Can you break the road rules for an ambulance with sirens on?

[xXHopeXx]

Ambos have the authority to also go on the opposite side of the road, (pending safety obviously) I'm not sure where you're from, but my hubby and his colleagues often do where we are if they can see a situation like that

If it were me, and were safe to do so, I would have moved, and gotten the ambulance number/registration just in case I got a red light camera ticket or something


Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks

[xXHopeXx]

When the drivers move at lights & sirens, they have had training and they also have a trained "spotter" who tells them where the breaks are in the traffic etc - the driver is pretty much reliant on his/her spotter to make it to the destination safely.

I wish they had this in NSW Kaz!! Hubby and his partner always have to find their own route and way through traffic! It'd be so much better and faster if they had this here



Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks

[Bloom]

Really interesting hearing all the replies and the people who have had fines wiped.

I think there is a big difference between speeding / "running a red" and pulling forward into an intersection against a red, after stopping and checking that everyone has stopped and it is safe.

I think that I would "break the law" to let an ambulance through - particularly if they are honking. As Heaven said, they obviously wanted the cars to do something.

[AwesomeFoursome]

I would, I would check it was safe but I definitely would! It's someone's life on the other side, Ive been on the other side waiting for an ambulance and the thought of having a ambulance waiting at a red light because they are stuck behind someone makes me feel sick. My 1 year old niece was choking one day, she wouldn't have made it if the ambulance had to wait for anyone.

[Catastrophic]

I would and have providing it is safe to do so of course.

and you know what I would hope that if it was me waiting for the ambulance in a life threatening situation other people would do the same... THey don't have lights and sirens on for a headache - its a life threatening emergency.

[sweetpea678]

My husband is an Ambo so asked him this question for you. His answer is no you can't break the law to let a Ambo through. However he did say pulling out of the way is good but running a red light or speeding isn't. Nothing is that urgent that 30 seconds stuck at a red light is worth risking your life.

[Malyna]

I thought there was something in the law that said you had to pull left if an emergency vehicle had sirens on. But if it's safe to do so then move, if it's not then don't. You don't need to be the cause of another accident. I think most people would rather just stop and let the emergency vehicle figure it's own way through the intersection.

I have seen cars pull into the intersection to make way for the emergency vehicle. I usually use my judgement on road conditions if there is an emergency vehicle around with the lights and sirens on. If slowing down will help them get through, then I'll slow down, or pulling left, or even just sitting in the right lane and letting the vehicle overtake me on the left, just depends on the traffic conditions.

The last time was a fire engine who was flying down the wrong side of the road (because of traffic build up). I just pulled over left in case another car had to squeeze past. The car on the other side of the road, pulled left, and the fire engine went through before it sat at the roundabout for a few seconds, making sure everyone saw it, then went the wrong way.

[lilima]

Bloom, you said it exactly as my DH said. (He is a victorian paramedic) You shouldn't be speeding to get out of the way, but moving over as far as possible to allow room for them to get through. If that means movng into an intersection on the red (if safe to do so) then that is what you should do.

[nickle730]

Malyna, please don't sit in the right hand lane for an emergency vehicle to overtake you on the left. The problem with doing so is that I, as the driver of the emergency vehicle, don't know whether you have seen me or not. I have to assume that you have not seen me... and that when you do, you might well pull over to the left! If there is room for the emergency vehicle to overtake you on the left, then there is room for you to move to the left and clear the right hand lane for the emergency vehicle. If the emergency vehicle has clear passage in the right hand lane, it is clear to every other driver what the intention of the emergency vehicle is - to continue the path in the right hand lane until indicating a turn. I personally loathe weaving in and out of multiple lanes as it tends to cause confusion amongst other drivers and increases the likelihood of an accident occurring. I am likely to slow down behind you in the right hand lane and wait for you to move left as opposed to overtake you on the left. If I overtake you on the left, the car in front of you on the left will most likely believe that I want the left lane clear and so they move right, but the car in front of them believes that you should move left for an emergency vehicle and so moves left... and pretty soon you have utter confusion, cars going everywhere and no clear passage for the emergency vehicle! Move left, slow down... that's all you need to do.

As for the traffic lights, if only one or two cars are in front of the emergency vehicle they will generally pull left (remembering I am in the right hand lane) in front of the waiting vehicles in the other lane/s. It is usually unsafe to move through the intersection as the other drivers (with a green light) are focussed on the emergency vehicle, not on another car passing illegally through the red light. If it is safe to do so, I will always cross to the oncoming lanes to pass through a red light as opposed to having other drivers risk their safety by moving into the intersection. This includes passing over median strips when reasonable to do so. If the traffic is gridlocked and the drivers in front of me have nowhere to move to clear passage for my emergency vehicle I will simply sit in the right hand lane and turn my sirens (but not my beacons) off until the lights change and the traffic is able to move forward and to the left.

The MFB did a great media campaign several years ago... when you see and emergency vehicle, move left and slow down.

[Sunny Love]

Go Bloom!!!

I wouldn't hesitate, and I would fight the fine.

I get mad at people who sit in their car and try to signal the ambo to go around! I've thought to myself when i've seen it 'FSS move over douche bag-someones needing medical help-they wouldn't ask you to move otherwise!!'

3 years ago my friend passed over in the back of an ambulance after a motorbike accident. He said his final goodbyes to a paramedic, only metres from the hospital...a complete stranger had to tell his parents and partner that he loved them so much and would see them soon for a Bundy, and that at 19 years old he was dead on arrival. He knew he was dying too, his Aorta had practically burst from the impact, and he bled out slowly through his heart.
Im not insinuating that traffic held up his ambulance trip, but its an experience thats always made me more aware, observant and willing to move for an ambulance. You just never know whose in the back and whats happening.

[zilly]

its actually safer for the ambo to navigate around you if everyone is already stopped (and they are more likely to get into more trouble if they don't know if a car will move or not). A lot of the lights in the cities can be controlled to switch through their cycle quicker if an emergency vehicle requires it. (and some have the inbuilt frequency thingy that makes the lights change for them.

Although if the ambo was tooting, I would probably try to turn left with care (esp if there is a green arrow) regardless of the direction I was going in)

[trishalishous]

as the PP have said, its fine to do that. If you did get a fine, the ambulance would be in the picture too, and they waive it (they did for my DH and a firetruck)

[YoYo]

Bloom took the words from my iFinger! There is a big difference between running a red, and moving into an intersection against a red to let through an emergency vehicle.

Yes I'd do it, as long as its safe.

Sunny - that's a sad story. I'm sorry about your friend