Road Traffic Regulation - exemptions Keep Left and Red light

[Blue Oval84]

Hi all,

I've seen this before, and I'm sure it was in the Road Traffic Regulation Act (but maybe my memory is failing me) and now I can't find it.

Can someone please point me at the particular legislation that governs what a vehicle being operated for the purposes of a Blood Transfusion Service can do when driving on blues? I understand they are exempt from Keep Left bollards and from red traffic lights, but not exempt from speed limits.

Also, the specific regs around when a vehicle can be fitted with blue flashing lights and sirens? Again, have seen this before but can I hell find it for some reason!

Thanks in advance!

[Foppo]

Came across a blue flashing light blood transfusion car the other week.

He drove through the red lights and was speeding.What is the point of the blue lights flashing if they are not allowed to speed? Don't know about the regulations sorry.

[Blue Oval84]

Blood Transfusion service has no exemption in law from speed limits. The flashing blue light is needed to go through red lights, around bollards, and get traffic to move out of your way.

The government is pushing through some changes (Section 19 of Road Safety Act) which will allow the transfusion service to also get an exemption, but for now, the lights basically just get you through traffic more quickly.

[Sportidge]

Blue Oval84 said:

Blood Transfusion service has no exemption in law from speed limits. The flashing blue light is needed to go through red lights, around bollards, and get traffic to move out of your way.

The government is pushing through some changes (Section 19 of Road Safety Act) which will allow the transfusion service to also get an exemption, but for now, the lights basically just get you through traffic more quickly.

I thought that S.19 had become Statute in October?

If so, then they would now be exempt, provided the driver has attended and passed a proscribed training course.

I think that what vehicles can fit B&T is governed by Construction & Use, rather then Road Traffic acts. Don't know the exact location, though...

Edited by Sportidge on Sunday 8th November 17:18

[vonhosen]

Blue lights on vehicles = Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1989
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/conte...

Red Traffic lights & Keep left bollards = Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions 2002
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/3113/conte...

Pelican/Puffin Red Lights = Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regul...

[Blue Oval84]

vonhosen said:

Blue lights on vehicles = Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1989
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/conte...

Red Traffic lights & Keep left bollards = Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions 2002
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/3113/conte...

Pelican/Puffin Red Lights = Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regul...

Will have a dig, thanks!

Sportidge said:

I thought that S.19 had become Statute in October?

Edited by Sportidge on Sunday 8th November 17:18

Hmm, any way of finding out? I've viewed the legislation online and it just says "prospective".

ETA - legal friend has just messaged me a link to some legal database saying it's not in force, hopefully it's up to date!

[mph1977]

s.19 road safety act 2006 requires secondary legislation to make it effective either an regulatory order or an SI

AND it only covers the training required by existing blue light users allowed to exceed the speed limit for their drivers to claim that exemption, it does not effect any other exemption

st legislation, written to solve a problem it doesn;t solve and doesn;t touch the arguably higher risk exemptions (red lights , bollards etc)...

[Blue Oval84]

Ah does it not? I have to confess to not having read S19 very thoroughly given that it's not in force, but I was led to believe that it would extend the speed limit exemptions to other blue light users.

Never mind. At least the rest of the regs are reasonably clear about what can and can't be done

[mph1977]

Blue Oval84 said:

Ah does it not? I have to confess to not having read S19 very thoroughly given that it's not in force, but I was led to believe that it would extend the speed limit exemptions to other blue light users.

Never mind. At least the rest of the regs are reasonably clear about what can and can't be done

knee jerk legislation post Mick ferguson (none) case , never actually addressed the issues of that case - yes mick is a 'proper ambulanceman' and was driving a vehicle operated by an NHS ambulance service but it was on TFT work and no ambulance exemptions applied only tissue for transplant exemptions.

[ModernAndy]

was there not a case a few years ago where a blood transfusion driver was done for driving at a bit over 100 possibly with the blues on?