999 picture messages? - Lounge Lizard
I'm sorry to say that I drove past a serious road traffic accident today. Junction 14, M56/A5117 slip-road, 11:00 01-May-06 (in case anyone knows the outcome).

Looked like 1 motorcycle plus 2 cars involved. Cars a bit dented but motorcycle mangled. Rider looked unconscious (I hope alive) and was laid out on the road. A few cars (plus those involved) had stopped and the rider was being attended to. Possibly the rider had gone over or under one of the cars. Road was greasy due to recent rain bringing up oil; not sure if this was a factor.

I was driving to a nearby house and slip-road was already bunged up, so continued my journey and rang 999 to confirm that emergency services had been informed (though I'm pretty sure they would have already been contacted).

It occured to me that it might be useful to send 1 or 2 phone piccys to cops or ambulance. In this way, they would get an initial early impression of what had happened and what might be required.

Is it possible to do this? Does anyone else think that this is a good idea; or is it an impracticable information-overload distraction?

I realise there might be investigation / insurance benefits in taking such pictures. However, as a passer-by, I did not consider this was an appropriate action on this occasion.


999 picture messages? - Hugo {P}
I'm not an expert but I suspect that emergancy crews are probably quite well prepared for the majoraty of RTAs. The original caller would have been asked details by the emergency operator.

H
999 picture messages? - adamj23
Work in Helsby just off that moterway. There seem to be lots of accidents on that part of the M56.
999 picture messages? - Nsar
I realise that the original poster is motivated by the best intentions but it's bad enough with rubber neckers without encouraging these morons to slow down even more so that they can capture it on their phones.
999 picture messages? - Hugo {P}
I realise that the original poster is motivated by the best
intentions but......


My thoughts exactly Nsar.

The idea shows lateral thinking in the best of interests, but I don't think it's practical in this case.

However, this is the forum for airing ideas in general, don't let our comments stop others from doing just that.

There's no such thing as a bad idea.

H
999 picture messages? - local yokel
The poster isn't far off, as video over mobile phones is being considered and perhaps even trialled in what is called telemedicine - so that specialists can advise paramedics while they are at the scene.
999 picture messages? - Altea Ego
I beleive some emergency services are experimenting with something similar, where the first unit on the ground sends a quick video of the scene back to area commanders if its believed to be a major incident
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
999 picture messages? - Nsar
>>There's no such thing as a bad idea.<<

Avantime, Vel Satis, Phaeton. You get the picture!
999 picture messages? - Mapmaker
>in case anyone knows the outcome

Why??? Why so nosy??? Rubber-necking lounge lizard.
999 picture messages? - Lounge Lizard
The incident occured on my exit slip road, I had to drive slowly round several askew cars, a mangled bike, several standing people and a body(!) to get where I was going.

In any case, there is a judgement to make between interfering 'rubber-necking' and whether you may be able to help, including as a witness.

In this incident, I quickly established that the best thing to do was to drive on by, though this might have been different if I'd got there a couple of minutes earlier.
999 picture messages? - shoei
If no-body was working on the casualty, then I would have stopped, regardless of how many were standing around, its amazing how a bit of first aid knowledge can keep someone alive, keeping the airway open for example.
999 picture messages? - Lounge Lizard
>in case anyone knows the outcome
Why??? Why so nosy??? Rubber-necking lounge lizard.


It's known as compassion, Mapmaker.
999 picture messages? - Pugugly {P}

"It's known as compassion, Mapmaker."

Quite right, not a Christian but isn't there a parable about the Samaritan who didn't pass by the other way A parable for the modern age if ever there was one.
999 picture messages? - shoei
Speaking from experience, it would be no help what so ever as the picture would give very limited information. You need to see the whole incident when arriving at scene and a picture will not tell you the casualties condition, other persons trapped and or ejected,fire,chemicals involved etc.
999 picture messages? - Armitage Shanks {p}
IMHO unless you have very specialist medical or mechanical knowledge, or were a witness to the lead up to or the actual incident itself, you are best off on your way and leave the people whose work it is to gather the evidence, deal with the injured and clear the scene.
999 picture messages? - Dwight Van Driver
Providing pictures were taken by a passenger (so that there is no argument about any offence committed in relation to mobile phone) then under certain circumstances this could help Police.
Photgraph could show the vehicles of persons (potential witnesses) who stopped at the scene and later left before the arrival of the Police.

Always a hell of a job trying to trace witnesses after an RTA and indicated by the number of appeals that one reads in the newspapers.

dvd