I suppose the trade-off is the lights are quite obvious even when they aren't flashing, certainly to the criminals who know their cars. Many regular motorists won't notice 50 flashing lights!
The thing is, in unmarked police cars you want stealth, so you can't have anything obvious, and I'm not talking about the light bar here. On a stakeout, even big lights in the windscreen can be a giveaway. That's why most police forces still own cars that don't have any permanent blues fitted and rely entirely on the magnetic ones they put on top when needed. One neat thing I saw (only once though, and I think it was a custom job) is where they modified a sunroof to pop up and reveal a light bar.
@@feynthefallen That's where the difference between 'unmarked' and 'covert' comes into play. Unmarked vehicles are designed to be less-visible without seriously sacrificing visibility, whereas covert vehicles will/should look completely standard until the lights are turned on. Even internally there won't be switches, radios etc visible.
Car set looks good, but could you get Blues fitted to wing mirrors? This would enhance your side alert, also could you get Blues fitted to your rear lower skirt at the rear, this would help especially when the boot is open, Love the vlogs
That front end is approaching what the Americans call a "Christmas Tree setup" haha! Certainly very visible giving no excuse for not looking in your mirrors...
That's a real problem. Too many drivers barely ever look in their mirrors. You'dike to think they would notice all the flashing behind but there will be some that still don't.
Looks fantastic. A number of police forces in the UK could learn a thing or two. This is lit up like a Christmas tree it’s very well done 👍. It would be very hard to not see you on the road.
Agreed! He could also put another one of the grille lights vertically in the rear window to the far left side next to the pillar, I'd think with that and the mirror light it'd be pretty sufficient
Love the light bar looks a lot better and like you said coming out of junctions your more visible so other road users can see you more which is fantastic
Hi Chris, Excellent light fit, its all about being seen when traveling to an incident and Safety when on scene, Much better visibility for anyone to see you from all angles and good on scene safety. top job more responders vehicles need this type of set up 👍
Lightbar definitely helps with your side profile, i would recommend however the 'arrival' pattern would benefit from having alternate lights flashing as opposed to the current all on all off. This would just ensure you always have some form of emergency lighting on at the rear.
Simple and effective light setup - my aonly advice being at the rear, a synchronised flash between left and right is inferior to a left / right flash. Albeit momentary, particularly when the boot is open, there is a short period of time where NO emergency lighting is on. For this reason I have always favoured a left / right, like the front.
Beautiful. I would just add the curved/L shaped leds for under the mirror the help side front profile. Not a fan of the small roof bar but defenitely helpful for the sides
Chris looks perfect. i follow you with added interest, as my Sister runs an emergency animal rescue centre down here in Surrey, working within the M25 Police at times, so have introduce some of your ideas on her vehicles, not blue obviously, but covert amber and whites at front with same in rear amber and red with a full width low light bar on roof, you must be seen at all times day and night, good work Chris stay safe out there.
I think the light bar doesn't make it that much more visible in operation, but it gives a visible indication when the blues aren't illuminated that this is an emergency servies vehicle and may be called into service at any moment, which is also important. Keep up the great work, Chris!
It looks great! But I am wondering why you'd want an unmarked medical unit? Is it so you can use it for personal also or is there another reason for not having fx. reflexes everywhere?
It’s something a lot of ambulance and fire services do with “management” so they can respond when required or if on call at home. But the service don’t need a fleet of just in case vehicles and I’m sure it’s helps with company car tax rules but don’t quote me on that. Seems to be a cost effective way to get staff who might not typically be going to jobs consistently but on an ad hoc basis when required.
Very good set up, although I think to help with coming out of junctions from the front bumper to the A pillar could do with some lights as well, either on the mirrors as some have suggested or where side indicators used to be fitted on the wings.
Thanks and agreed, my first lease we had strobes on the wing mirrors but these days, we aren't allowed to affect the integrity of the car i.e everything that goes on should come off and the car is in the same state as before so no hole drilling or altering parts. Makes adding to side panels and mirrors difficult.
