I had heard a snidey rumour (via a friend who works with ambulance crews) that jobs on the solo rapid response vehicles were much-coveted among certain folk in the service. This was understood to be because solo work was far more likely – esp. on the dayshift? - to include some time parked up with a cup of tea, a butty and the paper.... as the controllers would automatically direct two-man crews to anything involving lifting/transporting people or "real emergency sounding". Anecdotally, near where I live (urban/suburban, big city, N England) there is a nice quiet verge with a river view overlooking a golf course... it is quite a common occurrence to see a solo responder unit parked up there in the afternoon. The same cynical friend says getting put on "light duty" with no lifting - e.g. following back strain - is often viewed as a good way to "expedite" a coveted move from a two-man crew to a solo vehicle. Sorry if that sounds cynical. Not doubting that most crew are decent hard-working folk, but if I've learnt anything from two decades in the public sector it's that there are always a number of "experienced finaglers of the system" to be found there. I also would imagine these types get up everyone else's noses, as in my experience they make more work for all the non-finaglers. Of course, if the solo vehicles are now going to be first direct to all calls the job of driving them may get less popular…!