Would you do it differently?
Discussion
I was on a roundabout, my route marked in blue below.
An ambulance was on blue lights was approaching on the red route, but stuck in traffic. I stopped on the roundabout to allow traffic out in turn allow the ambulance out. Well that was the plan.
What actually happened is grandma at the front looked confused and went nowhere. The ambulance changed lane and was able to get on the roundabout as the traffic in that lane had used my ‘block’ to get out of the way.
Having my daughter with me who had just passed her theory test I was trying to work out if I helped or hindered. I’m really not sure!
What would you do?
An ambulance was on blue lights was approaching on the red route, but stuck in traffic. I stopped on the roundabout to allow traffic out in turn allow the ambulance out. Well that was the plan.
What actually happened is grandma at the front looked confused and went nowhere. The ambulance changed lane and was able to get on the roundabout as the traffic in that lane had used my ‘block’ to get out of the way.
Having my daughter with me who had just passed her theory test I was trying to work out if I helped or hindered. I’m really not sure!
What would you do?
Hard to be sure what any of us would have done without being there but usually if you're already moving and you can get out of the way without delaying the ambulance then I'd say that's probably the best option, one fewer moving part makes the situation simpler.
In this situation you've done something less natural - stopping on the roundabout, and less expected - people would expect you to stop to let an ambulance out but might not follow your thought process in letting out the people in front of the ambulance, which is what I think you've seen here.
Always difficult to take everything into account in a split second decision and it's not like there's one "right" choice most of the time either.
In this situation you've done something less natural - stopping on the roundabout, and less expected - people would expect you to stop to let an ambulance out but might not follow your thought process in letting out the people in front of the ambulance, which is what I think you've seen here.
Always difficult to take everything into account in a split second decision and it's not like there's one "right" choice most of the time either.
Related but not relevant. Had a session with traffic officers in a marked car recently, enjoying the experience of blue light driving from the back seat. While most other road users were cooperative, it was amazing that some were able to completely ignore the warning equipment and block progress - mainly white vans, which the officers said is typical. I guess it is easier to make an opening for a traffic car to make progress through traffic than for an ambulance.
Riley Blue said:
Would you do it differently?
Yes, I'd have continued to follow the rules of the road rather than do something unexpected and cause confusion. If every driver in that scenario had acted unilaterally it could have been chaotic.
Was aware of that, and it’s why I’ve second thought myself. At the time it was not really causing chaos though.Yes, I'd have continued to follow the rules of the road rather than do something unexpected and cause confusion. If every driver in that scenario had acted unilaterally it could have been chaotic.
surveyor said:
Riley Blue said:
Would you do it differently?
Yes, I'd have continued to follow the rules of the road rather than do something unexpected and cause confusion. If every driver in that scenario had acted unilaterally it could have been chaotic.
Was aware of that, and it’s why I’ve second thought myself. At the time it was not really causing chaos though.Yes, I'd have continued to follow the rules of the road rather than do something unexpected and cause confusion. If every driver in that scenario had acted unilaterally it could have been chaotic.
It’s impossible to judge the scenario without being there. I am not sure I would stop ON a roundabout, unless I was very sure others were fully aware of the situation. I have seen several ambulance runs recently, where the cars in front of the ambulance don’t seem to know they are there until the last minute. You may get the odd deaf driver, but too few people check their mirror often enough.
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