going through red lights with emergency vehicles behind
Discussion
Something happened to me later this afternoon. Turning right at a roundabout on one of A34 interchanges. 3 lanes, I was in the outside when the lights changed to red. Lanes 1 and 2 traffic had already stopped with several cars in the queue. I was slowing to the lights when a police car came behind me, blue lights and siren going. I was still slowing and the only one in my lane, so I continued around 5-10 metres past the lights to give him plenty of space to get past. By the time he passed me, I was pretty much past where traffic on my left would have been entering the roundabout.
There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
xPOW said:
Something happened to me later this afternoon. Turning right at a roundabout on one of A34 interchanges. 3 lanes, I was in the outside when the lights changed to red. Lanes 1 and 2 traffic had already stopped with several cars in the queue. I was slowing to the lights when a police car came behind me, blue lights and siren going. I was still slowing and the only one in my lane, so I continued around 5-10 metres past the lights to give him plenty of space to get past. By the time he passed me, I was pretty much past where traffic on my left would have been entering the roundabout.
There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
I never cross the red lights to let the emergency vehicle through. You'll get done by the traffic light camera, try to explain it later to avoid the points. They can't bully you into endangering yourself.There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
rottie102 said:
xPOW said:
Something happened to me later this afternoon. Turning right at a roundabout on one of A34 interchanges. 3 lanes, I was in the outside when the lights changed to red. Lanes 1 and 2 traffic had already stopped with several cars in the queue. I was slowing to the lights when a police car came behind me, blue lights and siren going. I was still slowing and the only one in my lane, so I continued around 5-10 metres past the lights to give him plenty of space to get past. By the time he passed me, I was pretty much past where traffic on my left would have been entering the roundabout.
There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
I never cross the red lights to let the emergency vehicle through. You'll get done by the traffic light camera, try to explain it later to avoid the points. They can't bully you into endangering yourself.There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
rottie102 said:
xPOW said:
Something happened to me later this afternoon. Turning right at a roundabout on one of A34 interchanges. 3 lanes, I was in the outside when the lights changed to red. Lanes 1 and 2 traffic had already stopped with several cars in the queue. I was slowing to the lights when a police car came behind me, blue lights and siren going. I was still slowing and the only one in my lane, so I continued around 5-10 metres past the lights to give him plenty of space to get past. By the time he passed me, I was pretty much past where traffic on my left would have been entering the roundabout.
There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
I never cross the red lights to let the emergency vehicle through. You'll get done by the traffic light camera, try to explain it later to avoid the points. They can't bully you into endangering yourself.There weren't any cars coming, so I just continued round the roundabout and went on my way. I didn't notice it, but my colleagues in the car said the policeman gave me a terrible stare and shook his fist at me. I thought he was thanking me for being aware of him coming and quickly got out of his way without having to stop, but the my friends said I was lucky not to have been done for going through a red light, even though I was clearly doing it to let him pass.
Just wondering what the official stance on it would have been had he decided to do me instead of his existing emergency?
This was discussed before, but a while back and it's an interesting point. AIUI, the blues are merely alerting everyone in the area to the presence of an emergency vehicle on a call. They request you to get out of the way of the vehicle in a safe and responsible way, but are not instructing you to break traffic laws.
There was an example previously where someone pulled out of a T-junction at the end of a narrow one-way street into moving traffic, crossing a red light. Putting yourself and the other traffic in danger is not justified even by the (quite reasonable) concern for the urgency of the fire engine/police car/ambiwlans's journey.
There was an example previously where someone pulled out of a T-junction at the end of a narrow one-way street into moving traffic, crossing a red light. Putting yourself and the other traffic in danger is not justified even by the (quite reasonable) concern for the urgency of the fire engine/police car/ambiwlans's journey.
If you get caught by a camera or they decide to charge you with dangerous driving etc then you won't get any sympathy in court.
The emergency services are trained to get around traffic, you are not trained (in their eyes) to go through red lights etc.
I completely agree with the fact that 99% of the time we could all make a perfectly safe judgement as to what to do - & also potentially save someone's life elsewhere. On the other hand, I'm not sure I want to a FPN for running a light just because some smackhead is stealing bacon from the local Aldi.
The emergency services are trained to get around traffic, you are not trained (in their eyes) to go through red lights etc.
I completely agree with the fact that 99% of the time we could all make a perfectly safe judgement as to what to do - & also potentially save someone's life elsewhere. On the other hand, I'm not sure I want to a FPN for running a light just because some smackhead is stealing bacon from the local Aldi.
Sounds like you didnt stop completely so maybe the police thought you were running the red light and hadnt noticed them. I think if you had rolled through slowly and stopped completely in front of lane 1/2 (still out of the way) it would be a lot more aparent that you were letting the police car through.
Similar thing happened to me once. In the same situation you described I was stopped at the lights when I noticed a police car coming up behind me. I was the only car in lane 2 so rolled just past the line and in front of the car in lane 1. Leaving plenty of room. But then the police car turned its lights off and ducked into lane 1 behind the queing traffic. So instead of me looking like a very observing quick thinking motorist I just ended up looking like an indecisive pr*&k as I reversed back to my position in lane 2.
Similar thing happened to me once. In the same situation you described I was stopped at the lights when I noticed a police car coming up behind me. I was the only car in lane 2 so rolled just past the line and in front of the car in lane 1. Leaving plenty of room. But then the police car turned its lights off and ducked into lane 1 behind the queing traffic. So instead of me looking like a very observing quick thinking motorist I just ended up looking like an indecisive pr*&k as I reversed back to my position in lane 2.
