The links to news items below are for information only - the designs and markings portrayed in the articles may not be best practise. Ambulance Visibility may not necessarily agree with statements made in the article or report, especially statements made about visibility and conspicuity devices or markings fitted to vehicles.
On Patrol and almost undercover
POLICE car No. 1453 drifted along with the afternoon rush, unnoticed and unhurried. Even, perhaps, unfinished. Car 1453 looks as if it rolled off the assembly line a few minutes too soon, before arriving at the machine that puts the siren on the roof and the colors on the door decals. But this look is the whole point of No. 1453, which is known throughout the Westchester County police department by its catchier nickname: the ghost car. "Can you see it?" an officer joked, standing in front of the car in the department's parking lot. The police hope that the answer among drivers texting or chatting on cellphones, or speeding or driving drunk, is no. The car, a 2009 Crown Victoria, joined the fleet two months ago. It is not an unmarked police car, but rather a barely visibly marked police car. It bears all the same decals as a regular police car, but they are white, colorless, like the car itself. The markings really are noticeable only upon close inspection - and hardly noticeable at all, the thinking goes, to a driver who is calling in his pizza order. New York Times, article by Michael Wilson, 26 February 2010
What's most important is the ability for drivers to recognise a vehicle for what it is rather than its colour, says report.
The 1970s gave a lot to the world, from the sublime to the ridiculous - and the fire service was no exception. It was during this decade that the logic behind the traditional color of fire trucks first began to be questioned by some.
Red, so the argument went, was not as visible as other colors.The color of choice for the forward-thinking and progressive? Lime-yellow. Some departments made the break with tradition in the belief that a change in color scheme could improve the visibility of fire trucks, improving safety for civilians and firefighters alike.The Pinellas Park, Fla., Fire Department was one of them. In 1972, it ordered its first lime-yellow truck. As older vehicles were phased out over the years that followed, they too were replaced with apparatus colored in the new style.However, the department is now going back to its roots. The St. Petersburg Times reported this week that, with a request by the department for three new rescue units, a council member questioned Fire Chief Doug Lewis over the current color scheme. Fire Rescue 1, article by Jamie Thompson, June 17 2010
Fire Rescue 1, article by Jamie Thompson, June 17 2010 - Read the articles
Editors note: There are some amazing claims and interesting interpretations of the FEMA visibility report made in this article, all reinforcing a worrying trend for a return to traditional dark colours - check out the airport fire truck comparison link on the home page (showing that you cannot recognise a dark fire truck if you cannot see it!)
New ambulance a safer ride
Mason City's newest ambulance has several features designed to enhance the safety of personnel inside. Mason City Fire Chief Bob Platts said larger reflective stripes on the rear of the 2010 model vehicle should make it easier to see the ambulance at night.The ambulance also has LCD lights which are brighter, making it easier to see."The whole back of the ambulance should be lit up at night. Hopefully, that will slow people down," Platts said. "You always have your doubts, especially on the interstate."
The end of daylight savings means there will be more Australians who have difficulties seeing on the road after dark, the TAC and optometrists have warned. A national survey of 1000 Australians, aged 18 to 25, has found one in three drivers are concerned their vision might impact their ability to identify hazards at night. More than half (51 per cent) of the women and 36 per cent of the men also rated their night vision as "poor to average".
The Sydney Morning Herald, Article by Danny Rose, 6 April 2010 - Read the article
Pink ambulance put into service to support Cancer Society
A new ambulance has been added to Ambulance, Inc. of Laurel County's stable - and it's pink. The ambulance is intended to show the company and its personnel's support of finding a cure for cancer. The white and mostly pink vehicle is intended to not only show support, but to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Every time the vehicle is on a call, the ambulance service will donate $2 to the cancer society. Ambulance service chief Jimmy Bridges said Thursday it will be used in the rotation of the 13 ambulances used by the service on its nearly 9,000 annual ambulance runs.
The Times Tribune, Article by Carl Keith Greene, 29 January 2010.
