§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when new regulations relating to fines for speeding and red light offences for ambulance drivers will take effect; and whether they will apply to(a) all vehicles used by the ambulance service, including unmarked cars and motorcycles, (b) private ambulance drivers, (c) vehicles carrying donor organs for transplant, (d) vehicles transporting surgical teams for transplant operations and (e) journeys that are not initiated by a 999 call. [184792]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe new protocol issued by the Association for Chief Police Officers for dealing with speeding and red light offences committed by emergency service vehicles, took effect from 1 July 2004. The new protocol states that if an emergency service vehicle is caught speeding or going through a red light by a safety camera, a notice of intended prosecution will not be sent to the offending organisation if blue lights can be seen flashing on the photograph.
The protocol also states that if blue lights cannot be seen flashing, the police will send the normal section 172 form and a Notice of Intended Prosecution, together with a standard exemption form.
The protocol applies to all marked emergency ambulance vehicles being used for ambulance purposes.
The protocol only applies to emergency service vehicles.
If the vehicle transporting the organ is a marked emergency ambulance vehicle, the protocol covers such journeys.
If the vehicle transporting the surgical team is a marked emergency ambulance vehicle, the protocol covers such journeys.
The protocol applies to every ambulance journey undertaken by a marked emergency ambulance vehicle as defined in (a) above.