@@ChrisMartinEMS Yes insurance matters are still one of the biggest problems in the volunteer sector as well about vehicle alterations and operational matters, and good to see you back a bit more on YT Chris.
Did you not fancy a single solid Blue front and rear facing to cover off speed camera activations that cause paperwork issues proving the lights were on etc?
@blazortheepic0384 I work for a private company doing frontline shifts for SCAS. we have the NIP's come through. It automatically gets sent, regardless of vehicles
Looks like a good new system for you to work with now, Chris - (Hopefully to be seen everywhere) - . . . almost like your last one - but on steroids!!! - But what's your switcher for it on this? a good Paddlle flicker again, sadly the beeping Horn, or was it a more tricky fixed console for it all to reach when out on your own in it?
Love it so much! Can I ask: 1) Are you a CCP or a Criticla Care Doctor? 2) Is that Audi your own car? 3) If so, I’m guessing you can add as many lights to it as you can?
Hi, I'm a Paramedic by background with Critical Care in my scope but as a responding manager also respond to other incidents so the car is a work lease car that i can use for personal use as well but othe than the odd magnetic removable bar, can't change or add to the fit.
Looks great and the light bar a good addition though kind of undermines the unmarked civilian use case. Am no expert but could maybe do with more on the sides, especially towards the front to help other drivers spot you and give way more quickly when you’re nosing out of junctions?
Ive always wondered when your a critical care / advance paramedic using a personal car I presume with blue lights do the police have this vehicle on their data base as a emergency serivce vehicle ? have you ever been pulled over for using the blues because they may be confused ? LOVE THE VIDEOS
You are missing a solid blue for camera detection to the rear. If you havent got wigwag headlights, can your centre screen function as a wigwag if its permanently white? You can get ultra slim side skirt LEDs that run under your doors and if your mirrors have indicator strips, you can get alternating strips for those too.
Definitely better with the light bar, it makes it less likely that youll be mistaken for the police. I wouldnt worry about the bar attracting attention when you're off duty. they're all clear when they're turned off, so I'd probably assume its an amber if i saw the car sat in the street with no lights running.
Looks real nice. I am surprised that there isn’t a static blue on the rear to hep with speed camera images but that might not be showing in the on scene pattern. On a side note your voice was left channel only for some reason.
Thanks and camera wise we just do an exemption form if needed but a static blue is a good idea but sote we'd still gets the notices through. Voice wise that's my fault, didn't change the setting on the DJI Mic receiver to both channels.
@ChrisMartinEMS yeah it's just something that I read somewhere that it makes life easier to prove you was on a shout when you went through the camera as it is possible that the photo might have been taken in the split second between strobes of light and so no light is visible in the photo.
I'd guess you'd be looking at Advanced Paramedic at minimum if you were a valuable enough resource to have an on-call pager. After that you sometimes see operational commanders and officers have unmarked cars of their own too.
Brilliant set up for front and rear but I think the sides of the vehicle need more lighting due to it being dark plain vehicle. The same applies to some of those plain Met Police vehicles shown on RUclips.
Regarding front low sun, is there a reason to not have any red lights up front? Here in Czechia, red lights were added specifically for low sun situations.
The majority of new-fit blue light heads are R65 Class 2 output (with a low power function for night use). Red light heads... I've seen one that's Class 2, everything else is Class 1. Amber is 50:50 depending on the form factor you're after.
@@brotakig1531 from watching previous videos Chris seems to drive marked up cars when at work but I saw a reply to a comment above that he is also a responding manager (presumably an on call rota type thing to provide manager level input at serious incidents) and uses this car for that purpose - as well as having the ability to use it for personal use (which is nice).
love this Chris amazing car you have there! what sirens do you prefer the ones you have now [RSG MSC sirens] or Whelen sirens [The one on your UM skoda]?
In all seriousness emergency vehicles years ago used to have a maximum 4x blue lights ... These days I'm getting passed by ambulances with 14x strobe lights that are blinding me as they approach. How many lights do you really need ?
