Double solid white lines and emergency services

[DJ_AS]

I was wondering: are emergency vehicles, responding to a call with lights and sirens, permitted to cross double solid white lines in order to overtake regular traffic travelling at faster than 10mph?

Is there any specific advice to motorists who may find an emergency vehicle behind them on a (potentially long) section of road with solid double white lines? Do we slow right down on a straight bit to help the emergency response vehicle pass or do we just continue at a safe and legal speed?

This situation nearly arose for me recently; luckily, I got to a village and pulled into a layby just as an ambulance caught up behind me. I realised that had it caught up sooner I wouldn't have known what to do.

[DJ_AS]

Burrito said:

I don't think they are.

Quote from this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

"Finally, ambulances & Fire Appliances cannot claim an exemption to cross solid white lines, even when on emergency drives. They can only cross solid white lines in the same way as every other road user, as per the highway code."

As to the advice, I think it depends in the circumstances, if it's safe to slow right down and let them pass then go with that, but if the solid white line has actually been put in because of a genuine hazard, then continue on within the speed limit and pull over as soon as it's safe.

Edited by Burrito on Monday 11th August 20:01

Thanks - that's an interesting thread.