Question for the Ambos...

388cube_edxr8 · 30-12-2010, 12:43 AM

Lo all

Sitting at a set of lights today, it went green but I stayed put as an Ambulance station wagon running lights and siren had run the red and was cautiously making his way across the intersection. Before you ask, no I did not have a problem with his driving. He conducted himself in a very safe and predictable manner.

No, my gripe is with his vehicle. Once clear of the intersection, he nearly punched the loud pedal through the firewall, and the Commodore V6 wailed its little head off and... nothing. The wagon took an eternity to even reach the 60 speed limit again, and then there was another red light.

My question is, why are the heroes charged with saving lives burdened with V6 Commodores and Diesel vans? Is it a budget thing? What is a human life worth nowadays?

**Dave R** · 30-12-2010, 12:50 AM

Are there even any vehicles out there that are big enough and sufficiently quick?

3vXT · 30-12-2010, 12:56 AM

I'd hazard a guess and say that in most cases the difference in travel time between a V6 commodore and a more powerful car would be reasonably small. It's not like they are doing quarter mile sprints, the amount of traffic on the road would make more of a difference imo.

In saying that though, I'd rather they were pushing along something cooler than a V6 commodore though, those big merc vans seem to get about easy enough considering how much they must weigh. Whatever does the job best should get preference though.

388cube_edxr8 · 30-12-2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Are there even any vehicles out there that are big enough and sufficiently quick?

Probably not but surely an extra 2 cylinders is not too much to ask. I mean, it's not like they need a Senator.

74_XB_Ute · 30-12-2010, 01:14 AM

Might depend on where the ambulance is operating like in busy cities that kinda thing. The vans and stationwagons are are quite narrow in width which is probably good for city traffic compared to the ole' F100. Being a 6cyl...I dont know....maybe a carbon footprint thingy for the ambo department?????? usually seems to rate as important in companies these days.

SLO AU XR8 · 30-12-2010, 02:22 AM

Was that on Ipswich Rd by chance? If so, I also saw that. It struggled to do 100km/h!

ST · 30-12-2010, 02:50 AM

An ambulance driver does not require a vehicle that goes from 0-100 in 5 seconds flat. The Commodore v6 will easily reach 100km/h within an adequate amount of time, drivers have to be constantly on the lookout for everything else on the road and will have very few opportunities to drive flatout.

This is not a drag race or a car chase, it's safe and efficient driving in an emergency situation.

GOLDIE · 30-12-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST

An ambulance driver does not require a vehicle that goes from 0-100 in 5 seconds flat. The Commodore v6 will easily reach 100km/h within an adequate amount of time, drivers have to be constantly on the lookout for everything else on the road and will have very few opportunities to drive flatout.

This is not a drag race or a car chase, it's safe and efficient driving in an emergency situation.

Being the partner of a qld ambo i can tell mate you are a fool.
On a number of sides.
first you are having a heart attack you want them there asap these **** boxes with twice there normal wieght are useless so you have a chance of diing.
They are unsafe as they can not get though the traffice qiuck enough.
They are also dangerous for the ambo driving it.

Ian

ST · 30-12-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDIE

Being the partner of a qld ambo i can tell mate you are a fool.
On a number of sides.
first you are having a heart attack you want them there asap these **** boxes with twice there normal wieght are useless so you have a chance of diing.
They are unsafe as they can not get though the traffice qiuck enough.
They are also dangerous for the ambo driving it.

Ian

I can't really understand what you are saying, but I'm getting the idea that you are calling me a fool for thinking that an ambulance driver prioritises his surroundings over straight line speed and performance? Is that it?

GOLDIE · 30-12-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST

I can't really understand what you are saying, but I'm getting the idea that you are calling me a fool for thinking that an ambulance driver prioritises his surroundings over straight line speed and performance? Is that it?

No they dont just go for straight line speed but and ambulance that has no pick up like this is more dangerous to all involve and they also need straight line speed to get to the person in trouble.

Ian

Spudz27 · 30-12-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDIE

No they dont just go for straight line speed but and ambulance that has no pick up like this is more dangerous to all involve and they also need straight line speed to get to the person in trouble.

