What would you have done?

[cliffe_mafia]

Last night I was driving down the A6 in Stockport in a little bit of a rush to get to a football game. I see an ambulance in my mirror with blue lights flashing as the traffic lights in front of me change to red. There is a car to my left already in the left hand lane (bus lane). So I am left with a number of choices -

a) Pull in the bus lane and risk 3 points and fine

b) Slam the anchors on and risk getting shunted by the ambulance but leave a gap so he can get around me and through the lights.

c) Stop at the lights and make the ambulance do a riskier overtake on the wrong side of the road

It is a regrettable sign of the times that it crossed my mind to just think "stuff 'em" and go for c. After all the law is the law and I dispise this particular bus lane with a passion (why does it run till 7pm? An hour past rush hour)
and have seen a number of cars get ticketed here.

Anyway you'll be pleased to know that I chose

d) Make a right turn into a shop car park to get out of the way and then had to wait a few minutes to pull back into traffic.

So does anyone know the legal situation. Can you pretend to be a bus to let an ambulance on its way? Or is it 3 points & fine like the bloke who edged through a red light and got camera'd?

[puggit]

Without doubt you would be fined and an appeal would have been hard work - not worth the bother! I think you made the most sensible and least dangerous decision.

But what would you have done if you couldn't turn off the road in to the shops!?

[cliffe_mafia]

puggit said:

Without doubt you would be fined and an appeal would have been hard work - not worth the bother! I think you made the most sensible and least dangerous decision. But what would you have done if you couldn't turn off the road in to the shops!?

I really don't know!

Thats what narked me so much - normally my only concern is to get out of the way as fast as possible but I had to discount the most sensible option. I really did feel an urge to pull up and let the ambulance driver moan to his managers about that 'frickin bus lane again'!

[pdV6]

Once upon a time most people would have jumped the lights a little and pulled over in front of the car to the left. (option (a)?)

The ridiculous road safety policies that have been implemented with an iron rod over the past decade have resulted in the outrageous state of affairs whereby option (c) is far more preferable and balls to the poor sod who needed the ambulance.

Lucky for you option (d) was available.

[justinp1]

This situation has happened a number of times recently.

On the one hand, you are deciding that you are influencing a life and death situation by not moving.

But... If the police, the courts and the govenment, wanted to make the situation clear they could either not take people to court when they explain what has happened. But they dont, you have to take a day off work to come to court.

At court, if they had a publicised test case where they showed that the driver was considerate and this was the right thing to do, it would inform the public what they should do.

But they dont. The 'considerate' people get convicted, and because it is such a public outcry it is in all the papers. And *this* tells the public what they should do in this situation.

[yellowvette]

A very difficult situation which I'm lucky enough to have never experienced - yet.
I hate to say this, but if there were no car park, I would have had to choose option c. In no way am I advocating obstructing any emergency vehicles deliberatly, but I have so little belief in being treated fairly by the authorities, that I would expect them to penalise me for breaking any of their motoring laws regardless of the reason. It's been proven on PH before - if they catch you, they do you, end of story. Sad but true. I need my licence in order to continue my career and pay my mortgage, enjoy my hobbies etc., and I will not put all that at risk in order to clear the way for an emergency vehicle. Of course, if there is any chance of clearing the way without getting camera'd (red light/gatso/bus lane etc.), then naturally I always do so without hesitation. The authorities need to have a clear, published, nationwide policy on this - then we'd all know where we stand.

[yellowvette]

Just had another thought - if there's a Bus lane, can't the emergency vehicle use it ? If so, and it was clear, why didn't they ?
If the Authorities don't allow them to use the Bus lane, then you can be sure the same Authorities certainly won't let you run a red light or access the Bus lane to get out of the way either.

[ewenm]

yellowvette said:

Just had another thought - if there's a Bus lane, can't the emergency vehicle use it ? If so, and it was clear, why didn't they ? If the Authorities don't allow them to use the Bus lane, then you can be sure the same Authorities certainly won't let you run a red light or access the Bus lane to get out of the way either.

The ambulance would have been ticketed for using the bus lane fsckwits the lot of them.

[cliffe_mafia]

yellowvette said:

Just had another thought - if there's a Bus lane, can't the emergency vehicle use it ? If so, and it was clear, why didn't they ? If the Authorities don't allow them to use the Bus lane, then you can be sure the same Authorities certainly won't let you run a red light or access the Bus lane to get out of the way either.

There was already a car in it but the ambulance could have used the bus lane if it was clear.

[7db]

You don't know what the situation was with that person on the ambulance -- the driver was in a far better situation to make a judgement about whether he should be going on other side of road etc etc. His blues and twos are there to help him make progress, not to allow you to break the law, so let him past when you can. If you can't do so legally, then don't.

He'll find a way through if he has to. In general, hanging back to give yourself options is a good plan when you first hear / see the blue lights / sirens.

[gorvid]

I once witnesses a serious assault whilst driving through town, and did a U-turn through a red light (2.am no other cars around) in order to drive over to the incident. I chased the two guys off
(they had thrown a lad through a plate glass window and were in the process of taking turns stamping on his head). I then followed them in my car accross a roundabout the wrong way as they ran off...
I mentioned this to the attending officers (the whole area is covered by CCTV) they said 'no problem - you were trying to help....'

>> Edited by gorvid on Friday 20th January 17:25

[puggit]

gorvid said:

I once witnesses a serious assault whilst driving through town, and did a U-turn through a red light (2.am no other cars around) in order to drive over to the incident. I chased the two guys off (they had thrown a lad through a plate glass window and were in the process of taking turns stamping on his head). I then followed them in my car accross a roundabout the wrong way as they ran off... I mentioned this to the attending officers (the whole area is covered by CCTV) they said 'no problem - you were trying to help....'

That's because BiB have discretion and contrary to popular belief often exercise it.

Faceless drones belonging to 'safety' partnerships and local authorities just want your cash and invest plenty of time and effort in creating rules for you to break so they can tax you

[All Torque]

Was there no way the ambulance could use the bus lane?

[Buffalo]

All Torque said:

Was there no way the ambulance could use the bus lane?

there was a car already in it aparently!!

[loaf]

ewenm said:

yellowvette said: Just had another thought - if there's a Bus lane, can't the emergency vehicle use it ? If so, and it was clear, why didn't they ? If the Authorities don't allow them to use the Bus lane, then you can be sure the same Authorities certainly won't let you run a red light or access the Bus lane to get out of the way either. The ambulance would have been ticketed for using the bus lane fsckwits the lot of them.

There is a standard exemption to bus lane regs available to the drivers of vehicles used for ambulance purposes

You don't need to be on an emergency call either - and I'd imagine that any council that sent a ticket to an ambulance for using a bus lane would get a snotty letter from the CAO

[lightstepper]

Being that there is no official let-off for the public taking the common sense course of action, you did the right thing. Wont bore everyone on here with the details on here but a while ago I was put in the position of either kill a cyclist, or speed up a bit, get past them and get 3 points.

I sped up, got flashed and even though the photographic evidence made my predicament clear, and the numpty at the end of teh phone at the SCP agreed that its all I could have done, they still said that I woudl be getting the points and a fine

In fact they pretty much told me next time to kill someone - its easier to get away with...

[blueyes]

I see option c) happening all the time. People stuck at the lights, ambulance behind, cars trickle forward just to make it look like they're making an effort and relying on the lights changing.

Yup, just another way the Govt. is killing us and blaming it on the motorist.

Me? Option C) EVERY time.

If I'm in the ambulance and you lot are blocking it, don't worry... I'll understand. If I don't pop off in the blood wagon, or waiting on a trolley in a hospital corridor.. the MRSA will probably get me anyway.

[Zod]

no points for driving in a bus lane.