Ringpeas

We all know that we should give way to emergency services, but are we breaking the law if we go through a red light to do so?
I know that you are unlikely to get nicked for it, but if there are cameras on the lights you could get a fine?
I ask this as many of the roads round here are narrow with traffic islands in the middle. A couple of times I have been stuck at some lights with an ambulance screaming up behind me and the oncoming traffic has either not stopped or has been unable to get out of the way. Not wanting to delay them, I have gone through the red light.
Any legal experts?

Reffro

Yes you are breaking the law, as for whether you can get off with it, is another thing. But strictly speaking you can still be prosecuted.

bartmanuk

you wont be prosecutred for it because the camera takes 2 pics so they can see if you just moved or carried on driving...

BM

Jerome

If they are prepared to nick an ambulance driver on a shout, then it wouldn't suprise me if someone got prosecuted for going through a red light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle.

Here it is an offence to not get out of the way...

workshy_fopp

Yes, best play it safe and not get out of the way

bartmanuk

thats the exact reason you wouldn't be prosecuted..

BM

scoobchrissy

iTrader: (1)

When the fact's are known, i dont think so!!!!

jaf01uk

Best thing to do is not go all the way through or at any speed in case you are hit, the best to just creep forward using the siren behind as an aid and then pull into the left on the crossing to allow the vehicle through, trust me I would thank you for it, you wouldnt believe some of the reactions/manoeuvres we see when trying to make progress,
Gary

JohnMcC

I can imagine - some of the things I have seen people do around here (am near to an Ambulance station and close to an A&E) are stupid. They don't seem to appreciate that its all very well stopping to let you guys through, but its not exactly great when its right before, after or next to, say, a traffic island! .

I have also seen somebody pull into a side street - but not facing down the road, but taking up both lanes, as if it were a lay by. Now, 9 times out of 10 this would have been fine and the Ambulance would have carried on, but one time (sod's law!) someone did this in the very road that the ambulance wanted to go down!

As for the traffic light thing, I have done what I think you are describing - go through and then pull over to let the Ambulance through. If anything did happen then I'm sure you would be let off under the circumstances. If you weren't at least you could make a few quid from the tabloids!