Two prototype ambulances will be on the road from 9 August - after which all new St John frontline vehicles will be painted yellow.
Yellow vehicles are the most noticeable on the road, particularly in low light. Yellow is also the most visible colour for people with colour blindness (which affects an estimated 1 in 12 (8%) of men and 1 in 200 (0.5%) of women).
Two St John ambulances have been painted in the shade of yellow tested in Europe as the most visible to the human eye (Euro Yellow RAL 1016). The ambulances also have a new, bolder design and have been fitted with more reflective signage than that on the predominantly white vehicles. The distinctive green battenburg (after the cake) markings are also known to maximise the visibility of the vehicles.
“Finding ways to improve the quality and safety of our care and services is really important to St John and having our ambulances and other frontline vehicles yellow and with this new design, is one way we can make them safer and more visible on the road,” says St John Operations Director Michael Brooke. “We’re expecting to see an improvement in the public noticing and giving way to St John vehicles as they travel to and from treating patients.”
“We are committed to converting our fleet to yellow over the next 10 years – with around 40 new vehicles each year heading out on the road in the new yellow design. Our plan is that there is no additional cost to St John to do this and we are working with our partners and potential sponsors on that. We’re grateful to Action Motor Bodies – who build our ambulances – for producing these first prototypes.”
St John ambulances travel over 18 million kms a year and ambulance officers treat over 400,000 patients a year.
St John would like to thanks its donors and key supporters including the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, The Lion Foundation and ASB for their continued support in helping to improve the health and well-being of New Zealanders.
For more information and for images contact: St John Communications Manager Robyn Bern robyn.bern@stjohn.org.nz or 021 364 484