Ian

As a driver of an ambulance I am going to tell you safety comes first. A car with no pickup is not dangerous as you are meant to be driving to conditions, not just flooring it. I can tell you right now I will never exceed 85 in a 60 zone, 95 in a 70 zone, 100 in an 80 zone and never faster than 130. The tyres are not even rated to go faster than 140km and I do not care the situation, my safety, my partners safety and the public around me come first whilst I am driving. Yes the patient is also a priority, but there is no need to drive 100km plus in 60 zones, so I am not sure how saying a car with no pickup is dangerous to everyone involved. By your logic our Sprinter vans are dangerous.

ST · 30-12-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDIE

No they dont just go for straight line speed but and ambulance that has no pick up like this is more dangerous to all involve and they also need straight line speed to get to the person in trouble.

Ian

More power probably would be beneficial but there are so many more factors and variables to consider.

pottery beige · 30-12-2010, 07:45 AM

11 sec ambos with people sliding out the back would be real cool ey........

burnz · 30-12-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

Lo all

Sitting at a set of lights today, it went green but I stayed put as an Ambulance station wagon running lights and siren had run the red and was cautiously making his way across the intersection. Before you ask, no I did not have a problem with his driving. He conducted himself in a very safe and predictable manner.

No, my gripe is with his vehicle. Once clear of the intersection, he nearly punched the loud pedal through the firewall, and the Commodore V6 wailed its little head off and... nothing. The wagon took an eternity to even reach the 60 speed limit again, and then there was another red light.

My question is, why are the heroes charged with saving lives burdened with V6 Commodores and Diesel vans? Is it a budget thing? What is a human life worth nowadays?

was it a question for the ambo's??
or something to whinge about another commo bashing rant??

388cube_edxr8 · 30-12-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnz

was it a question for the ambo's??
or something to whinge about another commo bashing rant??

Take from it what you will. I had no intent to 'commo bash'. You obviously have your own preconceived notions of the quality of Commodores if that's the first thing your mind jumped to, especially as further down the thread, before your post, I mentioned that I thought a V8 Commodore would be a better choice.

Curiously, how much of your allowance did you give to AFF to become a 'Donating Member'?

But that's a bit

ST · 30-12-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

Take from it what you will. I had no intent to 'commo bash'. You obviously have your own preconceived notions of the quality of Commodores if that's the first thing your mind jumped to, especially as further down the thread, before your post, I mentioned that I thought a V8 Commodore would be a better choice.

Curiously, how much of your allowance did you give to AFF to become a 'Donating Member'?

But that's a bit

No burnz just knows like most of us that some members here take any opportunity to insult the red team and expect the entire forum to jump on the bandwagon with them. Unfortunately for those members (such as yourself) most around here are a bit more informed and level-headed.

I just want to point this out in case you didn't notice (I even spaced it out for you):
You created a thread. Bashing an engine. Powering an ambulance.

388cube_edxr8 · 30-12-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST

No burnz just knows like most of us that some members here take any opportunity to insult the red team and expect the entire forum to jump on the bandwagon with them. Unfortunately for those members (such as yourself) most around here are a bit more informed and level-headed.

I just want to point this out in case you didn't notice (I even spaced it out for you):
You created a thread. Bashing an engine. Powering an ambulance.

For ***** sake. Is there anyone on here with an IQ higher than Forest Gump who can make a post without trying to flame me for Commodore bashing?

It could have been a bloody Mercedes V6 wagon, the make of vehicle is not the point.

GeckoGT, where are you mate?

RedHotGT · 30-12-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

For ***** sake. Is there anyone on here with an IQ higher than Forest Gump who can make a post without trying to flame me for Commodore bashing?

It could have been a bloody Mercedes V6 wagon, the make of vehicle is not the point.

GeckoGT, where are you mate?

I fail to see what you are trying to point out anyway with the OP??

So - what you saw was a V6 station wagon (no brand bashing) and it took a while to get to 100km/h... lets say 10 seconds...

If the ambo was a V8 - he could have done it in 6 seconds...

