Recently, a video circulating online of an ambulance in Hainan clearing the way for a tourist group in Tibet has sparked outrage.
According to a blogger in Nyingchi, Tibet, on May 12th, he and his friends were self-driving to Medog, Tibet for a trip when they encountered an ambulance with the words “Longitude Airways Medical Emergency Station” on its body, blaring its siren and causing other vehicles to yield the right of way. However, upon reaching the next scenic spot, they found the ambulance parked there with people getting off to take photos. After getting back on the road, the ambulance continued blaring its siren, raising suspicions among drivers that it wasn’t on an emergency mission but rather for tourism. They decided to stop the ambulance and question its occupants.
It was then discovered that there were only three individuals inside the vehicle, two men and a woman, all dressed in casual attire, not appearing to be on an emergency mission at all, raising concerns that the ambulance was being misused for personal purposes. This escalated into a verbal confrontation and eventually led to someone calling the police.
Mr. Zhang, who posted the video on May 13th, told Upstream News, “When we first encountered them (the ambulance), we let them pass once. By all accounts, they should have continued ahead, but we kept seeing them stopping to take photos at various spots. As they lingered longer at one place, they fell behind us. As we were nearing the county seat of Medog where traffic was heavy and congested, the ambulance trailing behind kept blaring its siren, causing significant disturbance to us. We got off to inform the driver that it was improper to use the siren without being on an emergency mission.”
In the video, the individuals in the ambulance maintained a defiant attitude, stating that their compliance with regulations was a matter for the public security authorities, not others.
Mr. Zhang mentioned that after reporting the incident to the police, law enforcement intercepted the ambulance on the road. In the video, the ambulance’s emergency lights were removed, and the individuals inside were investigated.
In response to this, a staff member from the Motuo County Public Security Bureau stated that the incident occurred on April 12th, and they had removed the illegally installed emergency lights (siren) and imposed administrative penalties and education on those involved.
On May 13th, the Sanya Municipal Health Commission reported that the vehicle with the license plate Qiong B120BB belonged to Hainan Longitude Airways Medical Emergency Service Co., Ltd. (a privately-operated for-profit entity) and was a non-emergency medical transfer vehicle. It is currently managed and used by the Tibet Longitude Airways Medical Emergency Service Co., Ltd. The vehicle was found to be engaged in illegal activities, such as using emergency lights and sirens in non-emergency situations in Motuo County. As a result, Hainan Longitude Airways Medical Emergency Service Co., Ltd. was ordered to suspend operations for rectification and conduct a comprehensive inspection and rectification of all affiliated vehicles.
The incident has provoked public outrage online. Netizens have expressed their views, with some stating, “Ambulance sirens represent a lifeline, not an escort for tourism!” and “Seeing the personnel on the ambulance acting so self-righteous and familiar with the roads, using the siren to gain right of way without being on an emergency mission has become normalized. Such violations seriously undermine the public’s basic understanding of yielding to ambulances. Individuals and institutions like these should be permanently barred from the emergency medical service industry; they are unworthy! The current punishment is too lenient, like scratching an itch!”
Others have pointed out cases of public resources being misused for private purposes, saying, “There are too many instances of public resources being used for private purposes in Beijing. In my neighborhood, there’s a Toyota with a Beijing license plate that operates as a bus, transporting people home from work at night.” and “During the lockdown in Hainan that year, our ambulance was used to transport seafood to sell in the neighborhood! They were helping others sell seafood.”
A netizen from Sichuan commented, “Private hospitals around here have employees commuting in ambulances, continuously blasting the siren. It happens every day. The country has turned a blind eye to private hospitals equipping ambulances with sirens, allowing even a private clinic to have an ambulance for privileged use.” and “Nowadays, many private security companies and thugs are forming ‘rescue teams’ to make money. Those who know, know.”
Some netizens have questioned the adequacy of the punishment, asking, “Is it just verbal reprimand?” A knowledgeable netizen responded, “They were fined 200 yuan, and the emergency lights and sirens were removed. However, the group felt it wasn’t a big deal and went back to complain to the Motuo police! The blogger only posted the video because there was no other choice.”