Sydney paramedics will now be able to reach patients locked in by massive New Year's Eve crowds thanks to a new, pint-sized ambulance.The latest addition to the NSW Ambulance Service, a micro car measuring a mere 250 centimetres in length, will be deployed for the first time on December 31 after a successful trial earlier this month.Premier Kristina Keneally, who was on hand to announce the $18,000 Smart car ambulance, says it will enable paramedics to manoeuvre through large crowds unlike regular ambulance vehicles - ABC News, 30 December 2009.
General Motors UK Special Vehicle 2010 Vauxhall Astra available in three Battenburg options.
This is the new Vauxhall Astra police car, which has been prepared by GM UK Special Vehicles to go on sale this winter. Police forces will be able to choose from three high-visibility options - half, three-quarter or full. Standard equipment includes LED running lights and a steering wheel with all the push-to-talk (PTT) and at-scene functions required for police use. Autocar UK, 11 September 2009
Images of Australian Mercedes Sprinter involved in rollover on ETT website
Recently an ETT Sprinter ambulance came unstuck on the Lakes Way near Forster on the NSW mid North Coast. Reportedly the vehicle rolled at least 3 times - (accident investigation is yet to confirm details). Wednesday 22 December 2009.
See the photos - http://www.ettvehicles.com/newlinks.html
Drivers With Parkinson's Disease At Higher Risk Of Crashes In Low Visibility
Drivers with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease may be at higher risk of crashes on foggy days and other times of low visibility. The research, involving a driving simulation test, is published in the October 6, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In addition to affecting movement, Parkinson's disease affects visual skills, such as the ability to see contrast, and the speed of processing what is seen - Science Daily &
American Academy of Neurology 2009, 6 October 2009
Holden unveils its new US cop car - Sydney Morning Herald
Holden has taken the covers off a purpose-built police car it hopes could lead to a billion-dollar export business in the United States. Company executives revealed the Australian-built Chevrolet police car, based on the long wheelbase Holden Statesman/Caprice, at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver, Colorado. The show is a chance for suppliers to hawk their wares to the North American law enforcement agencies. If the Holden gets the green light from agencies, it could be on the road early in 2011. The public reveal follows confirmation last month by General Motors chief executive Fritz Henderson that the company was on the verge of a deal with a major law enforcement agency, believed to be the Los Angeles Police Department.
Anyone who has had to call an ambulance will know the feeling: the calm efficiency paramedics engender when all around us is out of control. That's why ambulance officers were voted Australia's most trusted professionals in our 2008 Reader's Digest Most Trusted poll - and over the three previous years, too (see the complete results in our July issue, or on our website at www.readersdigest.com.au). We allow them into our our lives, trusting them without question to make life-or-death decisions.
But what makes ambos tick? On an individual level, are they really as trustworthy as everyone thinks? It takes a pretty special person to become a paramedic or an ambulance officer. Most are passionate about what they do: helping people in their time of utmost need, when they are ill - Article by Helen Signy
Read the full article - http://www.readersdigest.com.au/content/printContent.do?contentId=92407
APCO Australia video clip channel now available on YouTube
The creation of a new video channel by APCO now provides public access to some of the remarkable video tributes produced by APCO/Channel 7 and presented to participants at the 2009 APCO conference in Sydney. The conference was held late in the Victorian bushfire crisis with many participants directly involved which made these presentations even more relevant at the time.
Mercedes Benz to integrate Sprinter commercial vehicle operations into US and Canadian subsiduary
Mercedes Benz USA LLC announced today that it will assume responsibility for the sales, marketing distribution and service of Mercedes Benz and Freigthliner comercial vehicles in the United States. Central to the announcement is the creation of Daimler Vans USA, LLC - located in Montville NJ, a wholly owned subsiduary of Daimler AG. The Dodge Sprinter will be discontinued..... 1 September 2009
Pinnacle Session Updates Agencies on Ambulance Chassis Delays and Changes
AJ Heightman, JEMS Editor-in-Chief
Terming it "a wake-up call for EMS," Mark Van Arnam, president/CEO of American Emergency Vehicles, told the audience of EMS managers attending a special ambulance chassis update session at the 2009 Pinnacle
Conference in Florida last week that emergency service agencies will soon be affected by the massive changes that are happening in Detroit. He reported that the financial condition of the OEM chassis manufacturers has resulted in delays due to lack of orders, weak financial structure and the availability of parts. At present, Ford is running at about two-thirds production speed, and General Motors (GM) is at about half speed due to plant slowdowns and close downs. Dodge has just reopened production facilities after an extended shutdown following their bankruptcy filing. 17 August 2009 - JEMS Magazine
New Bariatric vehicle - latest addition to ACT Ambulance fleet
Uses
automated loading tynes with a hydraulic powered stretcher
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, has today welcomed a new specialist vehicle to the ACT Ambulance fleet to transport obese patients.
