WESTBURY Fire and Rescue Service is urging vehicle-owners to be more considerate when parking, after experiencing difficulty attending emergency calls.
The plea comes as part of a campaign launched by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, targeting poor or inconsiderate parking. Westbury crew manager, Martin Waker said, “I’d like to ask people to take a few moments when parking their vehicles and ask themselves if the emergency services could get past safely. We have many schools in our town and during drop off and pick up times we know the streets can become very crowded and this can present us with a problem.
“In recent weeks we’ve attended several emergency calls where poor parking has really restricted our progress.
“You may be only stopping for a few minutes, but that could be all it takes. Please don’t let your car be the one that delays us in an emergency.”
The campaign is asking all drivers “Are we getting through?” as, when responding to a 999 call, every second that the emergency services are delayed could have serious, life-threatening consequences.
The smallest fire engine needs a minimum of three metres, or the width of two cars, to pass safely. If you called for help, you would want to know firefighters could get through.
Assistant chief fire officer Jim Mahoney said, “Inconsiderate and dangerous parking has long been an issue across the service and, as more households have more than one car, the problem will only grow. If we can’t get to a fire or an accident because we can’t get our fire engines through, it greatly restricts our effectiveness. I’m asking everybody to think before they park; yes, it may be convenient for you at the time, but what if it was your house or your loved one we needed to get to? You would want to know that we are getting through.”
Poor or inconsiderate parking can also affect high streets and the roads by fire stations. On-call firefighters have to be at their station within five minutes of their pagers going off, so any delay in arriving has a negative effect on the emergency response.
The service is therefore asking drivers to think before they park, with the following advice to drivers to help keep narrow streets clear:
• When parked, pull in your wing mirrors (don’t forget to flip them out before driving off).
• Don’t park too close to corners – fire engines are larger than cars and need more room to turn.
• If you’re parking opposite someone, remember that a fire engine needs three metres, or two car widths, to pass safely.
• Make sure your wheels are straight and are not sticking out.
• Park as close to the kerb as you can.
• Always follow the Highway Code and obey road markings such as yellow lines and box junctions.
• In narrow streets, only park on one side of the road where possible.
• Make sure you leave enough space for pedestrians on the pavement.
• Don’t block driveways.
For more information about the challenges caused by poor or inconsiderate parking, please visit www. dwfire.org.uk/education/ road-safety-education/are-we-getting-through/
