NEW LIVERY TO INCREASE SAFETY

A new look ambulance is about to hit Queensland’s streets, with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts today unveiling a new high visibility vehicle for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).

Mr Roberts said the safety of paramedics and the general public is paramount in the delivery of a high-quality ambulance service.

“This new highly visible design will be applied to QAS vehicles to help improve driver recognition when ambulances drive under emergency conditions,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said the new livery was in line with the latest international best practice for emergency vehicle safety and followed extensive research by the QAS.

“This research found the most effective colours for retro-reflective lights were fluorescents including yellow and green,” Mr Roberts said.

“These are colours that rarely occur in nature and have maximum standout effect in low light and darkness.”

Mr Roberts said the new markings will be applied to newly commissioned vehicles, with the old livery to be phased out as vehicles are decommissioned.

“The rollout will begin right away with the $15.7 million commitment of 140 new vehicles announced in this year’s budget, which includes around 100 replacement vehicles,” he said.

“Our ambulance fleet travels more than 20 million kilometres every year, so anything we can do to improve the safety of our paramedics while they deliver frontline services is money well spent.”

Note to media – photos of ambulance vehicles with the new markings are available by email on request.

Media contact: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571.

Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976