"The new bariatric ambulance is a multifunctional vehicle that has the capability to transport a patient weighing up to 500 kilograms," Mr Corbell said. "The transportation of obese patients is an area of growing challenge for all ambulance services and health agencies around Australia. "This new vehicle is leading edge in design and has an automated loading system. It will improve patient care and safety as well as substantially reduce the manual handling involved with transporting patients with special needs." Canberra, Australia - 31 July 2009
TASMANIA Police will use four high-visibility police cars on highways and major roads to crack down on drivers.
Acting Police Commissioner Darren Hine announced the 12-month trial yesterday.
"Their purpose will be to enforce the traffic laws and act as a high-visibility deterrent to road users -- those motorists who are prepared to risk their lives and the lives of others by taking unacceptable risks while driving," he said....
The cars, also known as "candy cars", will be marked with a blue-and-white chequered pattern and horizontal fluorescent stripes in a widening pattern. Hobart, Australia - 4 May 2009
TASMANIA Police will use four high-visibility police cars on highways and major roads to crack down on drivers.
Acting Police Commissioner Darren Hine announced the 12-month trial yesterday.
"Their purpose will be to enforce the traffic laws and act as a high-visibility deterrent to road users -- those motorists who are prepared to risk their lives and the lives of others by taking unacceptable risks while driving," he said....
The cars, also known as "candy cars", will be marked with a blue-and-white chequered pattern and horizontal fluorescent stripes in a widening pattern. Hobart, Australia - 4 May 2009
Emergency vehicle visibility and conspicuity study released by FEMA
The United States Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), announces the release of the Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study. The study report highlights the results of a U.S. Department of Justice - National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supported project intended to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders. Emmitsburg, Maryland - 18 August 2009
American Ambulance touts safety in European-style design
Putnam, Conn. - With their new checkerboard design in neon yellow and blue, the American Ambulance Service vehicles will be hard to miss. The company unveiled the first emergency vehicle with its brand new, European-style design Wednesday at Day Kimball Hospital. Norwich Bulletin - 8 July 2009 http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x931224855/Emergency-vehicles-get-new-look#relPhotos
New design improves ambulance visibility in Muskoka
Muskoka, Ontario - In the coming weeks, the public will see brighter, more visible markings on ambulance vehicles in Muskoka as part of a plan to improve visibility and recognition of emergency services vehicles and staff. Weekender - 1 May 2009
Wiinipeg, Ontario - The province unveiled one of its new high-tech ambulances at the legislature Tuesday and although it has yet to see action, paramedics are giving it a passing grade. After all, if it's good enough for Australia and Europe it should be good enough for the prairies. Winnipeg Free Press - 11 July 2009
A detailed PowerPoint PDF is available on the downloads page - CLICK HERE
RETTmobil 2009, Fulda, Germany
A flood of visitors attended the exhibition at Fulda-Galerie from Wednesday until Friday of this week, to which the organisers quickly and readily responded, a view that is shared by IKR Chairman Manfred Hommel and the vast majority of exhibitors. "Many of them have already booked for next year's RETTmobil 2010 among which some increased the size of their display areas substantially. Satisfied faces all over - exhibitors and visitors alike.
Raleigh, North Carolina - EMS Chief Skip Kirkwood said at a news conference Monday that the program is the first of its kind in the nation. The new advanced practice paramedics will be dispatched to treat the sickest patients and help prevent emergencies among high-risk groups such as the elderly through education and outreach. EMS1.com - 6 Jan 2009
