^ All three of our authorized emergencyehicles have Michelin tires.
The blood and platelet donors saved the lives.
On a number of occasions hospitals have said the expedient arrival saved a life, (the first one was a gang-banger who is now in prison) but I suspect they were exaggerating.
Patients have been helped. One hospital sent a thank-you card.
When I cannot see objects, defects, holes in road surface ahead, I slow to a speed where I can see them in time to go around them.
As a worst-case-scenario cynic, I constantly consider what can happen at high speeds:
-tire blowout
-U-joint failure
-drive shaft breaking
-wheel bearing failure
I have never “floored it”. I am as gentle on the engine and transmission as possible.
No hard accelerations and I coast down, not brake, when catching up to traffic.
(Today, a white Escalade followed me at 100-mph. (25 mph over the speed limit))
I monitor engine temperature, oil pressure, alternator output and listen and feel for anything unusual.
After a delivery, I feel the front tires and do a walk around inspection before returning.
I inspect the vehicles every Saturday or Sunday during Car Talk.
^ I planned to provide the tires later.
Just returned from a 104-mile STAT delivery. (They called when I was under the Camry draining the hot oil.)
Yes, you can see animals: deer, elk, cattle, horses, etc.
If not - hidden behind trees, embankments, buildings, etc., you slow expecting one to run out right in front of you.
Such is why the same trip after dark takes much longer than daytime.
I think of all the complications ahead of time. Even lightning and hail damage.
That does not imply “already know everything”.
(When I was working on my private pilot’s license, my flight instructor complained about my always searching for areas to land if an engine failure, propeller fracture, etc.
I told him the last thing I wanted to be doing during in inflight emergency is to also be seeking a place to land.)
^ You are correct. Not joking.
Does the engine RPM get very high? No. Never even close to red line and not as high as many who aggressively accelerate from stops or floor it to pass.
About the only time it is under greater load is heading up hill at 80 mph (Interstate 65 posted) against a very strong head wind.
No air conditioner used on emergent runs. (Hospital personnel often wondered why I am soaked on arrival!)
Ask the farmers who increase elevation from Nebraska and Kansas in their King Ranch Expeditions crusing at 100 mph.
(I don't count on anyone noticing my Daytime Running Lights. I'd rather save the fuel.)
This really saves any noticeable amount of fuel?
Yes, you can see animals: deer, elk, cattle, horses, etc.
If not - hidden behind trees, embankments, buildings, etc., you slow expecting one to run out right in front of you.
Such is why the same trip after dark takes much longer than daytime.
I think of all the complications ahead of time. Even lightning and hail damage.
Really? What do you slow to 95 mph?
You are soooo full of “it” and yourself I really don’t know how you managed to survive this long. I think you should be nominated for a Darwin Award.
Robert, you are completely off the point. The last thing we care about is your Expedition. I drove a police car for work and I drove an ambulance in the military that we also used for civilian calls. I did drive more then 25 mph over the speed limit in the cruiser but never more the slightly over the speed limit in the ambulance when answering emergency calls. One vehicle is made for it, one isn’t when confronted with an emergency handling situation.
I don’t know what state or what police you have been advised by, but emergency vehicles should not drive very much over the speed limit under any circumstances. Enough studies have been done to conclude that the unsafe situation created by these vehicles when going that fast is not worth the perceived emergency and time gained while speeding. An Expedition is worse then the ambulance I drove which was quite low sprung and had a handling package. Later, when we converted to truck based, they were much worse like an Expedition.
I don’t care about your redline, don’t care about your perception of what is an emergency and to put it bluntly, given your other responses, I don’t trust your judgement in these matters. Maybe you can be trusted to come up with the best restaurants in town, but not to drive an emergency vehicle at 95 mph. Emergency vehicles have other purposes and none but a dedicated vehicle like a pursuit car is designed to go that fast safely on a routine basis and expect to remain viable in an emergency handling situation. I have never seen an emergency vehicle other then a police car drive at those speeds in New England. If we ever saw an emergency vehicle going 95 mph while working, the driver would get cited for speeding after the fact. That is what we were instructed to do ! You aren’t even a trained pressingly Robt. You’re a volunteer and your light bar is used to expedite your ability to get through traffic…no more, no less.
I don't know what state or what police you have been advised by, but emergency vehicles should not drive very much over the speed limit under any circumstances.
There are vast areas where well over the speed limit is fine.
Montana had no speed limit at various places of I-94.
Never speed through traffic. Too much risk of a well-meaning driver pulling out of the way into the path of the EV. My speed through congested Interstate traffic yesterday? 3 to 20 mph.
I never count on “handling”. If handling were to be an issue, I am going too fast for conditions.
Just called.
“If you’re not careful, you will crash and burn some day
Then the blood will not arrive at the hospital, and the patient will suffer
And you will also suffer
We warned you, but you’re obviously not taking this too seriously”
"
I am careful.
2 minutes and 40 seconds of 115 mph on T-rated (118mph) tires in the middle of nowhere is significant?
Would be fun to learn how many here have gone faster.
“you did not answer my question about the tires.”
Apparently I did not understand.
The tire manager and I never considered higher than T-rated tires.
I never expected to exceed 118 mph in the Camry or Expedition.
Robert IS a Troll…As I said…no way is a hospital going to take the risk to allow someone who works for them or a as a contractor to speed. It’s NOT going to happen. I seriously doubt that Robert has ever delivered blood. Just a wanna-be.
Not just blood and blood platelets.
Antivenins, antitoxins, coma panels, transplant tissues, implant components, surgical instruments, blood pumps, etc.