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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => General Interest => Topic started by: wellscrambled on August 09, 2007, 10:20:09 PM
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I left the fire service a few years ago now but I recently came across the following idea and thought that would be useful for when inconsiderate people block access for emergency vehicles. The service is called Park Angel (link is http://www.parkangel.co.uk/cart.php?page=home) and they provide a means to contact a car owner by free and immediate text message. Not much use if the offending car isn't a member, but might be worth them contacting Brigades to get their support.
Does anyone know if any Brigades actively support this?
Nick
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I prefer this method when dealing with badly parked cars:
http://www.robsell.com/pics/0wned/car-hydrant.jpg
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Very good!! Perhaps I'll pass to Park Angel for their advertising!
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The best way to deal with a vehicle blocking a MOE is a fork lift and directions to the nearest river.
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I find semtex highly effective
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My brigade has just, in conjunction with the Ambulance service, launched a big publicity campaign to try and combat this problem as well as arming all the appliances with leaflets to put on cars that get in the way, obviously this is no help at the time but it is a proactive approach!
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Andy, my brigade does something similar.
Also, where vehicles are illegally parked then in partnership with the police we’ve used community support officers to educate (give parking tickets) I must add here that this is a last resort not the first course of action.
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I'd make it a first resort the sort of people who park so inconsiderately that a fire appliance can't get through are exactly the same people who would kick a big fuss and expect a ticket on the car that was blocking their own access should it ever occur!
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I don't blame the public, most don't know what a fire hydrant is! Perhaps the councils should take some responsibility to prevent or deter people from parking over hydrants. Either through using existing parking restriction powers, or by introducing new restrictions.
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That's a slightly different issue Chris and I'm inclined to agree with you on that one, what I am talking about is people parking and not leaving sufficent room for an appliance to pass, I am talking about the people whop park with half their car still sticking out, opposite tight junctions or even double parking partially blocking the road! and believe me it happens more often than you would think!
We had a station who actually had to re allocate their number 1 appliance to a different station simply because it was too big to fit down some of the streets, this wasn't a problem with the streets but with the idiots parking thoughtlessly down them!!
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Perhaps the issue is one of education rather than anything else. Many people do not realise the size of an appliance as they do not often see them. A neighbour of mine parks outside in the same spot every day even though they have a drive large enough to take the car, (it leaks oil). Nominally okay but at the moment the road is being dug up by the gas company with barriers around the holes. Only a motorcycle could get through the gap they left.
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Go and educate them then!.... now before your house catches fire!:)
I appreciate what your saying but I thought that level of basic knowledge was acquired before you were allowed a driving license!!
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I beleive they were educated in full by a van driver with colourful language to match.
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I'd make it a first resort the sort of people who park so inconsiderately that a fire appliance can't get through are exactly the same people who would kick a big fuss and expect a ticket on the car that was blocking their own access should it ever occur!
Unfortunately Andy being inconsiderate isn`t illegal, the police can only take action against illegally parked vehicles. We have to be fair and reasonable. The use of the local press to highlight the problems is another idea that has been used locally as have letter drops through letterboxes in known problem areas is also used.
Incidentally we have been banned from putting leaflets in the obvious place (under the wiper blade) in case we damage the vehicle!
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try writing the message on the bonnet with a sharp implement.
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I was out with a crew last year when they came across parked vehicles which impeded the progress of the pump, although not on a call. A couple of us got off to put leaflets on the cars which aroused suspicion of some of those in a que outside a parcel office.
One chap asked why I had put a leaflet on his car (not a happy bunny as he had to leave the queue to move it). I informed him politely that he was obstructing the road, was illegally parked anyway and if he wished to make an issue of the matter, I would request the Police to attend, which meant he would have got a ticket.
He was not happy, but I did mention that in an emergency we need to get applinaces through and people like him don't help by inconsiderately parking. He apologised and told me he would be more thoughtful in the future. (Yeah, right!)
Even with publicity, leaflets on cars partnership working with the Police and education, the public really don't care that their naff parking may inconvenience crews attempting to get through because, even in their own streets, it's a "it'll never happen to me" attitude.
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Incidentally we have been banned from putting leaflets in the obvious place (under the wiper blade) in case we damage the vehicle!
Banned by who?
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probably breaks the law of 'torts'.
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Incidentally we have been banned from putting leaflets in the obvious place (under the wiper blade) in case we damage the vehicle!
Banned by who?
HSE by any chance just in case you catch a finger nail under the blade.
Don't you think this highlights just how ridiculous things are becoming?
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Incidentally we have been banned from putting leaflets in the obvious place (under the wiper blade) in case we damage the vehicle!
Banned by who?
HSE by any chance just in case you catch a finger nail under the blade.
Don't you think this highlights just how ridiculous things are becoming?
It is easy to focus on the silly rules, just like it is easy for newspapers to report on the crazy court cases. I wonder what the facts are. Who banned it and why?
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A polite message in Dulux white gloss paint across the windscreen should do the trick.
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I worked in the Londond Docklands when it was being redeveloped in the 80s. The security staff had a neet way of dealing with unauthorised parking. They had a polite please dont park here again sticker.
It was about A3 size and the sort of sticker that kept tearing when you tried to get it off again.
A better deterent than parking fines!
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If you are talking about the type that are stuck on windows, this is dangerous as it can obscure the visibility of driver.
I am sure there are better ways to deter drivers than "vandalising" badly parked cars.
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Incidentally we have been banned from putting leaflets in the obvious place (under the wiper blade) in case we damage the vehicle!
Banned by who?
Sorry to disappoint those waiting to crucify the health and safety police. My brigade has a department called Risk Management. From what I can gather they assess the potential backlash from litigation or bad press etc and advise accordingly.
Now before anybody crucifies me, I’m only reporting facts not making policies.
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It sounds like your Risk Management department are a little bit too risk averse. I really don't think they've properly done the cost v benefit.
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If you are talking about the type that are stuck on windows, this is dangerous as it can obscure the visibility of driver.
I am sure there are better ways to deter drivers than "vandalising" badly parked cars.
What a spoilsport Chris! However, it's easy to put the stickers on without obstructing vision. Put them on the drivers' side window. He/she can drive with the window down and have perfect visibility - might be a bit cold though...
Can't use the leaflet under the windscreen wiper thick here, it's deemed to be 'littering'...
In the same vein - do any of you have trouble with people parking on your front apron? In front of the doors? We do. At my old shed one bloke pulled up and stopped while his mate went into a neaby shop. A member went out and asked him politely to move and copped an earful for his trouble. A quick call to the local nick had a car there very quickly. Would you believe the idiot told the copper what to do with himself too? Didn't help, $700 of on the spot ticket later he moved off. Impeding an emergency vehicle - I wish it was used more often!