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"Bad ambulance driving"

About: South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

(as other),

Thursday 26 September, about 7: 05pm, junction of Thirlestaine Road and Old Bath Road, Cheltenham.

I was turning right at a small roundabout, giving way to traffic from the right. The view of traffic approaching from the left is obscured by a wall and trees (but these vehicles should give way to me, so not a major problem).

I pulled away to make my turn, only for an ambulance to suddenly appear to my left (emerging suddenly from the point where my vision is obscured by the wall), without its siren on, but apparently expecting me to give way to him/her against the priority. He/she had blue lights on, but no siren. Because of the wall and trees, the blue lights were not visible from my position until right at the last moment (when I'm looking to the right, pulling out, and in the middle of the roundabout). The ambulance appears suddenly to my left and blasts his horn at me for not giving way!

This is a bit stupid and dangerous (and annoying). If an ambulance wants to turn right against the give-way priority at a badly sighted roundabout, it needs to have the siren on to warn of its approach. Please could you reiterate this to your drivers.

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Responses

Response from Sara Coburn, Patient Engagement Manager, Governance, South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust 10 years ago
Sara Coburn
Patient Engagement Manager, Governance,
South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust
Submitted on 30/09/2013 at 09:10
Published on Care Opinion at 14:37


Hi Mr Angry of Cheltenham

Thank you for sharing your experience with us - I am sorry that you were left annoyed by this event.

You have given some detail about the incident, however in order to fully investigate we will need the registration details of the vehicle. If you can provide this, please email me at sara.coburn@swast.nhs.uk or call me on 01392 261 552.

Thank you, again, for taking the time to provide feedback.

Sara

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