The driver of a blue light authorised emergency vehicle has sparked outrage after being filmed holding a mobile phone while behind the wheel on the busy A30 in Cornwall.
In an exclusive Plymouth Plus investigation, video footage captured the incident occurring between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross roundabouts at 5.18pm on Tuesday, 10 June.
The unmarked blue light vehicle was identified as registered to a volunteer with BASICS Cornwall, an organisation providing specialist emergency medical care at serious incidents.
The footage captured the moment the driver held a mobile phone while navigating the dual carriageway, prompting widespread criticism due to the grave consequences often resulting from distracted driving.
The concerned witness, who initially mistook the vehicle for a police car, described the event as shocking and unfair, stating:
"I noticed an unmarked car speeding with no sirens or lights. Upon closer inspection, I clearly saw the driver on his mobile phone.
"If it had been any civilian, we’d face a minimum £100 fine and six points on our license.
"It’s not acceptable to have one rule for emergency responders and another for everyone else."
The witness has confirmed that the incident has been reported to Devon and Cornwall Police.
Both BASICS Cornwall and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) confirmed the vehicle was not responding to an emergency at the time of recording.
A spokesperson for SWASFT told Plymouth Plus:
"This is a private vehicle that is not owned by the Trust.
“The vehicle is registered on our volunteer’s database, but at the time of the footage being recorded, the car was not responding to a patient on our behalf.
“As the driver cannot be identified in the footage, we are not able to comment any further.”
@plymouthplus Blue light vehicle driver reported to the police after caught holding mobile phone while at the wheel | #fyp #news #police
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BASICS Cornwall echoed this response, adding:
"This is a private vehicle not owned by BASICS Cornwall.
"We can confirm at the time of recording it was not responding to an emergency call on behalf of BASICS Cornwall or South Western Ambulance Trust.
"As the driver cannot be identified in the footage, we are not able to comment any further’.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police told Plymouth Plus:
"We have been made aware of footage which allegedly shows a person in possession of a phone while driving.
"Efforts are being made for this to be formally reported through the Operation Snap reporting system.
"As part of Operation Snap, members of the public can report and submit digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences securely online here - Operation Snap | Devon & Cornwall Police".
The witness, who commutes regularly between Plymouth and St Ives, highlighted the irony of the incident given the numerous fatalities linked to mobile phone use behind the wheel, and called for equal treatment under the law, concluding:
"It’s genuinely disappointing. The driver clearly has access to hands-free technology but chose not to use it."
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