one of his best, who knows what he was attending or if just having an off day (we're all human) normally his driving is top notch, but there were a couple of mistakes in this one.