An officer with the Coast Guard in Waterford says local volunteers will soon be allowed use blue lights and sirens while responding to life and death calls.

Management had informed volunteers in February that they were no longer permitted to use the flashing lights while driving on public roads.

However Jim Griffin, the Officer in Charge of Dunmore East Coast Guard unit says that decision has been reversed.

He says it’s likely training will be given in Tramore first given that the seaside town will be busy with tourists, but they are hoping by the end of June that at least five members
of each unit in Dunmore East and Bonmahon will be trained in the blue light driving.

He says they were frightened that they would be stuck in traffic going to an emergency situation with the statutory agencies being able to get to the scene but unable to respond.

Jim Griffin says thankfully management listened to them and now they can drive under blue light and siren and keep them on while they are on the scene.

He says the volunteers know when it’s appropriate to use blue lights. They only use them when they come to traffic lights or situations where it is needed, just to warn other users
that they are approaching the scene.