INCONSIDERATE drivers are putting lives at risk say fire chiefs.
Badly-parked cars have delayed Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service getting to 39 call outs in the past two years.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed the figure at the launch of their ‘Park it Right’ campaign highlighting the potential dangers drivers cause when double parking or obstructing tight corners.
Parking on certain roads – particularly in Rugby – has become a major hindrance to fire engines.
Rugby Fire Officer John Gregory said: “I was at the scene of an incident recently where crews were called to a house fire. Unfortunately due to inappropriate parking, the fire appliance was unable to manoeuvre around certain vehicles on the road and firefighters were severely delayed.
“This is clearly unacceptable and I want people to understand that they have a responsibility to ensure that we can gain access on the street they park in. They risk other people’s lives if their bad parking delays a fire engine.
“Every second counts when someone needs our help and spending additional minutes trying to drive around other cars could ultimately have drastic consequences. It’s crucial to remember if the fire engine can’t pass through, we can’t get to you.”
Leaflet have been distributed in the most congested streets but fire chiefs say they only have a short-term effect, and are urging people to change their poor parking habits once and for all.
Warwickshire County Council community safety spokesman Coun John Horner added: “People forget that while fire engines are more compact than they used to be, they are still quite wide, which means they will struggle to drive down certain roads if people have not parked appropriately.
“Little actions like parking close to the curb and straightening your wheels can make a big difference.”
Updates on the campaign will be shared on social media using the hashtag #ParkItRight.
