Blue Light Conflict

[mko9]

ATG said:

HTP99 said:

Deranged Rover said:

Bigends said:

..and you'd be happy to pick up the fine and the points?

Frankly, that would seem a small price to pay to ensure you weren’t helping to put someone’s life at risk, don’t you think?

What if you went through a red light and caused an accident; lights are red for a reason and regarding bus lanes, if you are able to move to a bus lane to let an ambulance by then surely the ambulance can move into the bus lane to aid progress?

Jesus wept. If you can't judge whether it is safe to creep over the line at a red light to let an ambulance pass, then you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. And surely it is better for the car to change lane rather than require a faster moving, less manoeuvrable vehicle with a potentially fragile cargo to do so? And finally if getting some points in those circumstances could cost you your job perhaps the problem is the existing nine points on your license (i.e. your driving) or the knuckle headed attitude of your employer?

There is no judgement at all, the law and the FPNs make it clear that it is not acceptable to creep ahead over the line at a red light to allow emergency vehicles through.

[zarjaz1991]

ATG said:

Jesus wept. If you can't judge whether it is safe to creep over the line at a red light to let an ambulance pass, then you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. And surely it is better for the car to change lane rather than require a faster moving, less manoeuvrable vehicle with a potentially fragile cargo to do so? And finally if getting some points in those circumstances could cost you your job perhaps the problem is the existing nine points on your license (i.e. your driving) or the knuckle headed attitude of your employer?

Many jobs require a CLEAN licence.

Besides which, as I've already said, if the authorities want me to break the law to allow an emergency vehicle past, then they need to make this a statutory defence. Since they won't do that, neither will I.

[Vipers]

zarjaz1991 said:

ATG said:

Jesus wept. If you can't judge whether it is safe to creep over the line at a red light to let an ambulance pass, then you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. And surely it is better for the car to change lane rather than require a faster moving, less manoeuvrable vehicle with a potentially fragile cargo to do so? And finally if getting some points in those circumstances could cost you your job perhaps the problem is the existing nine points on your license (i.e. your driving) or the knuckle headed attitude of your employer?

Many jobs require a CLEAN licence.

Besides which, as I've already said, if the authorities want me to break the law to allow an emergency vehicle past, then they need to make this a statutory defence. Since they won't do that, neither will I.

Absolutely (unfortunately) correct, seen it before someone being fined for violating red lights for an emergency vehicle, and his defense that he did it to let an emergency vehicle past didnt hold water.

Common sense doesnt prevail these days.

[Graveworm]

simoid said:

Putting a tyre on the chevrons is illegal too.

Sorry late to this but this is only illegal if chevrons are part of a double white line system dividing carriageways in opposite directions.

Edited by Graveworm on Saturday 12th May 12:42

[simoid]

Graveworm said:

Sorry late to this but this is only illegal if chevrons are part of a double white line system dividing carriageways in opposite directions.

Edited by Graveworm on Saturday 12th May 12:42

Aye? I’m just going by Highway Code:

“Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right.
If the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so.
If the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency.“

The bold being pertinent in this instance

[LarsG]

Blue light? Might be your mother, father, brother, sister, best friend in there. Be aware of your surroundings, if you hear the siren male your head swivel and look where it is coming from so that you can safely get out of the way without causing the ambulance to be delayed, if it means legging it at 70mph in front until you can pull over for him do it. No excuses.

[simoid]

LarsG said:

Blue light? Might be your mother, father, brother, sister, best friend in there. Be aware of your surroundings, if you hear the siren male your head swivel and look where it is coming from so that you can safely get out of the way without causing the ambulance to be delayed, if it means legging it at 70mph in front until you can pull over for him do it. No excuses.

Indeed. That’s what I did, without the bit admitting to breaking the speed limit!

[Graveworm]

simoid said:

Aye? I’m just going by Highway Code:

“Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right.
If the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so.
If the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency.“

The bold being pertinent in this instance

It's not something to do as a matter of course and as with anything in the highway code failure to comply could be evidence of other offences but it's not illegal. As in the introduction to the code, if failure to comply is illegal, the highway code uses must or must not.

[simoid]

Indeed - I was following the “must not enter chevrons bordered by solid white line”

[Graveworm]

simoid said:

Indeed - I was following the “must not enter chevrons bordered by solid white line”

And indeed you are right. I suppose it could be an emergency, in these circumstances, but that still wouldn't make me right.

[geeks]

LarsG said:

Blue light? Might be your mother, father, brother, sister, best friend in there. Be aware of your surroundings, if you hear the siren male your head swivel and look where it is coming from so that you can safely get out of the way without causing the ambulance to be delayed, if it means legging it at 70mph in front until you can pull over for him do it. No excuses.

That's just dumb advice!

Taught to drive by a woman who drove an ambulance for a living, she always told me that in those situations continue as normal, move over where possible, never speed up and duck to one side etc, her words "We are coming through don't you worry, we will find a way past if you start jinking or speeding up you become unpredictable you will actually slow us down!"

[simoid]

Graveworm said:

And indeed you are right. I suppose it could be an emergency, in these circumstances, but that still wouldn't make me right.

Aye there was traffic in the other lane, otherwise I probably would've strongly considered getting out the way earlier. Although if there was no traffic over the chevrons, the ambulance would've gone up that lane. Or I would've and the ambulance would've had unimpeded passage up the right lane.

Anyway, in conclusion I think I'm fairly satisfied that I did "the right thing" as required by HC, blueilghtaware, conscience, and most importantly PH Massif.