Every second counts when someone calls for help in an emergency and we need your help to ensure the islands’ emergency services vehicles can get around the islands unobstructed.
Devon and Cornwall Police and the Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service are asking all motorists on the islands to carefully consider where and how they park their vehicles to ensure they don’t prevent or delay the emergency services from attending call outs.
The Highway Code ‘waiting and parking’ rules state:
‘DO NOT stop or park anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services.’
This rule is intended to ensure that lives are not put at risk as a result of careless parking. In light of the limited space available for all road users on the islands, we additionally ask everyone to keep the following advice in mind:
- do not park in front of emergency service access points
- park as close to the kerb as possible
- park straight with wheels straight and fold in mirrors
- only park on one side of the road in narrow streets
- do not park too close to corners, junctions or traffic calming measures
- the fire appliance for St Mary’s is approximately 2.5 metres wide by 7.9 metres long and requires more space to manoeuvre in tight spaces and narrow streets than many people realise
We appreciate it can be difficult to park in town at present, but we really do need everyone to consider the needs of emergency services (and those relying on them) when parking vehicles.
