A Driving Standard for the Irish Emergency Services




In autumn 2011 representatives of the principle emergency services, and related organisations, in Ireland came together under the auspices of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to discuss the possibility of developing a common driving standard for drivers of emergency service vehicles. Following initial discussions, it was agreed that a working group working collaboratively would research and draft an emergency services driving standard (ESDS). It was agreed at the outset that the standard would be entirely voluntary and would not have a statutory footing.


The working group was established with members drawn from The RSA (Chair), The Civil Defence, The Irish Coast Guard, The Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Health Service Executive National Ambulance Service, The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Chief Fire Officer’s Association. The remit of this group was to devise an approach to the development of such a standard and progress the development accordingly.The process looked at a modular approach to the standard and three distinct levels emerged. The three levels are referred as Emergency Services Driving (ESD) Standard Levels 1, 2 and 3 and they are: 

ESD Level 1 - The entry level that sets out to describe the training, learning and assessment that will produce competent, socially responsible emergency service drivers. This level does not extend to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation.

ESD Level 2 - Describes the training, learning and assessment for emergency service drivers and includes the principles and skills set of “Roadcraft”. “Roadcraft” is a recognised system of vehicle control in the training of Emergency Service Drivers which develops a methodical approach to driving hazards which increases safety by giving the driver more time to react in complex situations. This level does not extend to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation. 
   ESD Level 3 - Builds substantially on level 2 and describes the training, learning and assessment for emergency service drivers to achieve and maintain competence at the highest level of safe and competent response driving. This level extends to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation.

It is envisaged that all services who agree to adopt the standard would aspire to having all their drivers certified to ESD Level 1 Standard. Level 1 will not entitle a driver to drive under ‘blue light’ conditions but is pitched at a level above that attained at the RSA driving test. Level 2 is an intermediate standard that will not facilitate driving under ‘blue light’ conditions but builds substantially on Level 1 and is aimed at producing a much higher skilled driver. Level 3 is the highest standard and includes response driving i.e. driving under ‘blue light’ conditions and exercising exemptions as allowed for under road traffic legislation.

driving hazards which increases safety by giving the driver more time to react in complex situations. This level does not extend to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation.
driving hazards which increases safety by giving the driver more time to react in complex situations. This level does not extend to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation.
driving hazards which increases safety by giving the driver more time to react in complex situations. This level does not extend to driving vehicles while exercising exemptions under Road Traffic legislation.