Is it against the law not to give way to emergency services when have blue light working?

Well, said Alberto

You should always give way to the emergency services; all those lights & noises are designed togive us all fair warning of their approach.

Boiled Egg

Use your loaf. Try and get out of the way, everyone else can see them coming, so if you had to move through a red light to let let them through, you could do so slowly and cautiously. Always use your indicators to let the emergency vehicle behind you know which way you are going. If you can't budge for safety reasons, you can't budge. It's up to the emergency vehicle to safely make their way through any obstruction. If it was your house burning down, or it was you having a heart attack or being assaulted, what would you want?

CanWeBeReal

When you see an emergency vehicle coming..YES get the hell out of the way...I can't stand when someone is being rushed to the hospital and these idiots just sit there...makes me want to ram them with my truck...GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!

Scouse

Lets put it this way. i do not know anyone who will not let the emergency services through after all it might be them next time. it is still for you to move your vehicle in such a manner as not to cause an accident

rowdy

Drivers of emergency vehicles have to obey the law, same as anyone else.

However, they're given *licence* to break the speed limit, go through red lights, etc., *if* they can do so without causing any danger. If they cause an accident, they get nicked - simple as that.

You should give way to them, but obviously sometimes you can't. You just do what you can. No emergency driver expects you to do anything dangerous or illegal just so they can get through.

Fred3663

From the Highway code -
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles.
You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.

Rommel

the blue light is to let you know that there is an emergency and lives are at stake. they have a legal right to run red lights. but its up to us all to help save lives by pulling over and giving way. (it could be one of your family, and seconds do! count) the highway code doesnt realy come into it. just pull out of the way.

dave t

It was made illegal to obstruct emergency services earlier in the year so yes is the answer.
If you didn't know they were there until they were 5 feet away it could be you need to pay a little more attention to the road that you have been doing.
Plenty of emergency services drivers have been prosecuted for death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving.
You are taught to use a red light as a give way so you don't go until you know its clear and safe.

Act D

yes, i believe it is against the law in most jurisdictions of the US not to give right of way to emergency services when their lights are flashing, but also in most places if the emergency service vehicle causes an accident (ie: by going through an intersections) the emergency service vehicle is liable. that is why the almost never fly through a red light at an intersection going 70mph, but instead slow down to 10-20 and 'glide' through the intersection.

swhnyfrax

Yes, as far as I am aware the emergency services do have to obay the highway code. as with any vehicle going through a red light it is that vehicles fault if it results in an accident.

carswoody

What country are you in?
In the Uk you are obliged by law to give way to emergancy vehicles, if it is safe to do so.
What this means is that if a car is parked at red lights and drives into the junction to give you room and causes an accident he is to blame. However if the Emergency vehicle drives into the junction by going through a red and a vehicle collides with it, the emergency vehicle is at fault.
Speed limits do not apply to emergency vehicles whilst attending an incident, but If they are speeding and are in an accident then it will be the emg unit to blame.
Hope this makes it a bit clearer for you.

Bardic

In the UK, at least, the speed limit does not apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade ( or in England, Fire and Rescue Auth), ambulance or police purposes, if the observance of that limit would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

In the same way, red lights may be crossed, but are always treated as "Give Way" junctions.

Drivers of emergency vehicles are still expected to drive with due care, and are not absolved from being prosecuted if an accident occurs.

You are expected to give way to an emergency vehicle or at least not hinder it, if you can do so safely and legally.

"Safely" and "legally" are the key words here; you're not expected, f'rinstance to cross a red light yourself, and a lot of drivers have found themselves being ticketed in London for trying to be helpful and pulling into bus lanes to get out of the way. Those cameras have no common sense, unlike the average copper who would understand what you're trying to do.

Last year I moved into the coned-off but completely empty section of a dual carriageway to get out of the way of a police car in a hurry, and the copper went past me at well into three figures, giving me a toot and a thumbs up as he passed. If I'd tried that with a camera-controlled lane I would have had a pleasant little surprise a couple of weeks later.

Valerie

Usually if they have a siren or lights flashing, they are in dire need either to get somewhere or to get someone somewhere fast. You *must* obey all flashing lights and move to the side of the road if you are able. However, in heavy traffic congestion where you can't move, obviously there's nothing you can do but slow down and give the vehicle a chance to pass around you. As for their driving... they are allowed to pass through red lights. Drivers in the cross-way should adhere to sirens/lights if they are seen.

tigerlily

why anyone would not want to give way to an emergency vehicle is beyond me surely if you were in trouble and needed police ambulance or fire vehicles you would want them to arrive asap so whenever you see a vehicle with blue light/sirens etc please remember someones life may depend on your being considerate and getting out of the way immediately

joan k

It's not against the law, but it's foolish not to give way. They do have to obey Road Traffic Acts. The driver of the vehicle is responsible if they went through a red light and killed somebody.

California Street Cop

Its the fault of the emergency vehicle operator, unquestionably.

They have an absolute duty to ensure they are being safe at all times.

I have yet to run a red without coming to a complete stop, even at 0400 when I can't see anyone else around.

Dr Simon

In the UK, it is law that other road users give way to emergency vehicles with their blue lights on and/or sirens on.

Emergency drivers have to exercise a reasonable duty of care - in the UK, a red light may be treated as a 'give way' in other words, the emergency driver can proceed through a red light if he can see the way is clear.

In a court of Law in the UK, an emergency driver would be prosecuted if he ran a red light and caused an accident - there have been many cases.

Sean F

You are meant to give way / pull over if a blue lighting emergency vehicle is behind you are wishes to turn in front of you. When they are blue lighting they do not have to abide by traffic signals as this would sort of defeat the object of blue lighting surely, they do not have to abide by the speed limit either.

bigtdotcom

they have all those lights and sirens going so you know to get out of the way
the idea is to get to the emergency as fast as possible that is how they save lives imagine if one of your family was waiting for an ambulance only to find it was waiting at traffic lights
as to what happens in an accident they stop and another ambulance is dispatched causing further delay and the accident is investigated as per normal
you are obviously very young and not worldly wise and i could imagine someone like you causing such an incident as you have asked the question so don't know the correct procedure

Philbomoog

If you don't notice the approaching vehicle until its 5ft behind you, I would suggest you're not paying sufficient attention. Thats why vehicles have mirrors fitted, you're supposed to keep checking in your mirrors as you drive along so you should be aware of whats going on around you.

britsla

The one going through the light is at fault and can be done for it. Does not matter if it is the police, abulance, whatever...

trueblue3167

Yes, you must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles that are operating under emergency conditions.

In California, unless the officer was reckless, or did something out of policy, the driver who failed to yield to the emergency vehicle is at fault for a collision.

Rex B

The police & emergency vehicles must use reasonable caution when involved in car chase or emergency run's. If you can prove they were not using reasonable caution then please get a lawyer and sue the City or State for damages. Either way, if your involved in a wreck caused by another vehicle, get an Attorney and take legal action.

dollybird

when an ambulance is on its way to the hospital the traffic control centre change all the lights to let the ambulance through so there shouldn't be an accident, police cars when chasing criminals is another matter, if you dont notice the lights you are not checking your mirrors often enough and if you cant hear the sirens you must have your stereo too loud.

jules vane

A BLUE flashing light in my area means a volunteer fireman. It is only a matter of courtesy that private vehicles yield the right of way to them. They have no right to speed or ignore red traffic lights. If they go through a red light, the police will ticket them. (or through a stop sign)

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: