Getting out of the BiB's way etiquette.

[br d]

Coming back home yesterday I was at the front of the queue in heavy traffic to go right at a roundabout, the traffic coming from my right was very heavy and backed up across the roundabout making it difficult to get through.

I hear the sound of sirens coming up but can't see them at first, it gets increasingly loud and suddenly they are right behind me between the two rows of cars, lights flashing and looking pretty determined to push through. I can't move left or right so I just push out onto the roundabout and squeeze through a gap between two of the cars already on the roundabout, waving an apology to the bloke who's car I have just missed by about an inch. Can't go left (backed up traffic) can't go straight over (no entry) so squeeze round to the third exit which I wanted anyway.

Looking in the mirror I see the Police car is 1 inch from my bumper also heading this way, I exit onto the road but the opposing lane is full of queuing traffic and there's no way to get out of the way, P-car is still right behind me and the driver is looking pretty aggravated. This is a thirty limit but going out of town and there are no pedestrians about so I just floored it. My car picks up pretty quickly and in no time I am comfortably over double the speed limit, bus stop comes up on the left so I pull in and slam on, Police car hurtles passed me like a bat out of hell.

If any Traffic Cops are reading this what do you think? Should I have pootled along legally, staying in the way for another 400 yards? Awkwardly mounted the pavement (high curb, low car) with all four wheels? Or just hit the throttle?

Must admit I did go into panic mode slightly.

Cool story and all that.

[Dave Hedgehog]

i stay put unless its safe to move

they are trained to get around you, you are liable for prosecution for any rules you break

[Motorrad]

I wouldn't damage my car, go through a red light or otherwise infringe any law but would do my best to get out of their way and do so safely. That's the limit of what I'd do for the emergency services.

[WinstonWolf]

I've safely booted it in the past with no problems. If they're anxious to get past they usually have much bigger fish to fry.

[Geekman]

Dave Hedgehog said:

they are trained to get around you, you are liable for prosecution for any rules you break

This is the key. I'll make their life as easy as possible, but they are trained to deal with these situations so you're not obliged to do anything drastic to get out of their way. I've sat at red lights before and refused to go through them to let them past, and according to an ambulance driver I know that's the correct thing to do.

[Mk3Spitfire]

You may be legally liable, but I for one would never in a million years consider booking any person who was obviously trying to get out the way. Many calls hinge on seconds, and if those seconds are saved by someone speeding or pulling some kind of unusual manoeuvre (assuming it isn't ridiculous) then fine by me.
People tend to panic and there's nothing more frustrating than people just sitting there looking stupid when you're on an immediate.
IMHO, OP, you did the right thing.

[br d]

Mk3Spitfire said:

You may be legally liable, but I for one would never in a million years consider booking any person who was obviously trying to get out the way. Many calls hinge on seconds, and if those seconds are saved by someone speeding or pulling some kind of unusual manoeuvre (assuming it isn't ridiculous) then fine by me.
People tend to panic and there's nothing more frustrating than people just sitting there looking stupid when you're on an immediate.
IMHO, OP, you did the right thing.

Good to hear! Beautiful Spitfire incidentally.

[rs1952]

Mk3Spitfire said:

You may be legally liable, but I for one would never in a million years consider booking any person who was obviously trying to get out the way.

But of course there is a very wide gap between common sense and automated enforcement.

For example, jumping a red light to get out of an emergency vehicle's way may well be welcomed by the person driving the emergency vehicle.

But if there's a camera on that red light, you've just commited an offence sunshine. Kerching ...

[Mk3Spitfire]

br d said:

Good to hear! Beautiful Spitfire incidentally.

Thanks mate! Can't wait for the sun now!

[Mk3Spitfire]

rs1952 said:

But if there's a camera on that red light, you've just commited an offence sunshine. Kerching ...

