Region Midtjylland’s new speed limit for ambulances: Maximum 160 km/h. Region Midtjylland has decided to limit ambulance speeds to a maximum of 160 kilometers per hour. Even though swift arrival is often a matter of life or death, the new speed limit has been introduced to increase safety for both ambulance personnel and other road users. This decision is based on an assessment that safety is not necessarily improved by driving as fast as possible. From now on, ambulances on emergency duty must not exceed 160 kilometers per hour and must also stay within a speed that is at most 50 percent above the permitted limit on the respective road sections.
According to Jan Kjær Madsen, the ambulance chief at the Prehospital unit under Region Midtjylland, the goal is to ensure that employees reach patients and return home without unnecessary risk. Jan Kjær Madsen also points out that ambulance personnel have become significantly better at providing treatment directly at the scene of accidents. This has reduced the need to transport patients quickly to the hospital, allowing for a higher prioritization of road safety.
Although the new guidelines are advisory, Region Midtjylland will collect data on ambulance speeds to monitor and analyze developments. In general, there will be no direct consequences for employees who exceed the new limits, but the data collection will be used to follow up on compliance with the new speed limits.