Emergency Services Driving Standard (ESDS)

Background

Emergency Services Driving Standard (ESDS) is a voluntary driving standard which has been developed for emergency service drivers in Ireland.  ESDS Phase 1, overseen by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), went ‘live’ in Feb 2015. The RSA set up a working panel* and through a collaborative approach the ESDS was developed.

 

ESDS aims to develop and sustain a spirit of cooperation, caution and courtesy in emergency service drivers.  Through this standard emergency service drivers should aim to achieve an excellent standard of driving that acts as an example to other road users. This was also identified as a key action point for delivery under the Government Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020.

It was also identified that the RSA would have a role to play in the application of the agreed standard in that, currently, no regulated driving assessments exist for drivers across the organisations who provide emergency services.   While it was agreed from the outset that the ESDS would be a voluntary code, effective implementation of it and continued uniformity across the emergency organisations would be achieved by the RSA having oversight of the standard. It is envisaged that all services who agree to adopt the standard would aspire to having all their drivers certified to an ESDS that is appropriate to their organisational needs.

The Benefits of ESDS

The main aim of this driving standard is to benefit emergency services drivers and other road users by:
  • reducing the particular risks associated with the driving of emergency service vehicles,
  • making sure that patients and passengers are safe and comfortable, and
  • cultivating the attitude that responding to an emergency should never involve actions which could lead to the death or injury of any person.

ESDS Working Panel

*A working panel was set up with members drawn from:
  • The Road Safety Authority
  • The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council
  • The Irish Coast Guard
  • The Defence Forces
  • An Garda Síochána
  • National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management
  • Health Service Executive- National Ambulance Service
  • Civil Defence
  • The Chief Fire Officer’s Association, and
  • The Irish Prison Service.

The Focus

The introduction of ESDS will improve the driver’s:

  • awareness of the need to share the road in a safe way (while showing due care for themselvesand other road users);
  • attitude to risk;
  • willingness to accept responsibility;
  • ability to take precautions;
  • ability to choose ways of driving that reduces the risk of collisions or incidents;
  • awareness of the need for responsible emergency services driver behaviour;
  • knowledge of legal requirements and regulations in relation to emergency service vehicles and how they impact on individual organisations; and
  • awareness of the reasons for the regulations that affect them.
The Emergency Services Driving Standard is incrementally at a high level, and focuses on the following areas of driver competence:


How ESDS is structured

The ESDS is structured in three levels:

ESDS Level 1 – This is the entry level and sets out the training, learning and assessment that will produce competent and responsible emergency service drivers.

ESDS Level 2 - Describes the training, learning and assessment for emergency service drivers and includes the principles and skills set of ‘Roadcraft’. ‘Roadcraft’ is a recognised system of vehicle control in the training for emergency service drivers that develops a methodical and systematic approach to driving. It increases safety by giving the driver more time to react in complex situations as they have a greater awareness and ability to anticipate hazards.

ESDS Level 3 –This level refers only to services who, by law, can drive using blue lights and sirens in emergency response situations when this does not endanger the safety of other road users. An example of this is when an emergency services vehicle exceeds the statutory speed limit. This applies only to emergency services who are specified in the Section 23 Road Traffic Act 2014 – Amendment to Section 87 of Road Traffic Act 2010 as follows:
  • An Garda Síochána,
  • An Ambulance Service, (provided by a pre-hospital emergency care service provider recognised by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order 2000 and
  • A fire brigade of a fire authority. (within the meaning of the Fire Services Act 1981).
This level sets out a series of principles and response tactics which are compatible with Roadcraft and focus on the driver’s attitude towards emergency response driving.

How the system works:



What Levels are ESDS Certification available in:



Assessment and Certification 

If a driver is being put forward for ESDS, the emergency services organisation may arrange ESDS training. The organisation will apply to the ESDS unit in the RSA for an ESDS theory test and assessment. The driver must pass the theory test and practical driving assessment in order to receive certification as an ESDS driver. On passing the theory test and assessment, drivers are certified as an ESDS driver at the relevant level and category – this certification is recorded by their parent organisation and with the RSA. The practical driving assessment will be carried out by registered ESDS assessors. The assessment aims to ensure that the knowledge, skills and understanding at the level in question has been achieved.

Current and Future processes

Phase 1 of the ESDS initiative only includes drivers from the above organisations that have committed to the initiative by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the RSA. Following on from the formation and establishment of ESDS Phase 1, the RSA have introduced ESDS Phase 2, which allows interested private and voluntary emergency service organisations to participate and engage in ESDS. Currently a mix of private ambulance and voluntary emergency service organisations have signed MOU’s with the RSA.  We expect to see drivers from these private ambulance and voluntary emergency service organisations present for ESDS assessment in Q1/Q2 2017.   

ESDS applies to vehicle categories B, BE, C1, C, CE, C1E, D1, D, DE, D1E, W in all emergency service organisations and as ESDS is a driving standard, an ESDS driver must hold a driving licence in the relevant category. 

By developing ESDS Phase 2 it will create the opportunity for emergency organisations other than those specified at ESDS Phase 1 to avail of the facility to have their drivers certified to a national emergency services driving standard at an ESDS level and vehicle category appropriate to organisational requirements.

Conclusion

The RSA regards the education and training of emergency service drivers as a vitally important part of its task of collision prevention and considers the ESDS initiative will be a significant and extremely worthwhile contribution to road safety.  Creating correct behaviour and a responsible attitude to driving skills will greatly reduce the risks associated with driving an emergency services vehicle. This standard will ensure that drivers fully understand their responsibility to manage the risks associated with driving emergency services vehicle and, in doing so, they will help to keep themselves and the public safe.

For more information, the complete suite of ESDS publications/information packs is available from the RSA website www.rsa.ie/esds.