Have you concidered putting an (or; two) LED beacon(s) on top of the car (360°), instead of a light-bar (with four sides of directional LED's)? As you make the turn in the first seconds you see the difference. At 90 degrees your car is nice lit, at 45 degrees you almost disappear, and at 0 degrees you blind people. At intersections - when appearing between on an intersection coming out between lanes of traffic - the licence plate flasher is great. But without traffic - when you approach drivers more at an 45 degree angle, you'll be heard, but not as good seen.
Is it legal for an EMS to fit and use blue flashing lights on a private car? I thought it was only greenflashing lights can be used on a vehicle that is carrying a registered medical doctor on an emergency call
@@Ruknm Red lights can only be shown to the rear of a vehicle under UK law. Emergency services will only operate blue, white and green lights at the front.
The light bar on the roof is a good addition..... gives a better impression that you are not an plain clothed police officer. As we all know that there are morons out there that would be populously slow in their reaction, thinking "Yeah, i just slowed an onik oink down, i'm so cool"
what legislation allows white strobes to be fitted? I presume this vehicle is for police use and not any other use. Personally I would have additional rear lamp lights as with boot up you loose a lot of the visibility, too much IMHO. Additional front quarter to door needs more visibility as a failed side numberplate lamp could result in poor visibility and an incident.
Love it. Here in Germany, they just cut down on the number of lights you can have on one vehicle and their synchronization, it can´t be too flashy anymore, it's ridiculous...
Looks better than most unmarked police vehicles in the U.K. 😂
I suppose the trade-off is the lights are quite obvious even when they aren't flashing, certainly to the criminals who know their cars.
Many regular motorists won't notice 50 flashing lights!
@@ultra_vires Except the one when they flash as a give way.
The thing is, in unmarked police cars you want stealth, so you can't have anything obvious, and I'm not talking about the light bar here. On a stakeout, even big lights in the windscreen can be a giveaway. That's why most police forces still own cars that don't have any permanent blues fitted and rely entirely on the magnetic ones they put on top when needed. One neat thing I saw (only once though, and I think it was a custom job) is where they modified a sunroof to pop up and reveal a light bar.
@@feynthefallen That's where the difference between 'unmarked' and 'covert' comes into play. Unmarked vehicles are designed to be less-visible without seriously sacrificing visibility, whereas covert vehicles will/should look completely standard until the lights are turned on. Even internally there won't be switches, radios etc visible.
Car set looks good, but could you get Blues fitted to wing mirrors? This would enhance your side alert, also could you get Blues fitted to your rear lower skirt at the rear, this would help especially when the boot is open,
Love the vlogs
Absolutely stunning, thanks for showing!
That front end is approaching what the Americans call a "Christmas Tree setup" haha! Certainly very visible giving no excuse for not looking in your mirrors...
That's a real problem. Too many drivers barely ever look in their mirrors. You'dike to think they would notice all the flashing behind but there will be some that still don't.
@@thebrowns5337 With the sirens blaring, it should help, unless they have full volume on 'music' inside.
Looks fantastic. A number of police forces in the UK could learn a thing or two. This is lit up like a Christmas tree it’s very well done 👍.
It would be very hard to not see you on the road.
Awesome setup! I could recommend small circular lights that you can put on your mirrors for better light on the side, it works well!
Agree - the side lighting is very weak in comparison.
Agreed! He could also put another one of the grille lights vertically in the rear window to the far left side next to the pillar, I'd think with that and the mirror light it'd be pretty sufficient
Love the light bar looks a lot better and like you said coming out of junctions your more visible so other road users can see you more which is fantastic
Lovely car, it really suits that lighting layout.
Hi Chris,
Excellent light fit, its all about being seen when traveling to an incident and Safety when on scene, Much better visibility for anyone to see you from all angles and good on scene safety. top job more responders vehicles need this type of set up 👍
My left ear really enjoyed this video!
Lightbar definitely helps with your side profile, i would recommend however the 'arrival' pattern would benefit from having alternate lights flashing as opposed to the current all on all off. This would just ensure you always have some form of emergency lighting on at the rear.
