Excess motor traffic and congestion may be most significant contributor to emergency vehicle delays
A new report from climate charity Possible has found that excess traffic and congestion is likely to be the most significant contributor to emergency vehicle delays in London.
The data analysed shows that during the first lockdown in 2020, the average response times for 999 calls to the London Fire Brigade dropped dramatically, with the biggest reductions at Inner London fire stations, where congestion levels are normally heaviest. Examples include a reduction of 41 seconds in Euston, 57s in Tooting and 1m and 31 seconds in Soho.
All of the time savings recorded during London’s lockdowns were exclusively in travel time. These reductions correspond directly with falls in congestion levels, with each percentage point increase in congestion on the roads associated with a one second delay to response times.
Likewise, the average response times of the London Ambulance Service to the most serious medical emergencies fell by 47 seconds, with a much larger drop of 2 minutes 39 seconds for serious emergencies where patients were conveyed to hospital - interventions requiring full-sized ambulances which may be more prone to getting stuck in traffic under typical road conditions in the capital.
London Ambulance Service response times are recorded differently from the Fire Brigade, and their dataset does not separate travel time from factors such as call duration or crew turnout times. However, even after controlling for these, the analysis found that overall response times still fell substantially, with the absence of congestion being the most plausible explanation.
While traffic-calming measures introduced during lockdown have drawn ire with accusations of delays to emergency vehicles, including from key public figures such as former Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, those claims have not been substantiated in official records. Possible’s analysis suggests that the most consequential improvement to response times - and therefore, to outcomes for victims of fires and medical emergencies - could be achieved through the introduction of further measures that reduce traffic and congestion levels in cities.
Hirra Khan Adeogun, campaigner at climate charity Possible, said:
“Throughout the pandemic, the government introduced sensible policies to reduce the number of cars on the road while ensuring people could still get around through active travel. Ever since, the schemes, like low-traffic neighbourhoods and protected cycleways, have been drawn into intense debates - with one prominent argument being that they delay emergency vehicles. This research shows that, in fact, the motor lobby opponents of these schemes are advocating for the return of the real problem - excess car use. If we want to optimise the response times of emergency vehicles in our cities then, if anything, we should be looking at deploying more traffic reduction measures, not less.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The methodology can be found in the full report HERE.
For media enquiries and further information please contact press@wearepossible.org or 07806431577.
Hirra Khan Adeogun, Head of Car Free Cities and Leo Murray, co-director at climate charity Possible are available for comment. Please contact press@wearepossible.org for more information.
Possible is a UK-based charity that brings people together to take positive, practical action on climate change. Combining individual and local actions with larger systemic change, we connect people with each other, and communities with ways to address the climate crisis. wearepossible.org.
Possible changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action on 10th October 2019.