SPEED OF AMBULANCES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 146, 9 March 1918, Page 6

SPEED OF AMBULANCES

SHOULD THEY BE PRIVILEGED?

Should the speed of a motor ambulance on duty bo subject to the same by-laws as ordinary wheeled traffic? That is the, question freely discussed at a meeting of the Hospital Committee of the Wellington Hospital and 'Charitable Aid Board on Thursday afternoon. It may be remembered that recently tho driver of the Wellington . Hospital's ambulance was proceeded against and fined (by Mr. S. E. McCarthy-,' S.M.) for speeding whilst taking a' patient to the Hospital. The man admitted that he was going 25 miles an hour, but it was stated in evidence that his pacu was between 30 and 40 miles an hour. The point to be defined once and for all . is whether an ambulance on duty is or „is. not privileged. , In the. case in point .'the patient" was ''suffering "from, diphtheria, and every minute.occupied on the journey was'of vital'importance to the health of the person most concprn- ' edi There have been known' to be deaths on the journey to the Hospital, whereas a few minutes' earlier arrival may have given time for the relieving operation to be performed. The members of the committee, in justice to their driver, were of opinion that their position should be'defined as regards the speed of their ambulances! anil after , discussion it was'decided to consult the board's solicitor with a view to applyiug for a rehearing of the case.