Simple and effective light setup - my aonly advice being at the rear, a synchronised flash between left and right is inferior to a left / right flash. Albeit momentary, particularly when the boot is open, there is a short period of time where NO emergency lighting is on. For this reason I have always favoured a left / right, like the front.
Someone will still say "sorry mate I didn't see you"
Probably a van 😂
@@dougiegraham662 more likely an Uber...
Beautiful. I would just add the curved/L shaped leds for under the mirror the help side front profile.
Not a fan of the small roof bar but defenitely helpful for the sides
Brilliant to have you back at work chris , looks awesome, stay safe out there .👍🚔
Looks less like an unmarked police car now with the roof bar, keep up the grand work! Always look for your videos :)
Very cool. Thanks for the walkthrough!
great video. A video on your role and a day to day would be fab!!!
Chris looks perfect. i follow you with added interest, as my Sister runs an emergency animal rescue centre down here in Surrey, working within the M25 Police at times, so have introduce some of your ideas on her vehicles, not blue obviously, but covert amber and whites at front with same in rear amber and red with a full width low light bar on roof, you must be seen at all times day and night, good work Chris stay safe out there.
Reds are illegal unless recovery or emergency services. I think she's going ott with lights as they give her no exemptions
I think the light bar doesn't make it that much more visible in operation, but it gives a visible indication when the blues aren't illuminated that this is an emergency servies vehicle and may be called into service at any moment, which is also important.
Keep up the great work, Chris!
I like how you imrp9ved the patern of the lights so there on at all times and no aldark spots on a blue light call
Light bar looks great.
My left ear loved this video, however my right ear has no idea whats going on
Do the extremely bright strobes stay at that level in hours of darkness?
Just to let you know your voice is only in the left audio channel, not a giant deal but figured I'd let you know!
Yeah when watching on mobile it only got sound out of my earpiece speaker.
Ended up turning my phone around 😂
It looks great! But I am wondering why you'd want an unmarked medical unit? Is it so you can use it for personal also or is there another reason for not having fx. reflexes everywhere?
Yup that’s why, as he also uses the car for personal use I believe
Yes, he said so in one of previous videos.
It’s something a lot of ambulance and fire services do with “management” so they can respond when required or if on call at home. But the service don’t need a fleet of just in case vehicles and I’m sure it’s helps with company car tax rules but don’t quote me on that. Seems to be a cost effective way to get staff who might not typically be going to jobs consistently but on an ad hoc basis when required.
Great video as always
looks great
Very good set up, although I think to help with coming out of junctions from the front bumper to the A pillar could do with some lights as well, either on the mirrors as some have suggested or where side indicators used to be fitted on the wings.
Thanks and agreed, my first lease we had strobes on the wing mirrors but these days, we aren't allowed to affect the integrity of the car i.e everything that goes on should come off and the car is in the same state as before so no hole drilling or altering parts. Makes adding to side panels and mirrors difficult.
@@ChrisMartinEMS Yes insurance matters are still one of the biggest problems in the volunteer sector as well about vehicle alterations and operational matters, and good to see you back a bit more on YT Chris.
More lit up than the Christmas Trees! I am sure some drivers still would not notice you coming, though! :)
Literally brilliant.
Yes can’t wait for more Audi runs
Im jealous of this
The difference between boot up and down is actually crazy.
This is one of the most epilepsy inducing setups ever, and I am seeing it through a screen
Did you not fancy a single solid Blue front and rear facing to cover off speed camera activations that cause paperwork issues proving the lights were on etc?
I believe that was only a thing for Gatso cameras. they can use ANPR to identify his vehicle instead.
The NIP comes though, you provide the CAD in the appeal. Don't need to prove the lights were on.
@blazortheepic0384 I work for a private company doing frontline shifts for SCAS. we have the NIP's come through. It automatically gets sent, regardless of vehicles
@@AB-cs7vm yeah though as much 👍🏾
Car looks excellent, only question i have is i thought they mean't to have is it called a lowburn light on for when it goes through a speed camera
Do you plan on doing any videos on the audi soon?
