Today I nearly crashed..
Discussion
Driving to work involves a good few miles of unclassified roads and lanes through lots of small villages. Early this morning I caught up with an ambulance on blue lights. It was going well but not silly fast. In the 30s it lost me but I soon gained on it out the other side back in NSL areas.
It passed a layby where a car instantly pulled out behind it, seemingly unaware of my presence behind the ambulance. ABS cut in and rather than a smash lucky for me nothing was coming the other way so overtook it. Much to the upset of the driver??! Lots of light flashing and sign language. Wtf? I guess he'd pulled in for it but wasn't letting anything else through or just didn't see me??
It passed a layby where a car instantly pulled out behind it, seemingly unaware of my presence behind the ambulance. ABS cut in and rather than a smash lucky for me nothing was coming the other way so overtook it. Much to the upset of the driver??! Lots of light flashing and sign language. Wtf? I guess he'd pulled in for it but wasn't letting anything else through or just didn't see me??
andy-xr said:
It's kind of the done thing that when you pull over for a blue light you pick up where you left off in 'the queue'
I'd probably say that the guy was a bit put out that someone didnt read the rules on that one, it does sound a bit ambulancechasey from the way you've written it
I'm 100% for this, why does some tI'd probably say that the guy was a bit put out that someone didnt read the rules on that one, it does sound a bit ambulancechasey from the way you've written it
t always think it's ok to follow an emergency vehicle. OP if you want a real challenge try it with fire engines , they tend to almost be able to follow/followable within the speed limit providing you don't jump lights.
Is there any rule/law against following an ambulance?
I once let one pass me on a dual carriageway then got back into the outside lane behind it, got home in half the time that day doing 70-80 without any outside lane hoggers refusing to pull over
That being said I had my left foot hovering over the brake most of the way as I could sense the people moving over itching to get back into the right lane.
I once let one pass me on a dual carriageway then got back into the outside lane behind it, got home in half the time that day doing 70-80 without any outside lane hoggers refusing to pull over
That being said I had my left foot hovering over the brake most of the way as I could sense the people moving over itching to get back into the right lane.
andy-xr said:
It's kind of the done thing that when you pull over for a blue light you pick up where you left off in 'the queue'
I'd probably say that the guy was a bit put out that someone didn't read the rules on that one, it does sound a bit ambulancechasey from the way you've written it
Down South it's not I'd probably say that the guy was a bit put out that someone didn't read the rules on that one, it does sound a bit ambulancechasey from the way you've written it
Many times I drive along the Hogs Back on the way back from Guildford and see an ambulance come past on its way to Frimley Park hospital, with a couple of cars glues to it's back bumper to get through the queues. It's a pretty regular sight on most busy commuter routes down here.
Phateuk said:
Is there any rule/law against following an ambulance?
I once let one pass me on a dual carriageway then got back into the outside lane behind it, got home in half the time that day doing 70-80 without any outside lane hoggers refusing to pull over
That being said I had my left foot hovering over the brake most of the way as I could sense the people moving over itching to get back into the right lane.
Well you could not be a I once let one pass me on a dual carriageway then got back into the outside lane behind it, got home in half the time that day doing 70-80 without any outside lane hoggers refusing to pull over
That being said I had my left foot hovering over the brake most of the way as I could sense the people moving over itching to get back into the right lane.
, apart from that the family following behind you might stand a better chance.Here is you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhDo9TeBqrE
Edited by bottledatsource on Monday 1st December 20:10
simoid said:
rambo19 said:
Sounds like you were to close to ambulance.
Obviously not too close if someone pulled out behind the ambulance and the OP avoided a collision.
Sounds like the other driver didn't see you. It's not unusual for people to jump on the defensive or start handing out abuse if they make a mistake.
Had similar happen to me years ago and posted a thread on here too!
I was following an Ambulance on an NSL road, doing 50-55mph. I was driving at a safe distance behind it. Car pulls across a t-junction to let it pass and then pulled out without looking, I think I swerved to overtake, but aborted halfway through, slammed on and pulled in behind it.
My argument was that he clearly didn't check his mirrors and that I could have been another emergency vehicle, the counter argument was that I should have anticipated his move. To which I agreed.
So although technically the other person was in the wrong, caution should be exercised around emergency vehicles as people tend to panic and do silly things!
I was following an Ambulance on an NSL road, doing 50-55mph. I was driving at a safe distance behind it. Car pulls across a t-junction to let it pass and then pulled out without looking, I think I swerved to overtake, but aborted halfway through, slammed on and pulled in behind it.
My argument was that he clearly didn't check his mirrors and that I could have been another emergency vehicle, the counter argument was that I should have anticipated his move. To which I agreed.
So although technically the other person was in the wrong, caution should be exercised around emergency vehicles as people tend to panic and do silly things!
Rickyy said:
Had similar happen to me years ago and posted a thread on here too!
I was following an Ambulance on an NSL road, doing 50-55mph. I was driving at a safe distance behind it. Car pulls across a t-junction to let it pass and then pulled out without looking, I think I swerved to overtake, but aborted halfway through, slammed on and pulled in behind it.
My argument was that he clearly didn't check his mirrors and that I could have been another emergency vehicle, the counter argument was that I should have anticipated his move. To which I agreed.
So although technically the other person was in the wrong, caution should be exercised around emergency vehicles as people tend to panic and do silly things!
Indeed!I was following an Ambulance on an NSL road, doing 50-55mph. I was driving at a safe distance behind it. Car pulls across a t-junction to let it pass and then pulled out without looking, I think I swerved to overtake, but aborted halfway through, slammed on and pulled in behind it.
My argument was that he clearly didn't check his mirrors and that I could have been another emergency vehicle, the counter argument was that I should have anticipated his move. To which I agreed.
So although technically the other person was in the wrong, caution should be exercised around emergency vehicles as people tend to panic and do silly things!
From an insurance/lawsuit point of view: muppet pulled out without looking.
From a collision avoidance point of view: look out for muppets
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