Driving Standards Policy

1. Introduction

The aim of this policy is to promote the highest standards of driving conduct within Coast Medic. The manner in which our vehicles are driven has a direct bearing on the public’s perception of our organisation. All staff must therefore strive to safeguard the organisations reputation by displaying high standards of driving and road behaviour at all times.

As well as ensuring compliance with Road Traffic Law, all staff have a duty to protect the safety and wellbeing of other staff, patients, passengers and other road users.

Drivers of our vehicles must adhere to the level of training and standards commensurate with their role. This includes maintaining a thorough working knowledge of the Highway Code, Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, appropriate current supporting training and education material, policies and procedures.

All staff, whether driving or not, when approaching and parking at incidents should ensure a suitable and sufficient dynamic risk assessment is undertaken.

Emergency driving is a privileged skill underpinned by advanced training and assessment. With this privilege comes significant personal responsibility. Failure to act in accordance with the provided training or compliance with policy or procedure can result in internal disciplinary action by the company and legal proceedings against both the individual and the business. All staff should be aware of the implications of prosecution and the potential effect on their liberty in serious cases. Managers, prior to taking action will seek advice from Human Resources.

All drivers need to be aware that the consequences of actions and non-compliance to the provided training and/or policy and procedures can lead to serious injury or death of staff or others.

2. Objectives

3. Responsibilities

All authorised persons who drive on Coast Medic business are responsible for complying with current Road Traffic Law, driver training and educational material, Coast Medic driving policies and procedures at all times.

Line managers are responsible for overseeing compliance with this policy.

All members of staff are expected to challenge unacceptable driving behaviour or standards observed in the overall interests of maintaining the highest professional standards and safety of all concerned.

Whilst it is the driver’s ultimate responsibility, all crew staff must jointly undertake a dynamic risk assessment when approaching and parking at incidents.

All drivers are responsible for undertaking and recording a road worthiness check of their vehicle in accordance with Statutory Vehicle Checks.

All staff must be aware that it is an offence to cause or permit a person to use a vehicle that is not legally roadworthy.

3.1 Employee & Volunteer Responsibilities

4. Legal Requirements

As an organisation, Coast Medic has a legal responsibility to identify any driver of our vehicles where a road traffic offence is suspected or committed. This is typically required within 28 days of receiving the request. All requests for driver details must therefore be dealt with urgently and result in the driver’s identification.

4.1 Notice of Intended Prosecution Cancellations

 If the driver is claiming a legal exemption, then all relevant paperwork must be endorsed by the driver’s manager.  The Driver Training Unit has its own instructions for dealing with these issues for students under instruction.

5. General Procedures

Authorisation to drive Coast Medic Vehicles:

All staff are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid driving licence for the category of vehicle that they are required to drive. Staff should keep their licence and National Insurance Number available for inspection at all times to conduct an online licence check via the DVSA and where required by a manager should produce this on request and normally within 24hours.

Staff should refer to the driving licence policy for further details for licence category requirements.

Non-operational drivers should also adhere to the above requirements and must drive with full compliance to the Highway Code.

5.1 Drivers Re-joining or Transferring to the Business

Staff who re-join the organisation, or transfer from another Ambulance Service, can be re-authorised providing they meet the Business’s standards and requirements appropriate to their role.

5.2 Training by Outside Agencies

Coast Medic drivers who receive training from outside agencies, including other Ambulance Services, will be required to meet Coast Medic standards appropriate to the authorisation required.

5.3 Administrative Records

A driver’s authorisation to drive Ambulance vehicles is kept on their training record.

5.4 Use of Vehicles by Non-Coast Medic Personnel

In exceptional circumstances, e.g., major incidents and with authorisation of the organisation; anyone external to the Company e.g., a police officer or other emergency service personnel who is over the age of 21, has a relevant licence category and approved training in the relevant sized vehicle can be permitted to drive an Coast Medic vehicle under normal road conditions deemed necessary by a uniformed officer or operational manager.

5.5 Drivers Vision

All Coast Medic drivers must ensure that their vision meets with the legal requirement at all times. This is specified in the Highway Code (Rule 92) and drivers are strongly encouraged to have regular eyesight tests (every two years at least) to help maintain this requirement. Drivers who need to wear spectacles or contact lenses for driving must do so at all times when driving and must carry a spare pair of spectacles when on duty.

 In accordance with Rule 94 of the Highway Code, sunglasses/tinted spectacles may only be worn during bright sunlight. The wearing of such spectacles could be dangerous in other conditions, due to the reduction of vision and subsequent risk of not observing another road user, for example pedestrian or bicycle.

Drivers who use tinted prescription spectacles to correct vision must also carry a pair of spectacles with clear lenses in case weather conditions change during the period of duty.

Spectacles and/or Sunglasses should be of a colour and style in keeping with the professional image of the business.

6. Non-Emergency Driving Procedures

In addition to the requirements contained within the Company’s Policy for Driving Licences, before a driver can be authorised for non-emergency driving, they must:

• Successfully complete a Coast Medic approved non-emergency driving course, including both practical and theoretical elements for staff.
• Be aware that after authorisation, the driver will be subject to periodic re authorisation.

Non-emergency staff are not permitted to claim any exemption afforded to emergency vehicles on an emergency response, other than those relating to ‘stopping’ and ‘parking’ as defined in other relevant documentation. The circumstances must dictate that no other legal stopping/parking alternative was available, and that the exemption can be claimed safely with all due consideration to other road users. Exemptions listed below:

7. Emergency Driving Procedures

The overarching principle is the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 87 which permits the use of exemptions by the driver whereby otherwise the vehicle may be hindered for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

The over-riding priority in all driving situations is the safety of staff, patients, passengers and other road users. It is essential that ambulance vehicles are driven at a speed where the vehicle can be stopped within the driver’s range of vision. Speed must be conducive to the prevailing road, weather and traffic conditions existing at the time. The speed must be compatible with the patient’s condition and that allows the attendant to safely provide the appropriate level of care. Coast Medic cannot prescribe for all situations or circumstances that a driver may face. Therefore, it is as important for the driver to decide on the use or non-use of exemptions on a case-by-case basis.

On receipt of a call requiring an emergency driving response, the crew will immediately progress to the given location by the quickest route available using appropriate visual warnings devices, together with audible warning devices as considered necessary. The route will normally be pre-selected by the satellite navigation system, although staff can apply local knowledge and judgement in avoiding matters such as roadworks and known traffic delays. In cases where a pre-selected route is not available through an electronic system the attendant will establish the most direct route using a map book and where appropriate provide the navigation guidance.

Except when on emergency calls, drivers are bound by the restrictions on waiting, sounding of audible warning devices and positioning on the road when stationary. An ambulance is only exempt from such regulations if conformity would hinder its use for its intended purpose. Where no exemption applies and the driver incurs parking fines, a fixed penalty notice and/or a summons, it will be their responsibility to address these and resolve the matter with their line manager. All staff are reminded that they must declare all such matters. The Business will not cover the cost of any financial penalties that are incurred in this regard.

In the interests of both safety and legal requirements, drivers should not normally use a handheld device, which is not docked in a suitable carrier mounted in the vehicle. This includes the use of mobile phones, mobile data terminal (MDT) and navigation systems whilst driving or manoeuvring a vehicle. The wearing of headphones or earpieces, other than those connected to an airwave radio, must not be used when driving Coast Medic vehicles.

The domestic radio must be switched off when responding to emergency calls.

7.1 Audible and Visual Warnings

The claiming of legal exemptions whilst using audible and visual warnings is always the responsibility of the driver.

Visual warnings (blue lights) should be used when responding to all calls requiring an emergency driving response. Such a call can be defined as a call originating from a 999 call; a call from another health care professional or a call appropriately authorised and made in connection with ambulance purposes. Audible and visual warnings may also be used when conveying a patient to hospital where the patient’s condition justifies their application. The use of audible warnings is permitted throughout the 24-hour period and may be used at the driver’s discretion.

Drivers should ensure that audible warning devices are activated in good time to help, warn or inform other road users and give them adequate time to react.

 In situations where it is evident that passage cannot be safely gained through, sirens should be turned off to avoid causing other road users to feel intimated or panicked.

Unnecessary use of audible warning devices, especially at night can cause disturbance to the public. However, the most overriding decision when using them is to achieve progress and arrive safely at an incident.

Use of audible warning devices whilst en-route to hospitals may not ease the feelings or condition of a conscious patient and it will be particularly important to reassure the patient when they need to be used.

Audible and visual warnings are not to be used when routinely returning to the base station unless directed by EOC, for example to hand the vehicle to another crew to respond to an emergency call.

It is always the responsibility to the driver to claim legal exemptions and be capable of justifying them in law, should the need arise.

It is normal that as a call develops, the category may change. Drivers are expected to drive in accordance with the information available at the time and to dynamically assess and re-assess the situation.

Unless the vehicle is likely to be kept at an incident for an extended time, the blue lights, hazard warning lamps and rear red flashing lights should be kept on as a scene protection whilst stationary were deemed necessary. Where parking and displaying hazard warning lights may be obstructed by another stationery vehicle and confusion created to other road users by the signal they can see, consideration should be given as to their ongoing use.

Rapid Response Vehicles are far less visible than ambulances, and generally do not provide the driver with the same level of vision as from an ambulance cab. Equally, such vehicles may not always be as visible to other road users, so staff must constantly bear these factors in mind when responding to emergency calls.

7.2 Exemptions

All drivers are reminded that they are obliged under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007, the Road Traffic Act 1988, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Road Safety Act 2006 to afford, at all times, the maximum protection to other road users and to drive with care and consideration for other road users. At no time must the vehicle be driven recklessly, or in a manner, or at a speed likely to cause danger to another road user (including those near to but not on the road). The only circumstances in which these exemptions can be considered are during the initial response to an emergency call, or when the patient’s condition warrants the emergency transfer to a treatment facility.

The Driver must always be able to justify the need for claiming of any exemptions and the manner in which it was claimed, possibly in a court of law.

7.3 Exemptions during an emergency response

Progress through Road Works

Roadwork areas are created to protect the safety of the workforce, their engineering equipment and to segregate the travelling public.

Although the road surface at the entry may be secure and safe, hazards may be encountered in the road further on (e.g., holes, loose surfaces, dips etc).

Ambulance vehicles will not enter or pass through coned off roadworks, even when responding to emergency calls, unless invited by contractors. On such occasions the speed limit for the site must be adhered to and warning equipment operated. Before entering, look for signage on the method of contacting the site safety manager/contractors before proceeding where applicable.

Non-Exemptions

There are no exemptions for the driver of an ambulance vehicle, even when responding to an emergency call, from the following list:

• Dangerous Driving
• Careless Driving
• Failing to stop if involved in a Road Traffic Incident
• Dangerous Parking
• Driving without wearing a seat belt (please refer to Section 6.5)
• Failing to obey traffic lights controlling a railway level crossing or fire station
• Crossing or straddling a solid white line nearest to you down the middle of the road (other than those occasions listed in the Highway Code, or if you have to pass a maintenance vehicle, a pedal cyclist or a horse being ridden, all of which must be travelling at less than 10mph)
• Failing to obey a ‘STOP’ or ‘GIVE WAY’ sign*
• Failing to obey a ‘NO ENTRY’ sign*
• Failing to obey a ‘ONE WAY TRAFFIC’ sign

Unless instructed to by a Police Officer or Traffic Warden in uniform ** Unless covered by a local authority notice

24.2.      There is no legal definition of what would or would not constitute justification for ’claiming ambulance exemptions\\\’. However, the following guidance is given as to what would not normally consider justification:

• Attending meetings.
• Attending court or any other official engagement.
• Booking off at the end of a tour of duty.
• Taking refreshments.
• Familiarising yourself with a new make or model of vehicle. If this is felt necessary, then the employee should consult the Business lead for Driver Training
• Attending a briefing unless it relates to an immediate, on-going incident such as, major or critical incidents etc and authorised by EOC/Silver level manager.
• When ’on call’ unless the staff member is driving a Coast Medic vehicle and is called out to attend an incident, such as the above, as a matter of urgency and authorised by EOC/Silver level manager with an associated CAD reference.
• Using an ambulance vehicle for work to home or home to work journeys.
• Using your own vehicle whilst on duty or on call, for example responding to a recall to duty incident.

Floodlights and Alley Lights

25.1.      White lights, other than reversing lights, are allowed and can be used to the rear and/or side of an ambulance whilst stationary, to illuminate an incident. Floodlights are not to be used whilst the vehicle is in motion.

25.2.      Some vehicles are fitted with alley lights to assist with the searching for an address and operate at speeds under 10mph. When manual use is required, these should only be used at under 10mph.

Negotiating Rough Ground/ Vehicle Use Off Road

26.1.      Unless the vehicle being used is specifically designed for use off-road and the driver has been trained / familiarised to drive in such circumstances, the vehicle should not normally be used off-road e.g., do not drive onto fields

26.2.      There will be occasions when there is an urgent operational necessity for a vehicle to be taken into an off-road situation. However, this should be treated as a last resort.

26.3.      The term off-road covers many varied areas and types of surface and can include footpaths, bridleways, canal towpaths, parks, parkland, alleyways, rough ground or common land etc.

26.4.      This list is not intended to be exhaustive and a commonsense approach should be taken in determining what is off-road or not.

26.5.      Drivers should be aware that the vehicle may perform differently and that there are other dangers in such situations. The following factors should be taken into account:

• Consider assessing the area on foot.
• Handling characteristics.
• Traction available.
• Braking distances.
• Ground clearance reduced (serious risk of underside damage).
• Approach angle. 
• Ramp angle.
• Departure angle.
• Available vision – forward and lateral.
• Pedestrians, pedal cyclists etc. may not expect a vehicle and not act as assumed.
• Vehicle getting stuck.
• Environmental damage.
• Legality of using vehicle in that location.

26.6.      Approach Angle – The angle between the front tyre of a vehicle and the lowest point of the vehicle forward of the wheel.

26.7.      Ramp Angle – The angle between the tyre and the underside of the vehicle midway between the wheel centres.

26.8.      Departure Angle – The angle between the rear tyre and the rear lowest point of the vehicle.

26.9.      Every effort must be made to avoid a Service vehicle being driven off road unless it has been designed to do so and the driver trained to use it in these conditions, as this may cause the vehicle to get bogged-down and/or cause damage to the vehicle or property, e.g., playing fields. When driving onto a property all reasonable permissions of the owner should be obtained and steps taken to avoid damage to premises consistent with needs of the patient.

26.10.   If it is necessary to negotiate prepared or soft ground to reach the patient and driving over the area is likely to cause damage, crews should approach the patient on foot and give consideration to the way in which the patient will be conveyed back to the ambulance.

26.11.   In the event of any uncertainties about the surface, staff must not commit the Vehicle until they have satisfied themselves that the vehicle will not sink and become impeded.

Reversing & Manoeuvring

Double Resourced Vehicles:

27.1.      Prior to reversing, the driver must agree with a responsible assisting person (for example other ambulance staff, police officer, Highways Agency Traffic Officer, fire fighter) a safe path for the vehicle to take. They will then act as a guide and the driver must not reverse until they have checked that the area into which the vehicle is to travel is clear. The assistant must then stand in the position outside of the vehicle from which they can best be seen and heard by the driver. Verbal instructions alone are inadequate as they may be drowned out by the vehicle engine or other noise. For added safety, where possible assistants should wear their Hi Vis jacket/tabard whilst assisting the reversing or manoeuvring of the vehicle into position.

27.2.      When the assistant’s view is restricted from the front or side of the vehicle, they should take up a position towards the rear of the vehicle. Eye contact must be maintained between the driver and assistant. Where the attendant is working with the patient and other assistance cannot be achieved. Extreme care and cautions should be taken to complete the manoeuvring task.

27.3.      A driver who does not obtain assistance when they could reasonably do so will be held responsible for any collision or damage that occurs.

27.4.      Where it is not possible to gain assistance, the principles shown under the single resourced vehicles section should be applied.

Single Resourced vehicles

28.1.      The vehicle must not be reversed until the driver is satisfied that the way is clear and sufficient space exists for the manoeuvre to be completed safely. Even then particular care must be taken in case a person approaches unseen behind the vehicle. There should be no hesitation by the driver in calling on other persons to assist with reversing manoeuvres. Where necessary, the driver should get out of the vehicle and carry out an adequate assessment prior to the manoeuvre.

28.2.      A driver who does not obtain assistance when they could reasonably do so will be held responsible for any collision that occurs.

Reversing during the hours of darkness

29.1.      Additional caution must be exercised when reversing during the hours of darkness, and when visibility is reduced by weather and environmental factors.

29.2.      All reversing manoeuvres must be carried out at low speed and where fitted the reversing alarm and/or cameras should be used. Staff must remain mindful that reversing aides have limitations and are not a substitute for the attendant / passenger alighting from the vehicle to assist. Discretion should be used during night periods with regard to the use of audible reversing and tail lift alarms.

Police Escorts

30.1.      Drivers should be aware that the Police Services will only provide an escort under very specific circumstances. Both services have agreed that Ambulance staff are skilled and appropriately trained drivers in their own right and that a police escort is usually unnecessary. What circumstance of exception arise; this should be discussed with a manager?

Leading or following other emergency vehicles

31.1.      Other road users may not anticipate a second emergency vehicle and may not behave as you may normally anticipate when emergency driving. Other road users may close into the gap created once the lead vehicle has passed. This provides an increased risk of a collision occurring.

31.2.      Drivers must not directly escort or follow any ambulance vehicle to an incident. Under no circumstances should a vehicle follow or escort another ambulance to a hospital under emergency conditions.

31.3.      Where a situation arises where two emergency vehicles find themselves in close proximity attending an incident, the second vehicle should drop back to a sufficient distance to be able to drive independently so as to minimise the risk above. Drivers should also use different siren tones to help inform other road users of the presence of more than one emergency vehicle.

31.4.      Drivers should avoid, in so far as is possible, driving under emergency conditions in convoy. It is recognised that in exceptional circumstances such as major incidents, this may be unavoidable and extreme caution should be taken.

31.5.      In exceptional cases, such as serious burns or conveyance of a spinal case when a slow journey is required, police may assist with a ‘slow ambulance journey’. Only a Senior Manager may make a request for a ‘slow journey’ escort. This must be agreed with the police supervisor in the relevant Police Service operations centre.

31.6.      Before commencement of the journey the crew must liaise with the police driver. They will jointly determine the route to be taken and appropriate speed to be travelled. This will be determined by the patient’s condition and treatment being given.

31.7.      It is best practice to ensure that a line of communication is established between the ambulance crew and police escort.

31.8.      When following the police escort the following factors must be considered by the driver:

• Separation distance between vehicles must be compatible to prevailing traffic conditions (i.e., not so close that a collision with the Police escort vehicle could occur upon harsh braking, nor too far back as to allow other traffic to move into the space between)
• During the journey, drivers should attempt to use a different audible warning tone to that being emitted by the Police escorting vehicle to help alert other road users to more than one emergency vehicle. Although the use of audible warnings must always be applied at the discretion of the driver, they should be utilised in unison with those of the Police vehicle wherever possible.
• Be cautious and aware of vehicles pulling out behind the police escort vehicle.
• The driver must be aware that the ambulance in many instances is larger than the escort vehicle so more room will be needed to proceed through closing gaps. Larger vehicles generally have longer stopping distances.

31.9.      Accurate driving plans, good forward vision, hazard perception and close co – operation with the police escort vehicle will determine the success of police escort journeys.

High Security Police Convoys

32.1.      Staff will be aware that the Police/security services occasionally provide a high security escort function for vehicles carrying VIPs such as members of the Royal Family and to respond to specific operations. Escort vehicles are often highly liveried motorcycles and/or cars, but on occasion are unmarked vehicles using various configurations of audible and visual warning devices and may display warning signs in rear windows instructing not to pass.

32.2.      In recognising that terrorist and security threats that are now part of daily life, it is essential that crews remain mindful of how their presence and vicinity may be perceived by security forces when operating in close proximity to police convoys. The potential for criminals to use stolen/bogus ambulance vehicles as a means to breach security measures is widely accepted as an on-going risk.

32.3.      Staff should therefore adopt the following practices when encountering a high security convoy under emergency driving conditions:

• Use continuous audible and visual warnings to highlight your presence to the escort group.
• Reduce driving speed on approach, and if appropriate, wait until you have been signalled through by the escort if the circumstances require you to ‘give way’. If in doubt hold back and await clear signal from the security vehicle.
• Avoid coming between escort vehicles and their ‘principal’ vehicle or joining the convoy. Avoid following closely and if necessary be prepared to stop and allow a reassuring distance to be created between you.
• Give principal vehicles as much space as the circumstances reasonably allow.
• Be aware that such convoys may change direction with little or no advance warning.
• Always be mindful of how your approach may be interpreted by the escort group.
• Keep both hands visible on the steering wheel to the security convoy.