AUXILIARY WARNING LIGHTS

Warning systems/lights for auxiliary’s private vehicles is a topic that seems to crop up from time to time, and recently it came to light again as a topic on a ‘forum’ at www.hmcoastguard.co.uk.

The initial post asks whether CG Auxiliaries, Lifeboat Crews & Fire Service volunteers, should be allowed to use some form of warning system, i.e. (Coloured Light/Alternating headlights), to warn other road users that auxiliaries are attending a shout, when in they’re own vehicles?

One respondent joked that the answer would be to issue everyone with a blue light equipped fully marked Coast Rescue Vehicle, but correctly summed up by saying that HMCG wouldn’t even pay for the lights, let alone anything else.

The dilemma he says "is that on behalf of most of his colleagues at Portland we are very appreciative of traffic situations and response times. In fact it bloody annoys me when people start talking about 30 minutes to get on scene especially in places like Exmouth and Poole and other areas of the country, there can be real hold ups.

He ends up saying that he personally thinks that all cg's on the coast should be given a proper police approved blue light course for situations where the MRU is being used.

Another respondent says, "My personal view on Auxiliaries having lights for getting to the CRE is that it would be a bad thing. If anyone has ever seen an unmarked police vehicle trying to make its way through traffic you will know why. It is very confusing when you see a vehicle, which is not painted white with yellow and red stripes; most people haven't got a clue.

There doesn’t seem to be an obvious answer to the puzzle, so Coastguard News contacted the MCA and other emergency organisations for a response about policy in this area.

Mark Clark of the MCA Public Relations department said: "The fitting of blue lights to peoples personal vehicles is not and will not under any circumstances be permitted. The Police will prosecute anyone illegally fitting such a device.

"Even in the police, blue light driver training is only given to pursuit drivers. HMCG do not provide this training, as it is not a requirement. All drivers are still subject to the road traffic laws whether they have blue lights and horns going. It gives them no special privileges. The alarms are there to advise other road users of the vehicles presence and that it is on a service. The Training centre is currently producing a video for the coast of Blue Light driving awareness".

The response from the MCA was to be expected, but Coastguard News was surprised by the response from Hugh F J Fogarty, Staff Officer Operations (Inshore Lifeboats).

Mr. Fogarty says, "RNLI would not want ALL crew to be allowed to use Blue Flashing lights (BFL) as many are young and not trained in the way that professional drivers are. Also the vehicles used are privately owned and RNLI has no control over the type or condition of crewmembers vehicles.

"Currently we use high-visibility windscreen placards to indicate that a crew member is responding.

"A Green Flashing light would be better for crew use as the public are used to this as an indication that a doctor is trying to make headway through traffic but is not associated with hi-speed driving and calculated flouting of the Highway Code.

"However, there are some stations where the crew assemble at a point central to the area of population so as to only use one vehicle to access a remote boathouse (e.g. Padstow, Kirkcudbright etc) and these vehicles (RNLI owned) should carry BFL.  Usually they have to negotiate single track roads often filled with tourists.

"In addition all vehicles used to launch Lifeboats whether the largest crawler tractor down to the ATV quad bikes should be fitted with BFL’s to indicate to traffic and pedestrians alike that the vehicle is an Emergency Service Vehicle and on service".

The RNLI response seems to run par with many ideas put forward by auxiliaries over the years, and despite personally being against many suggestions I feel this one justifies the support of Coastguard News.

A police spokesperson remarked that BFL’s would not be an idea that they could support, and went along the track of ‘better getting there later – than not at all’.

In certain areas some Fire crew have in the past fitted personal vehicles with BFL’s. A spokesperson for the Fire service acknowledged this fact and said that those members who used BFL’s received a warning and told to remove them.

He added, some officers have BFL’s on unmarked cars, but these are official Fire Service vehicles and insured as such. They are used mainly in remote areas.

Coastguard News contacted Mountain Rescue for a response, but has not received a reply.

Through the discussion at the forum other ideas have come forward and we would urge you to visit HM. Coastguard.co.uk and see them for yourself, and perhaps add to the discussion.

Of all the responses we received, RNLI seem to offer the most constructive idea about a way forward that would appeal to the majority of organisations we contacted. Indeed, we feel it is probably one that will receive most support from within the ranks of the Coastguard Auxiliary Service and Coastguard as a whole as it offers a visual warning that road-users are already aware of, and does away with the need for specialist training that the BFL’s would require.

The fact that the MCA Training centre is currently producing a video for the coast of Blue Light driving awareness should also be of great value.

Individually, there is nothing to stop you from taking an advanced driving course that takes in much of what is required for driving with BFL’s. Blue Light Driving is not just about speed, but knowing how to control your vehicle in difficult circumstances.