Penalty for impeding emergency vehicles?
Discussion
Saw a lovely 'lady' the other day go into a blind panic at the sight of a police car flashing blues and twos behind her. She decided the most sensible place to pull over to allow them to pass was directly adjacent to a crossing island.....this caused them to slow and have to carefully manoeuvre around her.
I also once witnessed a fire engine tanking down the opposite carriageway in rush hour, as the traffic stopped and moved to one side to let it through the 'lady' in the car waiting to pull out decides that it was the perfect opportunity to pull out, causing fire engine to slam on the anchors and almost take out her back end.
Utter madness.
I also once witnessed a fire engine tanking down the opposite carriageway in rush hour, as the traffic stopped and moved to one side to let it through the 'lady' in the car waiting to pull out decides that it was the perfect opportunity to pull out, causing fire engine to slam on the anchors and almost take out her back end.
Utter madness.
There is always the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 which replaces (and extends) s.44 Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. In brief, this former Act permitted a fire-fighter to move a vehicle that was obstructing access to the fire scene.
The new Act makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder certain emergency workers who are responding to emergency circumstances.
Emergency workers are defined as firefighters, ambulance workers and those transporting blood, organs or equipment on behalf of the NHS, coastguards and lifeboat crews.
The police are not covered by the new Act, because they already have powers to direct that a vehicle be moved, and failure to do so would be obstructing a Constable contrary to s.89 Police Act 1996.
This also covers prison officers by virtue of the Prisons Act 1952, which says that prison officers, whilst acting as such, enjoy the same protections and privileges as a constable.
The Act covers obstruction when an emergency worker is responding to emergency circumstances or preparing to do so.
Emergency circumstances are defined as circumstances which are present or imminent, and which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or serious illness, worsen any serious injury or illness, or are likely to cause or worsen serious harm to the environment, buildings or property.
The Act also makes it an offence to hinder or obstruct those who are assisting emergency workers responding to emergency circumstances. This will cover obstructing those who, for example, are fetching equipment or directing traffic during an incident to assist the emergency workers.
The maximum penalty for an offence under this Act is a level 5 fine (Currently up to £5000).
I think it would be reasonable to assume that the new Act was not intended to apply to obstruction caused by vehicles en route. Nevertheless, it would appear that it could be applied in such circumstances, albeit, I doubt the emergency services would be too bothered about taking down registration numbers.
Streaky
The new Act makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder certain emergency workers who are responding to emergency circumstances.
Emergency workers are defined as firefighters, ambulance workers and those transporting blood, organs or equipment on behalf of the NHS, coastguards and lifeboat crews.
The police are not covered by the new Act, because they already have powers to direct that a vehicle be moved, and failure to do so would be obstructing a Constable contrary to s.89 Police Act 1996.
This also covers prison officers by virtue of the Prisons Act 1952, which says that prison officers, whilst acting as such, enjoy the same protections and privileges as a constable.
The Act covers obstruction when an emergency worker is responding to emergency circumstances or preparing to do so.
Emergency circumstances are defined as circumstances which are present or imminent, and which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or serious illness, worsen any serious injury or illness, or are likely to cause or worsen serious harm to the environment, buildings or property.
The Act also makes it an offence to hinder or obstruct those who are assisting emergency workers responding to emergency circumstances. This will cover obstructing those who, for example, are fetching equipment or directing traffic during an incident to assist the emergency workers.
The maximum penalty for an offence under this Act is a level 5 fine (Currently up to £5000).
I think it would be reasonable to assume that the new Act was not intended to apply to obstruction caused by vehicles en route. Nevertheless, it would appear that it could be applied in such circumstances, albeit, I doubt the emergency services would be too bothered about taking down registration numbers.
Streaky
Should be grateful it's not Germany. When I was based there in the early 1990s, If you impeded an emergency vehicle on a shout and someone died as a result of you delaying the vehicle. The family of the deceased have the right to sue you for everything that person could have earned up to retirement. If they were a professional, it would be a big wedge. That is why I had unlimited 3rd party liability cover on my car insurance. You will find someone driving a brand new car will put it into a ditch rather than get in the way of an emergency vehicle. 
