Giving way to an Ambulance question

[FantasyIreland]

He just said there was a car following the ambulance, who said anything about driving irresponsibly?

Having experienced the situation,me.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

As far as I am aware, the only vehicles legally allowed to drive through a red light are postal vehicles, although this may now have been revoked.

I have driven through red lights in an emergency vehicle, both as a passenger, and driver. I was caught on camera, and issued a fine, but on submitting a letter to the local Chief Constable, detailing the reasons for the transgression I was pardoned.

Currently living near a hospital A&E unit, I often see Ambulances going through red lights. There is a dual carriage way nearby, which is often blocked, and drivers end up mounting the pavement (also against the Highway Code) to allow them through. I think as long as people are sensible (including the Law Enforcers), then there should be no problem. A blue light call generally means that potentially, a life/live is/are at risk. If it were your life, I am sure you wouldn't give a s**t if the ambulance/police/fire vehicle went through a red light?

 

[FantasyIreland]

As far as I am aware, the only vehicles legally allowed to drive through a red light are postal vehicles, although this may now have been revoked.

I have driven through red lights in an emergency vehicle, both as a passenger, and driver. I was caught on camera, and issued a fine, but on submitting a letter to the local Chief Constable, detailing the reasons for the transgression I was pardoned.

Currently living near a hospital A&E unit, I often see Ambulances going through red lights. There is a dual carriage way nearby, which is often blocked, and drivers end up mounting the pavement (also against the Highway Code) to allow them through. I think as long as people are sensible (including the Law Enforcers), then there should be no problem. A blue light call generally means that potentially, a life/live is/are at risk. If it were your life, I am sure you wouldn't give a s**t if the ambulance/police/fire vehicle went through a red light?

An emergency vehicle on blue lights can proceed through a red light,but the driver must treat the junction as a give way and obviously only proceed when safe to do so.

 

[East Level 2]

An emergency vehicle on blue lights can proceed through a red light,but the driver must treat the junction as a give way and obviously only proceed when safe to do so.

And surely that is what the driver of any vehicle trying to move out the way of the ambulance would do; only proceed when safe to do so.

 

[Blue Mist]

People keep quoting the Highway Code as if it is law. It isn't, it is a set of guidelines, you cannot be unished for 'breaking' the Highway Code. The clue is in the title.

 

[FantasyIreland]

And surely that is what the driver of any vehicle trying to move out the way of the ambulance would do; only proceed when safe to do so.

They would not be authorised though,as they would not be equipped with blue lights and sirens and they would not have exemption.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

People keep quoting the Highway Code as if it is law. It isn't, it is a set of guidelines, you cannot be unished for 'breaking' the Highway Code. The clue is in the title.

If you break a rule of the highway code then it can be used in evidence for court proceedings under the road traffic act. The evidence part is inferred from the breaking of the rule, Shirley.

 

[Blue Mist]

If you break a rule of the highway code then it can be used in evidence for court proceedings under the road traffic act. The evidence part is inferred from the breaking of the rule, Shirley.

No, for instance the Highway Code says you must give way to a bus. There is absolutley no law in England or Wales that says you commit an offence if you don't give way. The Highway Code would never be quoted in a court of law, if you have broken a specific law then ergh you have broken a law. I accept they sometimes say the same as traffic law, i.e Do not go through a red light but you are punished for breaking the law not the Highway Code.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

No, for instance the Highway Code says you must give way to a bus. There is absolutley no law in England or Wales that says you commit an offence if you don't give way. The Highway Code would never be quoted in a court of law, if you have broken a specific law then ergh you have broken a law. I accept they sometimes say the same as traffic law, i.e Do not go through a red light but you are punished for breaking the law not the Highway Code.

This from gov.uk...

"Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence."

We are talking about going through a red light which will be identified as a legal requirement in the highway code, but I understand your general point.

 

[Blue Mist]

This from gov.uk...

"Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence."

We are talking about going through a red light which will be identified as a legal requirement in the highway code, but I understand your general point.

I know you are talking about a red light and that is my point. You commit a traffic offence if you pass over the white line when the traffic light is on red. (it does not matter if the whole of your vehicle does not go over the white line, just part of it) You would have to prove you had a lawful excuse, i.e a policeman waved you through. Moving out of the way for an ambulance is not a lawful excuse.