Motorists who spot the flashing blue lights in their review mirror may believe they need to do everything they can to get out of the way. However, incorrectly making way for an ambulance could risk even more lives and potentially land you with a hefty fine.
Ambulance crew members Sarah Tate and Sam Quinn explained exactly what drivers should and shouldn’t do on the roads when an ambulance is behind them. Including one common reaction when you’re sat at a red light.
Speaking on BBC’s Morning Live, Sarah advised motorists: “If you can, always pull to the left or part so we can get through the middle. But please don’t ever go through red lights, just stop.
“If you see us coming behind you and you’re at red lights, we will pull back. We’ll turn off the sirens because we don’t want people panicking."
On that note, Sam added two more things drivers should never do when trying to get out of an ambulance’s path: “Don’t go into oncoming traffic. Don’t go into bus lanes.
“We are trained to get around you. Don’t put yourself and other people in danger, it’s fine, don’t panic.”
According to the RAC, most of the usual road laws still apply even if you encounter an emergency vehicle. Driving through red lights could land you with a fixed penalty notice for £100 and three penalty points on your licence, even if it is to get out of the way for an ambulance.
Rule 219 of the Highway Code urges people not to panic when an emergency vehicle approaches. But instead: “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.
Official guidance from the NHS London Ambulance Service explains what motorists should be doing instead.
If it is safe to do so, pull over to the left, but if not then it’s best to simply “to continue as you were at a safe speed until there is a safe place to pull in or until the ambulance vehicle can safely overtake.”
Additionally, if you are trying to park around a stopped ambulance, the service urges: “Please do not block in an ambulance vehicle as this will likely delay them either taking a patient to hospital or responding to another emergency call.”
It’s especially important to avoid parking too close to the rear of an ambulance as this is where patients are brought into the vehicle. Parking too close could make this vital task impossible for ambulance crews.