I find that if I pull over for an emergency vehicle in good time then some utter tool thinks that i am pulling in to park/faff/w
k/unload/prey whatever and will overtake me thus pulling into the path of the aforementioned E.V. Even if I put hazard lights on, indicate left but still keep rolling slowly or hang out of the window waving my arms and shouting "look behind you" it still comes as a complete surprise to mrs figgis in her Diahatsu move .
The standard of driving is crap, too much focus on speed and not enough skill taught or aspired to, it's seen as a badge of honour among a subset of drivers to giggle and say "I havent a clue about cars me, I dont even know how to change a wheel or check the oil" This is the problem. fking treacle heads clogging the place up with their ineptitude.
k/unload/prey whatever and will overtake me thus pulling into the path of the aforementioned E.V. Even if I put hazard lights on, indicate left but still keep rolling slowly or hang out of the window waving my arms and shouting "look behind you" it still comes as a complete surprise to mrs figgis in her Diahatsu move .The standard of driving is crap, too much focus on speed and not enough skill taught or aspired to, it's seen as a badge of honour among a subset of drivers to giggle and say "I havent a clue about cars me, I dont even know how to change a wheel or check the oil" This is the problem. f
king treacle heads clogging the place up with their ineptitude.I have always wondered about what to do if I am driving and an emergency vehicle comes up behind me. Do I by law have to mount the pavement in order to let it past even if my car running 19" rims with ultra low profile tyres ?
Obviously I can't be expected to drive up a curb and most likely damage my wheel ? Supposing if I was driving a Gallardo or something ultra low ?
What is the best thing to do ?
Obviously I can't be expected to drive up a curb and most likely damage my wheel ? Supposing if I was driving a Gallardo or something ultra low ?
What is the best thing to do ?
M5 Russ said:
I have always wondered about what to do if I am driving and an emergency vehicle comes up behind me. Do I by law have to mount the pavement in order to let it past even if my car running 19" rims with ultra low profile tyres ?
Obviously I can't be expected to drive up a curb and most likely damage my wheel ? Supposing if I was driving a Gallardo or something ultra low ?
What is the best thing to do ?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...Obviously I can't be expected to drive up a curb and most likely damage my wheel ? Supposing if I was driving a Gallardo or something ultra low ?
What is the best thing to do ?
Rule 219.
LukeBird said:
Is there a penalty and/or points for doing so?
I saw a completely moronic woman stand on the anchors because of an ambulance coming down the road (on dual carriageway) and they had to stop and then manoeuver around her!
How they never rear-ended her (no giggidy) I have no idea!
This happens on every emergency run. Cars do not see you, then slam their anchors on.I saw a completely moronic woman stand on the anchors because of an ambulance coming down the road (on dual carriageway) and they had to stop and then manoeuver around her!
How they never rear-ended her (no giggidy) I have no idea!
Every bloody time.
Getragdogleg said:
I find that if I pull over for an emergency vehicle in good time then some utter tool thinks that i am pulling in to park/faff/wk/unload/prey whatever and will overtake me thus pulling into the path of the aforementioned E.V. Even if I put hazard lights on, indicate left but still keep rolling slowly or hang out of the window waving my arms and shouting "look behind you" it still comes as a complete surprise to mrs figgis in her Diahatsu move .
If you stop too early it can become awkward for cars further back to stop as you're reducing their options for finding a clear place to pull in, not opposite central refuges etc.k/unload/prey whatever and will overtake me thus pulling into the path of the aforementioned E.V. Even if I put hazard lights on, indicate left but still keep rolling slowly or hang out of the window waving my arms and shouting "look behind you" it still comes as a complete surprise to mrs figgis in her Diahatsu move .Deva Link said:
Sounds like bad driving on the part of the ambulance driver - how on earth did he/she come close to rear-ending the other car, did the ambulance creep up on her and then turn its siren on, or did it just attempt to barge through?
No, siren was on but (I assume) she wasn't paying any attention and then swerved and braked, leaving the tail of her car pointing across the lane (there was a car stopped reasonably close in the other lane). SteveScooby said:
Sounds more like inexperience/ lack of awareness/ general poor driving, to me, rather than a deliberate obstructive act.
Ignorance is hardly an excuse though, is it?I would have said lack of awareness, she looked like the sort of woman who had driving about 10th down the list of priorities whilst in a car.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff