Emergency vehicles passing on dual carriageways
Discussion
Had a new one today, wondering if I should have handled it differently.
On dual carriageway, light Sunday morning traffic, a few cars in both lanes but certainly not busy. Passing an on-slip can see ambulance approaching with blue lights flashing up the slip road behind me. So stay in left lane at a sensible speed to allow them past. Ambulance gradually catching me, has not yet moved right to overtake.
Car two ahead of me moves to right hand lane, I assumed to begin an overtake. Then the car immediately in front of me moves right, and the only reason I could see for that was to make space for the ambulance approaching in the left hand lane. Weird, I thought, but if you can't beat 'em, was just about to move right as ambulance getting closer, when the ambulance finally moves to the right lane, passes me and sticks sirens on for the two cars ahead move back left.
So I'm calling these two idiots under my breath, when about half a mile later the ambulance leaves the dual carriageway at the next junction
So I'm then wondering did I miss a trick? If the blue light is approaching behind in the left hand lane, rather than moving right immediately, was that because they wanted to proceed in that lane, as they were leaving at the next junction? And I'm fact the two cars ahead of me could see this and were being sensible? Or am I overthinking this? I would have always assumed the blue light would pass on the right unless there was very heavy traffic and no lane available.
On dual carriageway, light Sunday morning traffic, a few cars in both lanes but certainly not busy. Passing an on-slip can see ambulance approaching with blue lights flashing up the slip road behind me. So stay in left lane at a sensible speed to allow them past. Ambulance gradually catching me, has not yet moved right to overtake.
Car two ahead of me moves to right hand lane, I assumed to begin an overtake. Then the car immediately in front of me moves right, and the only reason I could see for that was to make space for the ambulance approaching in the left hand lane. Weird, I thought, but if you can't beat 'em, was just about to move right as ambulance getting closer, when the ambulance finally moves to the right lane, passes me and sticks sirens on for the two cars ahead move back left.
So I'm calling these two idiots under my breath, when about half a mile later the ambulance leaves the dual carriageway at the next junction
So I'm then wondering did I miss a trick? If the blue light is approaching behind in the left hand lane, rather than moving right immediately, was that because they wanted to proceed in that lane, as they were leaving at the next junction? And I'm fact the two cars ahead of me could see this and were being sensible? Or am I overthinking this? I would have always assumed the blue light would pass on the right unless there was very heavy traffic and no lane available.
charltjr said:
You are overthinking it IMO.
The emergency vehicle just needs you to carry on doing what you re doing in a safe and predictable way so they can plan their next move, or to get out of the way if you re in an overtaking lane and they are trying to get past.
Yes, this. Maintain speed and course and let them find their way around you.The emergency vehicle just needs you to carry on doing what you re doing in a safe and predictable way so they can plan their next move, or to get out of the way if you re in an overtaking lane and they are trying to get past.
Only time this hasn't worked for me is when a police car in the outskirts of Newcastle made it very bloody clear they wanted me to go into a bus lane so they could continue in the primary lane, rather than either overtaking (there was no oncoming traffic) or taking the bus lane themselves.
I'm of the opinion it was the wrong call, but there weren't any cameras for the bus lane, so no real harm done.
InitialDave said:
charltjr said:
You are overthinking it IMO.
The emergency vehicle just needs you to carry on doing what you re doing in a safe and predictable way so they can plan their next move, or to get out of the way if you re in an overtaking lane and they are trying to get past.
Yes, this. Maintain speed and course and let them find their way around you.The emergency vehicle just needs you to carry on doing what you re doing in a safe and predictable way so they can plan their next move, or to get out of the way if you re in an overtaking lane and they are trying to get past.
Only time this hasn't worked for me is when a police car in the outskirts of Newcastle made it very bloody clear they wanted me to go into a bus lane so they could continue in the primary lane, rather than either overtaking (there was no oncoming traffic) or taking the bus lane themselves.
I'm of the opinion it was the wrong call, but there weren't any cameras for the bus lane, so no real harm done.
I would not move into an operational bus lane to let blue lights pass.
Cliftonite said:
Was the bus lane not in operation at that time, e.g. peak time only shown on signage?
I would not move into an operational bus lane to let blue lights pass.
No, it was a permanent one.I would not move into an operational bus lane to let blue lights pass.
Agreed, I shouldn't have done it, but I basically lost my nerve in terms of trying to force them to make the choice themselves.
Ah well. It's a while back now, and there were no consequences beyond my own irritation.
Pica-Pica said:
To OP, if Ambulance was approaching in LH lane, I would have moved to RH lane. Easy to say without actually being there, but I would make the assumption that he was taking up the lane he wanted to stay in. Especially if I knew the LH lane became its own lane on the new road.
I think if the LH lane was a dedicated lane for leaving at the next junction I would have done the same, that wasn't the case though. Just a standard dual carriageway with normal on and off slip roads.It probably didn't help that it was a quiet Sunday morning, so there was plenty of space behind me for an approaching ambulance to be using the LH lane as there was nothing for them to overtake. And the sirens didn't come on until they moved right, so if they'd wanted me to move they could have made it more obvious.
At least both viewpoints have been expressed on this thread which makes me more comfortable that it wasn't an entirely obvious thing that I missed!
DaiB said:
Pica-Pica said:
To OP, if Ambulance was approaching in LH lane, I would have moved to RH lane. Easy to say without actually being there, but I would make the assumption that he was taking up the lane he wanted to stay in. Especially if I knew the LH lane became its own lane on the new road.
I think if the LH lane was a dedicated lane for leaving at the next junction I would have done the same, that wasn't the case though. Just a standard dual carriageway with normal on and off slip roads.It probably didn't help that it was a quiet Sunday morning, so there was plenty of space behind me for an approaching ambulance to be using the LH lane as there was nothing for them to overtake. And the sirens didn't come on until they moved right, so if they'd wanted me to move they could have made it more obvious.
At least both viewpoints have been expressed on this thread which makes me more comfortable that it wasn't an entirely obvious thing that I missed!
https://youtube.com/@chrismartinems?si=Bu7iJHPLtSq...
Have a look at YouTube for Chris Martin EMS. You'll see lots of instances of what to do and not to do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind you. Always keep left, even when they want to turn left at a roundabout.
Have a look at YouTube for Chris Martin EMS. You'll see lots of instances of what to do and not to do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind you. Always keep left, even when they want to turn left at a roundabout.
InitialDave said:
Cliftonite said:
Was the bus lane not in operation at that time, e.g. peak time only shown on signage?
I would not move into an operational bus lane to let blue lights pass.
No, it was a permanent one.I would not move into an operational bus lane to let blue lights pass.
Agreed, I shouldn't have done it, but I basically lost my nerve in terms of trying to force them to make the choice themselves.
Ah well. It's a while back now, and there were no consequences beyond my own irritation.
You weren't signalling left inadvertently were you?
brisel said:
https://youtube.com/@chrismartinems?si=Bu7iJHPLtSq...
Have a look at YouTube for Chris Martin EMS. You'll see lots of instances of what to do and not to do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind you. Always keep left, even when they want to turn left at a roundabout.
I mean, I had it on the A41 in London a few days ago where I kept left, and ended up with an ambulance sat behind me at lights on blues and twos. I was in lane 1 of 3, behind another car, some vehicles in lane 2, so nowhere to go. They wanted to turn left.Have a look at YouTube for Chris Martin EMS. You'll see lots of instances of what to do and not to do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind you. Always keep left, even when they want to turn left at a roundabout.
They could have got around on the right, but chose not to.
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