Emergency Vehicles and Dangerous Driving
Agenda item 4 concerns emergency vehicles and dangerous driving. I refer members to the note that has been prepared by the clerk, which sets out recent correspondence from the Scottish Executive and from the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association regarding the driver training programmes that are provided for emergency service drivers. I invite the committee to comment on the correspondence that it has received.
One of the issues that we have raised is whether there is enough information for the general public on how to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Most of us have probably been in the situation where there is total chaos on the road and no one knows what to do. People know that they should stop, but they often stop in the most awkward positions. The Executive's response is that the highway code contains a provision that tells people what to do. That is all very well, but perhaps some public information on the best way in which to deal with emergency vehicles on the road might highlight the provisions in the highway code. The essential element of petition PE111—the aftermath of the correspondence on which we are dealing with, although the petition is now closed—is the standard of driving. A number of incidents were referred to in the petition, which was from Frank Harvey.
I agree with you about people's ignorance of the highway code in respect of what to do in such situations. Perhaps we should highlight that to the Executive. The Executive has a budget for funding public education and information programmes, and perhaps it could consider such a programme.
I was reasonably pleased with the letters that we received, particularly the one from CACFOA, which seems to be making progress towards uniformity of training. Six of the eight brigades already have in place much of what was requested, and it would appear that the other two are determined to do so. My only slight concern—perhaps I am being overly picky with the wording of the letter—is in relation to the last paragraph, which says:
"Within Grampian Fire and Rescue Services, officers selected to be temporarily promoted into posts that require response driving skills also receive appropriate training to equip them with the necessary skills."
Officers who are suddenly temporarily promoted to the rank of assistant divisional officer, and are given a vehicle with a blue light on top, may never have driven under blue-light conditions until that set of keys is handed over. I would like further clarification of and information on what is deemed to be appropriate training. Is it an hour out with an instructor? Is it more than that? Is it a guidance note, telling the officer that they should do X, Y and Z? Because of my background I am aware of concern about that, but the matter was also raised by the Fire Brigades Union and others.
It would be particularly helpful to know whether the fire brigades driver training group and the sub-committee that has been established by CACFOA to consider aligning training among the different brigades will consider that issue. Judging by the papers that we have received, the issue would seem to be relevant to the remit of the sub-committee, which is trying to standardise the competence-based development programme.
Before we close our work on the outcome of the petition, we should have those two points clarified. CACFOA responds to the question of the highway code and the public's knowledge of what to do. It supports the view that public information should be made more widely available.
The letter from CACFOA says:
"I have previously campaigned to have an inclusion in the Highway Code on this matter."
My reading of that is that CACFOA's interpretation of the highway code is that there is nothing in it on this matter, yet it would appear from the Executive's response that the highway code contains such a provision. It may be worth flagging up that point to CACFOA, if it is running some type of public information programme.
I will read the provision in the highway code and we might see what the problem is. It states:
"You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights, headlights or sirens. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of the emergency vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass."
Taking appropriate action to let the emergency vehicle pass is not that easy if it is a busy road and no one knows where to start piling on to the side of the road. The highway code continues:
"If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but do not endanger other road users."
There is a provision in the highway code—that is it. A bit of public information could be made available on what that provision means. If a driver stops in the middle of the road, that is not helpful to a fire engine that is behind them and there might not be any space for the driver to pull in.
I am not sure that saying "do not panic" is of much help.
When people are told not to panic, there is a tendency for them to panic.
It reminds me of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" rather than the highway code.
It might be worth getting CACFOA's view on whether the provisions in the highway code are sufficient; if it thinks that they are not, it may want to take that up with the relevant minister, who may be able to address the issue.
We should include the previous two points and make reference to the provision in the highway code. The response from CACFOA states that it has campaigned previously to have the issue included in the highway code, yet there is a provision in the code. We should clarify that point. We should state that this is a reserved issue and that we cannot do anything about that point, but that the existence of the provision in the code could be promoted and some public information work could be done on it. We could copy the letter to the Executive, which would save us having to write to it separately.
Members indicated agreement.