It's been done to hell, I was wrong with my opinion of it being acceptable, it's not, there are several examples of people being prosecuted for it.
to then continue is a definite no-no
I would still risk the prosecution if it was safe to move out of the way of an emergency vehicle, but I certainly wouldn't then continue.
sorry xPOW!
to then continue is a definite no-no
I would still risk the prosecution if it was safe to move out of the way of an emergency vehicle, but I certainly wouldn't then continue.
sorry xPOW!
Gizmo! said:
They request you to get out of the way of the vehicle in a safe and responsible way, but are not instructing you to break traffic laws.
So many people don't get it though, I've seen drivers doing some crazy "stunts" just to get out of the way. I am helpful when I see the flashing lights behind me but I'm not gonna kerb my wheels driving on the pavement, break wingmirrors etc just to move an inch of the way. Edited by rottie102 on Monday 8th November 19:52
There was a huge topic on this I remember a while ago, I think the conclusion was that it is only 'acceptable' to go over the red light if you are given a clear instruction to do so. But that whether instructed or not, it is worth noting the time, place and if possible any markings/numbers from the emergency vehicle incase you get a letter through the door about the incident.
You have no requirement to get out of the way so breaking the law wasn't the right thing to do.
Emergency vehicles have a tendancy to create accidents, my father (a policeman) used to know a doctor who bought some sirens for his car so that he could attend calls faster. When he turned up he would tell them where he caused an accident along the way. His heart was in the right place and is why he was allowed to get away with it for so long (especially seen as doctor beacons are only meant to be displayed whilst at a scene of an accident, not to get through traffic).
I'm suprised they had the siren on; they shouldn't, its use is to alert people, not to fluster people in a situation which is out of their hands. I mean, what do they expect you to do?
Emergency vehicles have a tendancy to create accidents, my father (a policeman) used to know a doctor who bought some sirens for his car so that he could attend calls faster. When he turned up he would tell them where he caused an accident along the way. His heart was in the right place and is why he was allowed to get away with it for so long (especially seen as doctor beacons are only meant to be displayed whilst at a scene of an accident, not to get through traffic).
I'm suprised they had the siren on; they shouldn't, its use is to alert people, not to fluster people in a situation which is out of their hands. I mean, what do they expect you to do?
Seen police escort motorbikes a few weeks ago who waved for the car infront of me (Who needed to turn right) to run the red lights, but told me to stay put as i was needing to turn left! :S I was very confused but just stayed there all through the green as i wasnt instructed to go yet. (PS the emergency vehicles were going to where i'd end up if i turned right.
As always mentioned, emergency vehicles are trained to go through traffic, if you move as far left (or right) as you can there shouldnt be too much of a problem for them to get past. I'm sure they plan modern infrustructure to accomidate emergency vehicles in the best possible way. Or at least they should.
As always mentioned, emergency vehicles are trained to go through traffic, if you move as far left (or right) as you can there shouldnt be too much of a problem for them to get past. I'm sure they plan modern infrustructure to accomidate emergency vehicles in the best possible way. Or at least they should.
Funny you should mention this, earlier today I blocked a roundabout to let an ambulance have a clear run.
I got a thanks from the ambulance driver, the drivers I'd blocked also thanked me.
I'd do it again anytime for an ambulance or fire engine even at a red light situation. But to be fair we don't have red light cameras up here!
Not sure if I do the same thing for a police car and it seems many people feel the same.
Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
OP - I think you did the right thing. You got out of the way, you knew you weren't causing any danger to other traffic, you drove off to ensure you didn't block any other traffic.
I got a thanks from the ambulance driver, the drivers I'd blocked also thanked me.
I'd do it again anytime for an ambulance or fire engine even at a red light situation. But to be fair we don't have red light cameras up here!
Not sure if I do the same thing for a police car and it seems many people feel the same.
Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
OP - I think you did the right thing. You got out of the way, you knew you weren't causing any danger to other traffic, you drove off to ensure you didn't block any other traffic.
skeggysteve said:
Not sure if I do the same thing for a police car and it seems many people feel the same.
Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
Probably because a fire engine and an amulance are more concentrated on life saving whereas police cars enforce unpopular laws which they haven't created, but are paid to do?Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
stimps said:
skeggysteve said:
Not sure if I do the same thing for a police car and it seems many people feel the same.
Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
Probably because a fire engine and an amulance are more concentrated on life saving whereas police cars enforce unpopular laws which they haven't created, but are paid to do?Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
By the way, this topic comes up around once a quarter or so, search SP%L for long discussions. I'm usually surprised in these threads by the sheer number of people who seem to have terrible luck with being the first and only car at a red light when an emergency vehicle comes up behind them. It's happened only once to me in what must be approaching a million miles of motoring and I was happy to roll forward to allow passage. (I'd've been mightily pi$$ed off if there'd been a camera. I guess the law of averages will kick in again sometime soon.
scenario8 said:
stimps said:
skeggysteve said:
Not sure if I do the same thing for a police car and it seems many people feel the same.
Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
Probably because a fire engine and an amulance are more concentrated on life saving whereas police cars enforce unpopular laws which they haven't created, but are paid to do?Maybe it's time the police think about why this is?
By the way, this topic comes up around once a quarter or so, search SP%L for long discussions. I'm usually surprised in these threads by the sheer number of people who seem to have terrible luck with being the first and only car at a red light when an emergency vehicle comes up behind them. It's happened only once to me in what must be approaching a million miles of motoring and I was happy to roll forward to allow passage. (I'd've been mightily pi$$ed off if there'd been a camera. I guess the law of averages will kick in again sometime soon.
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