Looks like a good new system for you to work with now, Chris - (Hopefully to be seen everywhere) - . . . almost like your last one - but on steroids!!! - But what's your switcher for it on this? a good Paddlle flicker again, sadly the beeping Horn, or was it a more tricky fixed console for it all to reach when out on your own in it?
Danm that looks really good.
Its very visible! really good
Although is it just me, or are they yellow when you are at the scene?
Love it so much! Can I ask:
1) Are you a CCP or a Criticla Care Doctor?
2) Is that Audi your own car?
3) If so, I’m guessing you can add as many lights to it as you can?
Hi, I'm a Paramedic by background with Critical Care in my scope but as a responding manager also respond to other incidents so the car is a work lease car that i can use for personal use as well but othe than the odd magnetic removable bar, can't change or add to the fit.
Warning this video may contain flashing lights
123MondayTuesday Some would still say what flashing lights.
Looks nice, is there any reason why the estate version wasnt chosen?
Looks great and the light bar a good addition though kind of undermines the unmarked civilian use case. Am no expert but could maybe do with more on the sides, especially towards the front to help other drivers spot you and give way more quickly when you’re nosing out of junctions?
Don't forget the numberplate mount has side-facing lights on it
Ive always wondered when your a critical care / advance paramedic using a personal car I presume with blue lights do the police have this vehicle on their data base as a emergency serivce vehicle ? have you ever been pulled over for using the blues because they may be confused ? LOVE THE VIDEOS
You are missing a solid blue for camera detection to the rear. If you havent got wigwag headlights, can your centre screen function as a wigwag if its permanently white? You can get ultra slim side skirt LEDs that run under your doors and if your mirrors have indicator strips, you can get alternating strips for those too.
Definitely better with the light bar, it makes it less likely that youll be mistaken for the police.
I wouldnt worry about the bar attracting attention when you're off duty. they're all clear when they're turned off, so I'd probably assume its an amber if i saw the car sat in the street with no lights running.
Looks real nice. I am surprised that there isn’t a static blue on the rear to hep with speed camera images but that might not be showing in the on scene pattern.
On a side note your voice was left channel only for some reason.
Thanks and camera wise we just do an exemption form if needed but a static blue is a good idea but sote we'd still gets the notices through.
Voice wise that's my fault, didn't change the setting on the DJI Mic receiver to both channels.
@ChrisMartinEMS yeah it's just something that I read somewhere that it makes life easier to prove you was on a shout when you went through the camera as it is possible that the photo might have been taken in the split second between strobes of light and so no light is visible in the photo.
@Blackhawkso you just supply the CAD number
@ fair enough didn't know that like I said I heard it can help in some situations.
From an aesthetic perspective, the light-bar is a bit of a sore sight, in my opinion. But you can't deny its effectiveness.
That light bar looks almost lost on that decked-out cruiser...
what rank do you have to be within the ambulance service to use an unmarked car like this ?
Perhaps more dependant on the role?
I'd guess you'd be looking at Advanced Paramedic at minimum if you were a valuable enough resource to have an on-call pager. After that you sometimes see operational commanders and officers have unmarked cars of their own too.
Have you thought about using a rumbler siren? Would that be allowed?
Brilliant set up for front and rear but I think the sides of the vehicle need more lighting due to it being dark plain vehicle. The same applies to some of those plain Met Police vehicles shown on RUclips.
Regarding front low sun, is there a reason to not have any red lights up front? Here in Czechia, red lights were added specifically for low sun situations.
Red lights to the front are not permitted under UK law I believe.
When you're driving at night, do you find the Matrix lights help?
I thought you had to have one that was permanently on so if you get snapped going through a red light or something???
From a safety point of view the rear reds seem a lot less eye-catching than all the blues.
The majority of new-fit blue light heads are R65 Class 2 output (with a low power function for night use). Red light heads... I've seen one that's Class 2, everything else is Class 1.