So - to save 4 seconds possibly... are you're suggesting that ambulances need to be performance cars??

Ambulance Drivers aren't race drivers, and our streets aren't race tracks... They still have to abide to the laws of physics and common sense when they have the red and blues flashing... Why increase the costs of running the vehicles if its not necessary, or for such a slight gain???

They would save more time getting to their patient if OTHER people on the road paid more attention and got out of the way...

ST · 30-12-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

For ***** sake. Is there anyone on here with an IQ higher than Forest Gump who can make a post without trying to flame me for Commodore bashing?

It could have been a bloody Mercedes V6 wagon, the make of vehicle is not the point.

GeckoGT, where are you mate?

Nice bit of hostility there, exactly where did the attack on my IQ come from? Was it my inability to articulate my thoughts into an easily comprehensible and structured format?

When you target a specific engine, mention it twice in the same post, describe it in an unflattering fashion and exaggerate the lack of urgency in which it reached a given speed that is very obviously bashing.

Try being a little less childish and a little more indiscriminate if you want your posts to be taken seriously (oh and insulting people doesn't help either).

ST · 30-12-2010, 08:26 AM

^Whether or not intentional those are completely rhetorical questions.

The maturity level on this forum never fails to sink to new lows.

Road Games · 30-12-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST

^Whether or not intentional those are completely rhetorical questions.

The maturity level on this forum never fails to sink to new lows.

Agreed

It seemed like a completely reasonable question to ask 388cube edxr8 ?

burnz · 30-12-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST

^Whether or not intentional those are completely rhetorical questions.

The maturity level on this forum never fails to sink to new lows.

the questions were deliberately rhetorical as the oringinal post has merit.."are fast response vehicle's under powered".

my intentions were to reverse troll psychoanalyze the thread to stop it from being muddied..

sorry if i offended anyone..
388 cube nothing personal.

xisled · 30-12-2010, 08:31 AM

When I had my motor bike accident and was transported from one hospital to another. The Ambo in teh back with me was complaining about the size of the ambulance, he like poeple should wright to the government and complain, because he said it was to small.

GOLDIE · 30-12-2010, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xisled

When I had my motor bike accident and was transported from one hospital to another. The Ambo in teh back with me was complaining about the size of the ambulance, he like poeple should wright to the government and complain, because he said it was to small.

They do complain but the goverments dont listern all theyy are worried about is the bottom line in the budget this also goes for there pay and number of ambos.

Ian

partner of a qld ambo

GS608 · 30-12-2010, 08:40 AM

I haven't seen a V6 Commodore wagon in years down here, they're almost exclusively using Subie Foresters now.

20focus05 · 30-12-2010, 08:57 AM

Many years ago when the F-250? started being used with the V8 one clocked 250km/h in North SA. A unit that left before this ambo was doing 160 and was past like it was standing still.
The accident was a long way from town.
After that they go speed limited!

AWD Chaser · 30-12-2010, 09:53 AM

take a look at this:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/scie...nces-video.htm

This is of the TV show "How do they Do it". It's about the design, testing and building of a modern van (MIC) ambulance.

Pretty interesting.

pottery beige · 30-12-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20focus05

Many years ago when the F-250? started being used with the V8 one clocked 250km/h in North SA. A unit that left before this ambo was doing 160 and was past like it was standing still.
The accident was a long way from town.
After that they go speed limited!

250kmh.. i call bs....

Jim Goose · 30-12-2010, 09:51 AM

What ambo drivers need is people who get out of the way... time spent waiting on idiots to do the right is what causes delays, not the difference between a V8 and a V6.

How many V8 Police cars do you see (hear) these days?

Bobman · 30-12-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

How many V8 Police cars do you see (hear) these days?

Heaps. Most of the Victoria Police TMU cars are SS Commodores with only 5% being XR6 Turbos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaFlash

mate i reckon they need louder sirens too, windows up no music, i cant hear jack, i usually use my trusty eyes even when goin through green lights.

Already happening. This was identified a little while ago and apparently new sirens are being installed for the Ambulance Victoria fleet.