How do you react to blue lights?

[callmedave]

I don't mean 'get away form the cops' I mean there is an emergency services vehicle on its way to an incident.

I have seen so many people just stop where they are and wait for the vehicle to go around them. Ive seen people sit at a red light and not go through 'cause its red!' Iv seen some just slow down and not even stop, some don't indicate.

Im amazed how many people don't think they are in the way when they seem to have made the emergency vehicles route even more difficult.

Would you go through red lights? would you speed up? (over 30 in a 30 etc) in order to help a emergency vehicle get past?

Whats the worst reaction to flashing lights you've ever seen?

[trashbat]

You're not allowed to go through red lights unless specifically directed by a policeman, and shouldn't be asked to either. Whether you should ever go through one in practice is another question.

[VeeDub Geezer]

I thought you had to always pull over immediately to let blue lit vehicles past?

[trashbat]

VeeDub Geezer said:

I thought you had to always pull over immediately to let blue lit vehicles past?

You're supposed to facilitate their movement. If this means you keep doing a steady 60mph in an NSL until an overtaking opportunity arises for them, that's what you do - rather than stopping dead somewhere unhelpful.

[nugget78]

My view is to do my best to get out of their way, by pulling over and leaving a gap if possible. For example have been in a queue of traffic so have pulled up onto the kerb a few times when I've seen an ambulance or police car coming up the middle of the two lanes.
Agreed on the red light thing, not sure I would move through unless specifically asked or was clearly blocking them in my current position thus no other option.

[DaveCWK]

Slow down if necessary and pull towards the curb if it will help them get between me and traffic bollards or whatever, otherwise I do nothing.
The other day someone in front of me on an otherwise empty 2 lane dual carriageway braked from 60mph to almost 10mph in lane 1 as a police car approached from behind at speed in lane 2. I almost rear ended them.

[Falsey]

I never speed up, but pull over to a clear lane or space and allow them to pass.

My commute takes me on a route past a hospital and police station in Liverpool so its fairly regular that they'll pass. Ive seen a few people drive onto the verge to make room, though Id never do that myself.

[Monty Python]

VeeDub Geezer said:

I thought you had to always pull over immediately to let blue lit vehicles past?

"Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you."

There is nothing in law that says you must move out of the way. However, in the case of a police vehicle you could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention or lane hogging.

[carlove]

Worst I've seen was a women pull up on the side of the road, the ambulance didn't actually have any lights or sirens on , she set off again once it was past, very strange thing to do.

[nugget78]

trashbat said:

You're supposed to facilitate their movement. If this means you keep doing a steady 60mph in an NSL until an overtaking opportunity arises for them, that's what you do - rather than stopping dead somewhere unhelpful.

What he said
A few times have seen an Ambulance on the M4 in my mirrors some way back. Always thought it strange to see people slow down to 40-50 when it's still way behind them, causing traffic to bunch up potentially actually slowing them down. Meanwhile I've continued and actually exited the carriageway before the Ambulance was anywhere near me.....

[stroberaver]

callmedave said:

Whats the worst reaction to flashing lights you've ever seen?

Just last week, when an ambulance came the other way on a 4 lane (2 in each direction, no central divider) 40mph urban road which had little traffic. The ambulance was in lane 2 of the oncoming lanes and I was in lane 1 - ended up having to take avoiding action when both the cars in front of me almost did an emergency stop and put their cars up on the kerb. tts. What did they think was going to happen? The ambulance was suddenly going to cross the width of two lanes and ram the cars in front of me? There was absolutely no need to adjust speed or road positioning in that situation, but far too many muppets just panic brake whenever they see/hear an emergency vehicle.

[R8Steve]

I always used to slowly go through red lights to get out the way but a recent thread on here where someone got done for going through a red light has made me think differently.

I spoke with my cousin who is a paramedic and he said that, although frustrating, he wouldn't expect anyone to go through a red light either.

I think the problem here for me would be if i could actually sit at a red light blocking an emergency vehicle if the road was otherwise clear knowing it was on it's way to an emergency.

