Fire staff driving criticised

Shropshire fire service personnel have been warned about their driving "behaviour" following complaints that some engines are being driven carelessly, it was claimed today.

Complaints have also been made about staff using mobile phones while driving their own cars, it has also been claimed in a weekly newsletter to staff at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

John Harrison, north district watch manager, said there had been a "number of complaints" regarding bad driving behaviour.

Today he insisted that staff were committed to upholding the highest standards of driving and said there was not any specific problems to overcome.

In the newsletter, called The Pink, he warns that the service's reputation could be affected by instances of poor or inconsiderate driving by personnel.

In the newsletter he says: "The fire and rescue service nationally is held in high regard by the vast majority of communities, but our image and reputation locally is slowly being tarnished through an increasing number of complaints concerning bad driving behaviour.

"We have recently received several complaints concerning fire service vehicles being driven or parked carelessly, staff responding to station turnouts in a dangerous manner and staff in uniform using handheld mobile phones while driving private vehicles.

"All staff are reminded that their driving behaviour, particularly when driving fire service or private vehicles in uniform, will always be the subject of scrutiny by other road users and pedestrians."

Mr Harrison today said that under "blue light" conditions when responding to emergency situations fire service personnel were afforded certain concessions such as being able to drive through red lights and to break the speed limit when necessary.

He said that generally the standard of driving by staff was good.

Mr Harrison added: "We expect our staff to uphold the highest levels of driving behaviour and safety on roads that they possibly can.

"The majority of our staff, in a rural county like Shropshire, report to the station by alert under normal road conditions."

By Russell Roberts