Amber is 50:50 depending on the form factor you're after.
What is the reason they give you an unmarked car instead of a marked one?
I hope u dont mind me asking, why the need for an unmarked medical/paramedic car?
He uses it as a personal car along side work.
@@brotakig1531 from watching previous videos Chris seems to drive marked up cars when at work but I saw a reply to a comment above that he is also a responding manager (presumably an on call rota type thing to provide manager level input at serious incidents) and uses this car for that purpose - as well as having the ability to use it for personal use (which is nice).
should you not have a constant blue light on in the rear for speed cameras
love this Chris amazing car you have there! what sirens do you prefer the ones you have now [RSG MSC sirens] or Whelen sirens [The one on your UM skoda]?
How many points will this get you on your licence?
Do you use satellite view on the car navigation or is it better to keep it basic?
In all seriousness emergency vehicles years ago used to have a maximum 4x blue lights ... These days I'm getting passed by ambulances with 14x strobe lights that are blinding me as they approach.
How many lights do you really need ?
Have you concidered putting an (or; two) LED beacon(s) on top of the car (360°), instead of a light-bar (with four sides of directional LED's)?
As you make the turn in the first seconds you see the difference. At 90 degrees your car is nice lit, at 45 degrees you almost disappear, and at 0 degrees you blind people.
At intersections - when appearing between on an intersection coming out between lanes of traffic - the licence plate flasher is great. But without traffic - when you approach drivers more at an 45 degree angle, you'll be heard, but not as good seen.
What camera was you holding please?
Damn this Audi looks nice. What about your 19" rims? Still intact?
What was it that Jeremy Clarkson said about Audi drivers?
You just know there will be people that still don't see you behind them.
Is it legal for an EMS to fit and use blue flashing lights on a private car? I thought it was only greenflashing lights can be used on a vehicle that is carrying a registered medical doctor on an emergency call
Hi Chris, Australian paramedic here. What is the significance or responding with blue lights only as opposed to red and blue on scene?
The reds are put on once on scene to show we are static so traffic knows we aren't going to be moving
@ Interesting. Do you think red/blue combination could help with daylight visibility given the struggles with low sun you discussed in the video?
@@Ruknm in most countries of the Europe the blue light is the only light for the emergency vehicles.
@@Ruknm Red lights can only be shown to the rear of a vehicle under UK law. Emergency services will only operate blue, white and green lights at the front.
Hope you’re doing well Chris, you couldn’t make that car anymore visible but I bet people will still not see it….
Tendência aqui na Bahia
If Carlsberg did blue light fit outs....
The light bar on the roof is a good addition..... gives a better impression that you are not an plain clothed police officer. As we all know that there are morons out there that would be populously slow in their reaction, thinking "Yeah, i just slowed an onik oink down, i'm so cool"
1. Is this going to trigger anyone who is photo-sensitive to a seizure?
2. I cannot hear anything in my right ear wearing headphones.
Yeah I'm all dizzy and my head hurts
The audio is only in my left ear
I feel dizzy from the flashing
christ you're cool.
An 'X' pattern on the rear would look much nicer and more 'professional'
Not a fan of how the blue is almost white on the medical vehicles these days.
And still some drivers won’t see you!
Why is this an unmarked car? A white car with bright stripes like other emergency vehicules would be much more visible than a black car.
Because it's his personal car
what legislation allows white strobes to be fitted? I presume this vehicle is for police use and not any other use. Personally I would have additional rear lamp lights as with boot up you loose a lot of the visibility, too much IMHO. Additional front quarter to door needs more visibility as a failed side numberplate lamp could result in poor visibility and an incident.
I know I’m the only one who thinks it is … a bit too much😂
Love it. Here in Germany, they just cut down on the number of lights you can have on one vehicle and their synchronization, it can´t be too flashy anymore, it's ridiculous...
My 🎧appear to be broken, I can only hear audio in my left ear. Switching to mono now 🔉
Only watched 40 seconds / flashing lights do me in .