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

A few days ago I had an interesting experience. I'll try to explain it as clearly as I can but the detail doesn't matter so much as the principle.

I was at a set of traffic lights when an ambulance with sirens and lights on approached from the opposite direction. The lights were at red for it's flow of traffic. However, it was stuck behind cars in both lanes and they couldn't pull to the side. The only way for the ambulance to get forward and through was for the at least one of the cars to pull into the intersection (against a red light). They could very safely turn left and everyone at the traffic lights had stopped (including those on the green). However, no one moved! I tried to wave the cars forward, but they didn't seem me. The ambulance beeped its' horn and still no one moved. Eventually the lights changed to green and then one car moved forward and pulled over to the left and let the ambulance through.

It wasn't a long delay, but it got me thinking. I would have definitely moved forward, even against a red light or if it meant ending up in the middle of the intersection (as long as it is safe and you can see that everyone had stopped etc).

So is it okay to break the road rules to let the ambulance through? I would have thought you'd never get booked, as long as you didn't do something completely reckless.

What do you think? Have you witnessed anything like this or do people normally let ambulances through?

I don't know really but I would think it's ok. And obviously the ambulance did too because they were beeping.

I don't drive but believe it would be legal as long as you didn't cause an accident. So in the incident you described those cars with the green light stopped so the the car could move out of the way.
I believe there are laws about stopping/moving etc... for emergency vehicles and believe this scenario would be covered by that.


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I've wondered this too, saw a similar scenario to you where the ambulance ended up going over an embankment because the cars in front wouldn't move. I'm pretty sure it's not against the law to make way for emergency vehicles if it is safe.

Regards,
Dianne

If you're prepared to cop a fine.
The legislation in most states says that you're required to ignore other traffic rules if it is safe to do so. The emphasis is on the 'safe to do so' so pulling over into a no stopping zone or bus lane is generally safe. Running a red is not.

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Traffic Support Superintendent Mark Fairney said Mr MacDonald did not have a specific exemption, as emergency vehicles have (police, fire and ambulance), and so did not have any legal standing in disobeying the traffic light.

"Motorists have an obligation to give way to emergency vehicles but they also have an obligation to drive with due care and abide by the traffic laws," Mr Fairney said. "The driver in these circumstances would have a series of different options they could have considered.

"Disobeying the red traffic light is fraught with danger.

"A better option would be to wait until the traffic light changes to green and then provide a safe passage for the ambulance by moving out of its path in the safest way possible."

SA Ambulance Service chief executive Ray Creen agreed motorists should never risk their safety to accommodate ambulances.

"Whilst it was vital motorists do their very best to make a clear passage for an emergency vehicle driving with lights and sirens, we do not encourage motorists to break the law to get out of our way," he said.

"This includes driving at excessive speeds or running a red light. These are obviously dangerous things to do as they put both the driver and other motorists at risk."

Full article

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This exact situation has happened to me with a fire truck. I was stopped at the red when a fire truck came up behind me. I was only 18 & had no idea what to do. I panicked for a moment before the truck beeped at me & I ended up pulling into the intersection and moving as far left as I could so the truck could get past. Like in your case, all traffic was stopped so it was safe. The bulk line was well back from the intersection & there was a traffic island to the left. Also it was a T intersection so no traffic could have come from the right. so it was the only thing to do. I think it would be a case by case basis. Every situation would be different.

Nope. I've seen ambulances over here drive over on the wrong side of the road to get through an intersection with lights, or go to the slip lane and then continue into the intersection. But if you get flashed going through a red light, you can't fight it by saying you moved for an emergency vehicle.

I had this a few months ago. I was sitting at a set of traffic lights and a fire truck with lights and sirens came up behind me so I had to move into the intersection on a red light. I was snapped by the red light camera (as did about 3 other cars as it was peak hour). I got the fine and disputed it and it was cleared.

I can't see the problem providing you aren't putting yourself/others in danger. Although I guess the person may have just panicked and didn't know what to do.

I don't think it is legal to enter the intersection, but I think if you did do so and member of the police witnessed it you would would be pretty darn unlucky if they actually gave you a fine for it, I would have thought more often that not they would let it slide or perhaps give a friendly warning??

I agree with Sagres, I don't think it is legal but I've seen it happen. I've done it myself, when all traffic was stopped and the car in front of me moved forwards into the intersection; I moved ahead slightly and to the left so they could pass.

I guess if you make it legal though you open it up for people to be stupid about it and use the excuse that they were moving for an emergency vehicle...

I think you should do whatever is required to make space for emergency services- I once was required to mount the gutter and go onto the footpath!

I would move out of the way. The ambulance is honking the horn for a damn good reason and I'd hate to think that I was the reason someone didn't make it :(

If you get snapped by a red light camera you can challenge it. DH has and had it removed ;)

I think it's another one of those grey areas. If I was in that situation, I'd probably get out of the way provided it was safe.

DH got caught like that once on a freeway where the two left lanes were bumper to bumper (two lanes turning off) and the right lane was free. A police car came up behind him, lights and sirens going and DH floored it until he found a break in the traffic where he could slip in. The police car pulled up beside him, tooted and waved and then continued on their way. But I reckon he took a pretty big risk in doing it, but the police in the car were obviously grateful.

Hmm I had to drive above the speed limit the other day to allow a police car through, on a busy highway over the Easter long weekend so it'll be interesting to see if I receive a fine

Nope. You can't break the road rules. Speeding in front of an ambulance is also bad (one of my pet peeves!) and is more likely to cause the drivers more angst than not. Pretty much if you run a red, then there's a probability of getting hit and diverting that emergency vehicle from where it was already going. 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.

But they have no spotter if that person is jockeying in the back with a patient on the way to hossy.
Just do what is safe.
Look around you very carefully before you move. Others may not even know there is an emergency vehicle there.

I've seen ambo's etc cross to the other side of the road as well, but if they can't I don't know. I've never been in that situation to know what I'd do..

I personally would not speed though. I don't understand how you'd need too, but again, never been in the situation.

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 :dunno:

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 ;)

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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.

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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 ;)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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 :(