Editorial: Let's hear a siren in all emergencies

It was, as a former St John Ambulance officer remarked, every emergency service driver's worst nightmare. An ambulance driver intent on responding to a life-threatening "priority one" call as quickly as possible is confronted by an elderly woman who steps on to the road without checking for oncoming traffic. The pedestrian dies after being hit by the ambulance and, in the legal sequel, Brendan McInnes is found guilty of careless use of a motor vehicle.

Who would not sympathise with a man whose intent was so virtuous and whose job so laden with stress? And who would not have a smidgen of understanding for those ambulance drivers who now vow to stick to the speed limit when responding to emergencies?

But such a response would be out of all proportion to the conviction. The judgment is not inimical to ambulance drivers speeding. It emphasises, however, that this must be done prudently.

Further, it should be reassuring to those drivers that a jury found Mr McInnes not guilty of the more serious charge of dangerous driving causing death. If they continue to harbour doubts about the conviction, or that the matter even reached court, they might reflect on Mr McInnes' admission that he was travelling at more than 90 km/h - a breach of St John guidelines which allow drivers to exceed the speed limit by 30 km/h when travelling to emergencies - and that his ambulance's siren was not sounding as he approached Marjorie McGill.

In this instance the siren might have made no difference. Mrs McGill was deaf and had poor peripheral vision. But it seems only sensible that emergency vehicles should have their sirens on at all times when responding to calls. Drivers, as much as pedestrians, would appreciate the warning. They can be too easily distracted by radios, cellphones and the like.

If there is a reason sirens are used sparingly, it appears to relate to society's disaffection with noise. As reasonable as that might be when related to the neighbour's stereo or motor-mower, it should be tempered in this instance. If an emergency service vehicle's approach goes unnoticed, there is a clear potential for accidents or delay.

We should recognise that our roads are not blighted by the common overseas cacophony of constantly sounding horns, and that sirens are not, therefore, an egregious intrusion. It is somewhat precious, and smacking of skewed priorities, to try to restrain emergency service vehicles from using warning devices.

Quite reasonably, ambulance drivers have used the McInnes conviction to appeal to people to get out of their way. Unfortunately, there will always be a minority of drivers determined not to acknowledge emergency service vehicles. Some, apparently, even see them as an opportunity to tailgate.

Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. But ambulance drivers must recognise that increasing traffic volumes in Auckland sometimes make it difficult for other road-users to pull over. While that clearly adds to their frustration, it is an added reason for prudence.

Mr McInnes did not exercise sufficient care as he approached Marjorie McGill. It is reasonable to expect emergency service drivers to recognise the potential danger posed by elderly pedestrians and, if necessary, to be able to execute effective evasive action. McInnes' reaction immediately after hitting Mrs McGill suggested that he knew as much.

"That's it, my career is over" - or words to that effect - he said to the officer sitting beside him. In fact, the verdict delivered by the court suggests that might not be so. He will continue his present work in the St John communications centre.

His ordeal should, however, send out strong messages to emergency service drivers and other road-users. There is a fine line between travelling to an emergency in a hurry and driving safely. The actions, accidental or deliberate, of other road users often make that judgment more difficult than it need be. Emergency service drivers should make themselves as visible as possible - and that includes having sirens on at all times.

Equally, other road-users must give ambulance drivers every possible assistance. If in doubt, just imagine it is you or a loved one whose life that ambulance is hurrying to save.