Traffic law problem regarding emergency vehicals.?

Moving out of the way of an emergency vehicle does not allow you to go through a red light. Going through a red light in an emergency vehicle with flashing lights and sirens is dangerous enough. If you blow a red and get into an accident, you are at fault. There have been a few firefighters and paramedics sued for trying to force people into an intersection (sitting behind a car and blaring the airhorn) and then causing an accident.

If you are already stopped at an intersection and a police car, ambulance, or fire truck approaches from behind, STAY PUT. I can't tell you the number of time that my only way through an intersection has been blocked off by someone trying to get out of my way. You may think you're helping, but that right turn lane you just moved over into was the only clear way for me a get by. Thanks, now I'm stuck.

For emergency vehicle operators, best practice when approaching an intersection with a red light where all lanes are blocked and there is no way to move into the opposing lanes (due to medians or whatever), best and safest practice dictates that you SHUT DOWN your emergency equipment. As soon as the light becomes green, light it up and carry on. If you are stuck and cars in front of you have no where safe to go, sitting there with your lights and sirens going stresses out driver and they start doing stupid unsafe things. If one of them does a stupid and unsafe thing and gets into a crash because you were stuck behind them barring your siren, that is going to come down on your head.

If you cause a crash on your way to a call or get into a crash yourself, you are delaying arrival at the original emergency by creating a second one that now has to be responded to. Slow down a touch and be cautious. If it takes an extra 30 seconds to arrive at a call but you guarantee you arrive safely, that is time well invested.

Standby for everyone giving this a thumbs down, just like everytime someone asks this question ... its not like I do this for a living ... but actually I do.

This is a classic case of using your common sense.

Trafic laws are there for the general publics safety , how ever there will be exceptions where the laws are not appropriate and it is aceptable to break them.

If someone goes through a red light to allow an emergency vechile to get past them they should be exempt from being prosecuted for jumping the red light.

How ever they must still drive with due care and attention , so if they jump the red light and cause an accident, they are in the wrong and liable.

They must be extra cautious if they jump a red light , as other road users will have right of way.

Legally the curcumstances would be taken in to concideration so its back to common sence.

Drivers are required to move out of the way when it is safe to do so. This means that traffic signals can be disregarded as long as they can do so safely. Just as the driver of the emergency vehicle is required to be sure that traffic has stopped when they encounter a red light, and then can proceed, the drivers of the cars blocking the route of the emergency vehicle are required to do the same.

David was spot on. However ..one person has been prosecuted in uk for moving through a red light for a police car using ' twos and blues'.

Argued in court making way for emergency call.. Court decided he was directed at time by officers to move over red stop line and upheld the camera picture taken. He got fined and points.

Common sense does not apply in government circles..

You can IF directed by an officer of the law to do so ..move over a stop line at red. But here make sure you are clear officer wishes this and not simply move across at own risk.

Ambulances like fire engines and police cars can request you move but you are not legally obliged to do so.

One may only hope such a situation occurring again has court operating in a more human manner. Don't count on it though.

If in doubt..look at driver using twos and blues and make SURE he or she wants you to move aside.

They do not have to put there life at risk for you or anybody else. It is your problem to get around and if you didn't know it you have to stop at a red light or stop sign and then proceeded when clear. Yes the law says I have to yield to emergency vehicles and I could get a ticket for not doing so but I'll take it up with the judge if that happens.