RNLI

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Pasarell

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Driving down the M271 yesterday morning towards the boat show at a steady 70MPH I was surprised to be overtaken by a RNLI pickup truck towing a boat trailer. Must have been doing 85 - 90MPH. At the last minute he cut across 2 lanes causing several cars to brake sharply to turn off for the show.
It's not on the water but isn't this a strange double standard?
 
At Holyhead I've seen crew members on a shout driving into the yard at ridiculous speeds. If anyone were in the wrong place they wouldn't have a hope.
 
There is a macho culture common to most of the uniformed services that can spill over into aggressive and thoughtless behaviour. In the case of the RNLI this has been known to manifest itself in dangerous driving of boats as well as vehicles.

There are plenty of people, especially on these forums, who say they should never be criticised but I believe a quiet word to the Hon Sec is sometimes called for. There was a thread on here a few years back about a lifeboat leaving a harbour at full throttle making a wake big enough to cause serious injury.
 
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At Holyhead I've seen crew members on a shout driving into the yard at ridiculous speeds.

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I am not surprised to hear this because the RNLI tried to murder me this summer in Fowey in the same situation. Some RNLI prat though it great fun to rev his engine hard, drop the clutch, lurch forward towards tourist and then hit the breaks. He proceeded down Fowey High St bucking bronco style as parents had to pull children out of the way of this madman.

What is wrong with this organization? It is entirely predictable that on-call RNLI crew will need to push through the crowded narrow streets of Fowey. Why doesn’t the RLNI equip their people with some flashing "Lifeboat/OnCall" sign for the dash board.
 
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There was a thread on here a few years back about a lifeboat leaving a harbour at full throttle making a wake big enough to cause serious injury.

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Yes and it was my Wife that was the near victim.......at times these people adopt a blinkered attitude to what is happening around them.......no use going balls out to an incident and causing damage and grief on the way.It does not take much time or effort to look behind you and see the mayhem left at times in their wake!!!! But then we are talking sea sense and at times certain factions of the RNLI dont seem to practice what they preach

Paul.
 
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Why doesn’t the RLNI equip their people with some flashing "Lifeboat/OnCall" sign for the dash board.

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An interesting suggestion, but I think you will find that at the moment that would be illegal.
I seem to recall the RNLI applied for permission to have detachable flashing blue lights (ones with magnets that could be put on the roof of a car when required) for crew members answering a "shout", but it was refused some years ago.
 
Well indeed they should not be granted rights to display a flashing blue light, the egos of these people are already over inflated. What about flashing green which would put them on a par with Dr's. Or failing that how about a recorded message similar to the reversing alerts on HGVs (with a push to make button for 1 play cycle), this is a local issue that requires a custom local solution.
 
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Why doesn’t the RLNI equip their people with some flashing "Lifeboat/OnCall" sign for the dash board.

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An interesting suggestion, but I think you will find that at the moment that would be illegal.
I seem to recall the RNLI applied for permission to have detachable flashing blue lights (ones with magnets that could be put on the roof of a car when required) for crew members answering a "shout", but it was refused some years ago.

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Here at Troon the crew have Red flashing lights and sun visor boards stating "Lifeboat Callout" but this does not stop the adrenalin rush and at times crazy driving!!! In my days on the crew the scareiest moments were not going to sea in a Force 10 but seeing the antics off some crews driving down to the boat on a shout.........many years ago here at Troon a member of the public was knocked over and killed by a crew member attending a call out!!!
 
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There is a macho culture common to most of the uniformed services that can spill over into aggressive and thoughtless behaviour. In the case of the RNLI this has been known to manifest itself in dangerous driving of boats as well as vehicles.

There are plenty of people, especially on these forums, who say they should never be criticised but I believe a quiet word to the Hon Sec is sometimes called for. There was a thread on here a few years back about a lifeboat leaving a harbour at full throttle making a wake big enough to cause serious injury.

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I fully agree as I was a Lifeboatman about 35yrs ago, keen, fit and full of bravado and it needed somebody to 'advise' us then, as today as well, not to show off but it is very difficult to criticise an organization based on Charity and Volunteers.
 
Interesting set of responses. I was expecting to be shot down for making the original post that dared to be critical.

I've got huge respect for these guys for what they do at sea but maybe they have problems elsewhere.

I wonder if anybody from Poole HO is a forumite?
 
>but it is very difficult to criticise an organization based on Charity and Volunteers.<

Oh no its not! No reason not to report a lifeboats volunteer to Mr Plod for what you consider to be dangerous driving or CHIRP for dangerous boat handling.

>I wonder if anybody from Poole HO is a forumite?<

Where are you, Chuns?
 
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Well indeed they should not be granted rights to display a flashing blue light, the egos of these people are already over inflated. What about flashing green which would put them on a par with Dr's. Or failing that how about a recorded message similar to the reversing alerts on HGVs (with a push to make button for 1 play cycle), this is a local issue that requires a custom local solution.

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Might interest folk to know that we on the CG, even though our vehicles have blue lights, have no dispensation to break any traffic regulations. We can use blues/twos to 'ease our way through traffic', but cannot e.g. jump a red light or break any speed limits.
And a good thing too IMHO as we don't get any driver training!
 
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Interesting set of responses. I was expecting to be shot down for making the original post that dared to be critical.

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Must admit I thought I was going to be flamed myself.
 
Trying to figure out what all you lot above are actually wanting, Yes, there is no excuse for behaving like a prat on the roads or anywhere else, where it is likely to cause a danger to someone..........however, I would suggest that if it was you that was clinging to the wreckage of your boat in freezing water, you would be wanting our assistance as quickly as possible??.....so what are you wanting?
 
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Trying to figure out what all you lot above are actually wanting, Yes, there is no excuse for behaving like a prat on the roads or anywhere else, where it is likely to cause a danger to someone..........however, I would suggest that if it was you that was clinging to the wreckage of your boat in freezing water, you would be wanting our assistance as quickly as possible??.....so what are you wanting?

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thats the problem...more often than not in my RNLI career it hardly ever was a do or die job!!.....probably 90% of the time it was an AA job and tow me home with no lives in danger!!....there indeed has to be a balance set between putting lives at risk on the way to a job against the lives that are at risk indeed on that particular job!!

Paul.
 
HEAR, HEAR.....

Instead of wittering about it on a semi-serious Internet Chat Site why aren't each and every one of you reporting your experiences to West Quay Road or your local Regional Office?

I can tell you for sure that each will be followed up. There is a very strict regeime with regard to volunteer drivers, of which I'm one and the staff drivers, one of whom seems to have been cited in the original post here, are regulated and scrutinised very, very closely.

The Institution doesn't want people grumbing into their beer like you lot. They want to know and know fast if the long established reputation is being put in jeopardy.

But of course, if you're the sort that always needs something to grumble about ???

Steve Cronin
 
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