Monday, May 19. 2008

Scottish Ambulance: Use Maps, local knowledge, then Satnav

A memo leaked to the Sunday Mail from the Scottish Ambulance Service details how drivers are to use maps over in car devices installed a year ago in 460 vehicles at the cost of L5 million. In particular the memo states:

"The system will guide you through the main route, which is not always necessarily the most direct or quickest possible.
"The systemis most effective once you are in close proximity to the address and is an aid to finding the correct location.
"A map route should always be used and should be available."

Saturday night the Ambulance Service stated:

"The satellite navigation system is not the primary navigational aide for staff.
"Drivers are advised to use ordinance survey maps and local knowledge.
"The mapping system we use, however, is constantly updated."

The devices were installed in reaction to an incident where an ambulance got lost and could not save a teen in a rural area after an accident in 2001. One paramedic clearly understands when the devices are helpful:

"It's only useful for finding remote or difficult locations like farms and country cottages or if you are lost.
"In most cases drivers know where they are going so there is no need to use it.