Very true. But, and I am not sure about this, I would imagine there would be procedures for mitigation under these circumstances. If there isn't, it's terrible, and there absolutely should be and I would go to court every time if it was me being done.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Mk3Spitfire said:

You may be legally liable, but I for one would never in a million years consider booking any person who was obviously trying to get out the way. Many calls hinge on seconds, and if those seconds are saved by someone speeding or pulling some kind of unusual manoeuvre (assuming it isn't ridiculous) then fine by me.
People tend to panic and there's nothing more frustrating than people just sitting there looking stupid when you're on an immediate.
IMHO, OP, you did the right thing.

the problem is you have a brain and can make sensible judgement calls

CCTV camera's etc do not, hence my mate got 3 points for jumping a red light for an ambulance

[Who me ?]

I'll do likewise. I've pulled up on pavements to make the extra foot , or boot it to get to a layby to make it easier. Sometimes it's just pullup well before a bollard to make some room and i've been known to get the window down and flag a following MOP to pull over, when it's obvious that they haven't a clue ( I've pulled over somewhere safe and watched as idiot behind shows signs of pulling out in front of Plod in a hurry). When we hear a siren, SWIMBO is on alert to see where it's coming from .I've yet not to get a thank you wave from the passenger

[craigjm]

Mk3Spitfire said:

You may be legally liable, but I for one would never in a million years consider booking any person who was obviously trying to get out the way. Many calls hinge on seconds, and if those seconds are saved by someone speeding or pulling some kind of unusual manoeuvre (assuming it isn't ridiculous) then fine by me.
People tend to panic and there's nothing more frustrating than people just sitting there looking stupid when you're on an immediate.
IMHO, OP, you did the right thing.

Agree entirely. The main problem is red light cameras. I have known people get done for going through one even slightly to let an emergency vehicle pass

[Mk3Spitfire]

craigjm said:

Agree entirely. The main problem is red light cameras. I have known people get done for going through one even slightly to let an emergency vehicle pass

Disgusting. But did they just take the points, or did it go to court? SURELY magistrates also have brains? And morals for that matter.

[br d]

Motorrad said:

I wouldn't damage my car, go through a red light or otherwise infringe any law but would do my best to get out of their way and do so safely. That's the limit of what I'd do for the emergency services.

If there was absolutely no other option I think I would risk damaging my car (scraping up a curb or whatever), the thought that there may be somebody in real trouble desperate for help would override my material concerns.

[Mk3Spitfire]

Motorrad said:

I wouldn't damage my car, go through a red light or otherwise infringe any law but would do my best to get out of their way and do so safely. That's the limit of what I'd do for the emergency services.

How commendable.

[Hungrymc]

The difficulty is that in bad light, rain, heavy traffic etc. the presence of multiple blue lights, noisy sirens, other motorists performing 'odd maneuvers' to get out of the way..... Very difficult to exercise normal levels of good judgment. I'd agree with trying hard to get out of the way but if the worst happened and you had an incident, I wouldn't expect any special treatment or sympathy.

[Chrisgr31]

Whilst I understand those who are concerned about getting charged for an offence they might commit whilst trying to get out the way if you (or a loved one) was on the other end of that blue light journey waiting for the police, ambulance, fire engine etc you would be very grateful for every second saved, as waiting a second feels like waiting for a minute!

So I would do whatever is necessary to get out the way.

[Abbott]

Here is an informative video Blue Light Awareness,
http://www.motoringassist.com/motoring-advice/vide...
Same advice as already posted, stay alert, get out of the way when it is save to do so and do not break the law.

[Hungrymc]

Chrisgr31 said:

Whilst I understand those who are concerned about getting charged for an offence they might commit whilst trying to get out the way if you (or a loved one) was on the other end of that blue light journey waiting for the police, ambulance, fire engine etc you would be very grateful for every second saved, as waiting a second feels like waiting for a minute!

So I would do whatever is necessary to get out the way.

I'd honestly be as concerned about causing as big an incident as the emergency services are rushing to resolve. You double the speed limit before diving into a bus stop. Which has a diesel spill and you end up taking the bus que out. To be clear, I agree your principle that we need to get out of the way, we just need to be very careful of not making bad decisions due to the pressure and the disorientation of these situations. I've seen people just freeze and stop in the middle of the road as they're in total panic. I've also seen people mount the foot path and cause pedestrians to jump out of the way.