Fire Engine Crash

[Western SMT]

Eleven people have been taken to hospital following a collision involving a fire engine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8250244.stm

[Western SMT]

CCTV footage of accident

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8251504.stm

[G-CPTN]

Woa!
Traffic lights at red for the Fire Engine? (leastways green for the car IMO).

At least the Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene . . . ;-(

[Western SMT]

We assume if one set of lights are green the other set are at red but –

Quote

The traffic lights where the accident occurred have been recently installed and residents said were only turned on at the start of the week and some resident’s spoke of problems with the lights.

http://www.heartdunstable.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1495419

[G-CPTN]

A man has died in hospital nearly a month after a crash in Luton involving a fire engine.
More at:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8295994.stm

[coastie]

There has to be something "mechanically" or, more likely, "electrically" wrong somewhere. No Emergency driver would ever go through a red light at that speed.

[G-CPTN]

A firefighter has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after the engine he was driving was in collision with a car in Luton.

From (and more at):- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8576403.stm

[coastie]

There has to be more to this than meets the eye surely?
It is an unfortunate situation, but I think that if this prosecution goes ahead, other Emergency drivers will be forced to think twice at lights and may decide on not going through them thus wasting vital minutes.

[G-CPTN]

The taxi (approaching from the left) obviously saw the fire-engine coming and stopped. Traffic coming in the opposite direction (to the taxi) was shrouded by the building.
First watch the video here:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8251504.stm
then watch the video here (00.05 to 00.08):- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8250244.stm
to appreciate the 'terrain'.

I know the junction well, having lived in Luton and worked there for many years.

The fire-engine was 'moving' . . .

[Western SMT]

Taken from Fire Service info

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

Regulation 33(1)(b). Under this regulation a red traffic light may be treated as a 'Give Way' sign when observance would hinder the purpose for which the vehicle is being used and provided that no danger is caused to other road users and that the driver of another vehicle is not caused to change speed or course to avoid an accident. Taking advantage of this exemption is likely to bring a fire service vehicle into conflict with other road users including pedestrians, and it will almost always be necessary to reduce speed and use warning horns or bells as well as warning lights while doing so.


Similar story from 2008

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/08/06/driver-of-fatal-crash-fire-engine-did-not-give-way-at-red-light-court-told-86908-20686060/

[G-CPTN]

A Bedfordshire firefighter has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving after the appliance he was driving to an emergency was involved in a crash.

More at:- http://www.woodhousetoday.co.uk/latest-east-anglia-news/Firefighter-in-court-after-fatal.6180566.jp