Toll me it ain't so!

[Paul]

BBC
I know the title sux but it was either that or "A bridge too far"

Toll motorway holds up ambulance
An emergency vehicle was delayed from responding to a 999 call when its paramedic driver was told to pay for using the M6 Toll motorway.
Staffordshire Ambulance Service said it would be meeting toll road bosses after the incident, at Weeford near Lichfield on Wednesday night.
An ambulance spokesman said such delays could put lives at risk.
The road's operators say the car was not "clearly liveried" and no warning was given.
Bob Lee, for the ambulance service, said the driver, wearing a paramedic uniform, was only allowed through the toll after turning on the car's blue lights.
He was driving the Vauxhall estate from Cannock to Lichfield to provide emergency cover, when he was stopped at the exit of the M6 Toll and the booth operator refused to raise the barrier.
The white emergency response vehicle was marked with green chequered stripes with a blue light bar on top and blue lights on the grill.
It was displaying a large "star of life" emblem on its bonnet and had the ambulance service's crown badge on the two front doors.
Mr Lee said all the above had been agreed with the operator of the M6 Toll, Midland Expressway Limited, as being sufficient for recognition as an ambulance vehicle.
He said the paramedic called his control centre and a senior officer telephoned the toll booth operator to explain the situation.
Mr Lee said while this was happening, the paramedic received the emergency call, but he still had to wait with his blue lights flashing before he was allowed to exit.
"It was clearly marked, clearly an ambulance vehicle, clearly going on an emergency call and yet still despite all the assurances from the toll operator this vehicle was delayed," Mr Lee said.
(snippy)
Tom Fanning managing director of the operators of the M6 Toll, Midland Expressway Limited, denied the vehicle was a clearly marked ambulance.

Wonder if the person on the toll gate would argue the toss if they needed an ambulance and they sent out a Vauxhall Estate

Sorry but that isn't a real ambulance, stop saving my life and leave it till a proper one arrives

[paulyoung666]

sounds like a typical jobsworth

[Chris T]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

sounds like a typical jobsworth

Exactly the word that sprang to mind. There are far too many of them in this country. Give 'em a uniform and they think the're Hitler.

[Earl of Bronze]

Personally, I was struck by the old saying '' Pay Peanuts and You Get Monkies''.

While its all well and good the company operating the toll road having an agreement with the Ambulance Service. Unless they give clear instructions to their staff, then staff will say 'No'.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Personally, I was struck by the old saying '' Pay Peanuts and You Get Monkies''.

While its all well and good the company operating the toll road having an agreement with the Ambulance Service. Unless they give clear instructions to their staff, then staff will say 'No'.

They have instructions, any clearly marked ambulance vehicles are to be allowed through, obviously the blue lights, markings and uniform just wasn't a big enough clue for the toll operator though

[Mr_love_monkey]

Hmm... that just doesn't seem fare....

OK, I know it's a very poor joke.
My life's been empty since the non-seq thread got shut down...

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Personally, I was struck by the old saying '' Pay Peanuts and You Get Monkies''.
<Snip>

You beat me to it! Plus, if the toll operator had made a mistake and let some fraudster through, the company would, of course, have said, "No worries old chap, we wouldn't dream of taking the cost of the lost toll out of your wages."

[punky]

It's a bit strange though. If he was responding to a 999 call, then wouldn't he already have his lights on?

[BBKing]

999 call came in while he was arguing with the toll operator, apparently. Ambulances are allowed through regardless, so the point is moot.