Why the word ‘ambulance’ is spelled in reverse
Ever wondered why the word ambulance is spelled in reverse? Wonder no more.
The word is written as such to enable the motorists in front to easily read it on their rear view mirror.
In other jurisdictions, the words police and paramedics will be spelled backwards.
It is the commonest form of mirror writing used to quickly catch the attention of motorists.
When driving, ambulances are supposed to be given right of way and so apart from their sirens, the word ambulance is made easily readable from the mirror.
International standards state that ambulances should have the world ambulance written in reverse on the bonnet.
A Kenyan user on Twitter wondered on Tuesday:
17:38 Why is AMBULANCE/PARAMEDICS written backwards on these machines?? pic.twitter.com/JYJUg5W9k9 via @robbie_sir
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) November 15, 2016
18:17 so that drivers ahead can easily read the word from their rear view mirrors, pic.twitter.com/s7u2OgsMM7 via @onlyaterics
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) November 15, 2016
