The process to switch the red and white flashing ambulances lights under Nipissing Paramedic Services has begun.
The lights are being exchanged for blue and red flashing lights.
The switchover is happening province-wide after the Highway Traffic Act was changed to allow ambulances and fire trucks to either use blue or red flashing lights.
Previously, only police were allowed to use the blue lights.
Jim Stewart, who is the manager of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Nipissing, says research shows the blue and red flashing lights are more easily seen by motorists than the traditional red and white lights.
Stewart says when EMS converted to the new lights with its first couple of vehicles he had people ask him if the service got a new system.
“For them to even notice that without being told up front, you know that it’s working,” Stewart said.
“You know they’re seeing it and identifying it as an ambulance.”
Stewart says because the blue and red lights are easier to see, the public has more time to react.
Stewart says this is far more preferable to a driver reacting at the last moment under the red and white lights and feeling rushed to do something which he adds could possibly be an unsafe move.
Stewart says EMS has 17 ambulances across the district.
It’s decided to outfit only the new ambulances it orders each year with the blue and red flashing lights to be fiscally prudent.
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Stewart says it doesn’t make any economic sense to put a new lighting system on an existing ambulance only to decommission the vehicle a year or two later.
He says normally EMS replaces its fleet at two ambulances a year and sometimes three are replaced.
Based on that turnover, Stewart says it may take five to seven years to complete the conversion to blue and red lights.
Stewart wants to emphasize that the switch is not taking place to address a safety issue.
“The other system still works, what we’re doing is to improve what we already have,” he said.
“This is EMS’ attempt to make it easier for the public to see us.”
But Stewart adds ambulance personnel also needs the public’s support.
Stewart says that means drivers need to be attentive to their surroundings and not get distracted.
He says they need to keep watch of what’s ahead of them as well as what’s coming up from behind.