The other problem i've came across is on a jammed dual carriageway for example - the emergency vehicle is coming down the middle and everyone around me is mounting high kerbs to get out the way. I could probably do it but at the expense of my bumper/splitter/kerbing an alloy - as a result, i wouldn't do it.

[TroubledSoul]

Depends on my surrounding to be honest. If I am on a two lane carriageway and there's an empty lane next to me (I am guilty of sometimes being in the right hand lane if the left is empty if I know that particular left hand lane is badly damaged/grooved from trucks) then I will maintain speed or slow a little but continue as I am so that the emergency vehicle can quickly plot a course to pass me with minimal fuss.

On the motorway I will wait until they are within site in the rear view mirror and then move over swiftly and safely so that I do not obstruct them.

In heavy traffic I will move over as far as I am able and try to get out of the way.

[Thehandshake]

callmedave said:

Ive seen people sit at a red light and not go through 'cause its red!'

People get fined for this. Hence... I'm not surprised.

[Rawwr]

Probably, the most helpful thing you can do is to leave a reasonable gap in front of you when at traffic lights. So many people stop bumper-to-bumper leaving them absolutely nowhere to go should they see blue lights. You don't need to leave a huge gap, just enough to turn into.

[CB2152]

Not sure whether it was the right thing to do, but I did once have an ambulance on blues and twos behind me on a very narrow, twisty road I know reasonably well. I just kept going under the logic that there wasn't any real space for it to pass, and that I was able to outpace it on that particular road without any real effort.
My friend in the car interestingly mentioned that he (ambulance) was probably able to make better progress by keeping me in sight, due to being able to judge upcoming corners based on what I was doing.

I still question whether it was the right thing to do, and as soon as the road opened up again I made room for it to pass, and slowed down to ensure he could overtake as quickly as possible.

-Awaits PH flaming-

Edited by CB2152 on Monday 7th October 16:04

[surveyor]

Make predictable moments, and show your intentions. I'm normally fairly alert to road traffic, and usually see them coming from a distance. I move out of the way and slow down, indicating if appropriate and not confusing. If they are coming the opposite way on a two lane single carriageway, I will tuck myself towards the kerb and take it easy in case they need to take some avoiding numpty action.

At red lights if it looks clear and oncoming traffic has taken action waiting for emergency vehicle and there are no camera's I will move forward a little.

[surveyor]

CB2152 said:

Not sure whether it was the right thing to do, but I did once have an ambulance on blues and twos behind me on a very narrow twisty road I know reasonably well. I just kept going under the logic that there wasn't any real space for it to pass, and that I was able to outpace it on that particular road without any real effort.
My friend in the car interestingly mentioned that he (ambulance) was probably able to make better progress by keeping me in sight due to being able to judge upcoming corners based on what I was doing.

I still question whether it was the right thing to do, and as soon as the road opened up again I made room for it to pass and slowed down to ensure he could overtake as quickly as possible.

-Awaits PH flaming-

sounds sensible to me.

[callmedave]

Thehandshake said:

People get fined for this. Hence... I'm not surprised.

Actually did not know this! I thought that under the conditions they would let it go.

I did go through red lights once and was waved/thanked by the officer in the car.

[dowahdiddyman]

surveyor said:

CB2152 said:

Not sure whether it was the right thing to do, but I did once have an ambulance on blues and twos behind me on a very narrow twisty road I know reasonably well. I just kept going under the logic that there wasn't any real space for it to pass, and that I was able to outpace it on that particular road without any real effort.
My friend in the car interestingly mentioned that he (ambulance) was probably able to make better progress by keeping me in sight due to being able to judge upcoming corners based on what I was doing.

I still question whether it was the right thing to do, and as soon as the road opened up again I made room for it to pass and slowed down to ensure he could overtake as quickly as possible.

-Awaits PH flaming-

sounds sensible to me.

Perfectly reasonable thing to do and as your mate said he probably actually appreciated the lead, would have taken him a split second to realise that you knew the road.