Editorial: Emergency drivers need to be prudent

When variations on the same problematic theme crop up time and again, something is clearly amiss. Such is the case with the dilemma created by emergency-service drivers hurrying to life-threatening situations. Early this year, a St John Ambulance officer was disqualified from driving for a year and fined $4000 for causing the death of an elderly woman in Auckland as he sped to an emergency call.

Now, barely six months later, a Northland doctor is contesting a speed camera fine received while on his way to help a suspected heart-attack victim. The merits of that case have still to be argued in court. It is clear, however, that guidelines recognising both emergency realities and public safety interests are urgently required.

Only this step will prevent a repeat of the present situation which sees the police and the Minister of Health at loggerheads. Annette King fears the police decision to enforce the Northland doctor's fine endangers the Government-funded Primary Response in Medical Emergency (Prime) service. This was established about two years ago to allow GPs and nurses to provide emergency services in rural areas where no ambulance could attend within 30 minutes.

Clearly, doctors will be loath to get involved in the service if it carries the added risk of speeding tickets picked up while hurrying to an emergency. And for the victim the absence, or a delay in reaching the scene, can make the difference between life and death.

Being at the wheel of an emergency vehicle can never be a licence for driving unsafely. The police, who emphasise this, gained support from Judge Stan Thorburn's finding against the unfortunate St John Ambulance driver. Regrettably, their diligence apparently does not extend to their own ranks. About three out of four police officers caught speeding get away without paying a cent.

The police deny that their officers get special attention, and say they must prove that driving within the speed limit would have hindered their carrying out their duty. Other emergency-service drivers might wonder if that policy is more zealously applied in some instances than others.

Whatever the hint of double standards, the police have good reason not to turn a blind eye to speeding. The answer to the Prime service dilemma lies elsewhere. To its credit, the St John Ambulance Service recognised as much in reacting sensibly to the conviction of its driver. It decreed that the maximum speed limit would henceforth be just 30 km/h above the posted limit, and reminded its staff to drive with care and attention. Equally importantly, it made sirens mandatory when ambulances were driving above the speed limit on top-priority calls.

A similarly sensible approach can surely be found for Prime service doctors and nurses. At the moment they do not enjoy the same legal status as services such as ambulances and the police. This is an oversight and easily remedied by the Government.

Likewise, the cars of Prime GPs are equipped with just a green flashing light. This provides inadequate warning when other road-users may be distracted by cellphones, radios or the like. Likewise, the GPs' approach may go unnoticed by pedestrians, increasing the potential for accident or delay. Everyone would be better served if Prime service cars were fitted with and required to use sirens.

No emergency-service driver sets out to drive unsafely or dangerously. But there is a fine limit between travelling to an emergency in haste and driving safely. The actions of other road-users will often add to the hazard.

Any vehicle exceeding the speed limit thus raises issues of public safety. It is easy for the Minister of Health to accuse the police of being pedantic. The verdict of a district court judge suggests, however, that they do not lack judgment and that emergency service drivers have a duty to be prudent.

Mrs King also clearly overstates the case when she suggests the Northland doctor's case could put the rural emergency response system at risk. Certainly, there are problems but they are far from terminal. She can remedy the flaws, and satisfy the interests of the Prime service and public safety, with relative ease. A bill to amend the law to cover Prime personnel would surely find universal political support.