Thread: Ambulances and red lights.

In Vic we (ambulance) go through red lights when driving with lights or sirens. The advice here is to slow down and proceed through. Compulsorly stopping on approaching the intersection actually increases danger, as cars that have right of way and are about to stop and give way, think you're letting them through. It's best to enter the intersection (if safe) at a low speed.

We don't force drivers into intersections (sometimes just turning the sirens off till the lights change) because they are liable for breaking the law.

In Vic, if you did break the road rules, but did something that was safe, you could argue that you abided by the Road Safety Act, but contravened Road Rules Vic - good luck with that.

Originally Posted by THE BOOGER

In nsw all emergency services under reds and blues are supposed to stop at red lights then procced if safe if its a real emergency i have seen them drive up the wrong side of the road and I know RFS drivers can report people for failing to give way

Fire & Rescue NSW ( NSW Fire Brigade) appliances are only required to slow to 8kmp/h to proceed through a red light or stop sign.

Cheers

The various emergency services Australia wide would have similar forms of a "safe driver policy". If anything goes pear shaped, say at an intersection, that's one of the first things they will look at, among others.

The problem these days with cars failing to yield to an emergency vehicle is two-fold. Late model cars are so well sealed these days; and combined with 8 speaker surround sound stereo systems, or the driver listening via ear plugs to his/her ipod; along with the air conditioning running - the sirens are barely audible. This, coupled with the low decible sirens used on Police cars - in NSW at least - creates serious problems.

Not sure about the ambos or firies, but when a police vehicle goes through an intersection on urgent duty and activates the camera, the radio operator is informed and it is then logged. That way, if and when the fine goes through, it gets pulled.

And it is correct when it comes to demerit points...the beak cannot pull them..it's an RTA thing regardless of the court's decision. So knowing that, and if you are a bit skinny on points - would you proceed through a red light camera controlled intersection, to yield to an emergency vehicle?

Originally Posted by MickS

The problem these days with cars failing to yield to an emergency vehicle is two-fold. Late model cars are so well sealed these days; and combined with 8 speaker surround sound stereo systems, or the driver listening via ear plugs to his/her ipod; along with the air conditioning running - the sirens are barely audible. This, coupled with the low decible sirens used on Police cars - in NSW at least - creates serious problems.

Or those of us who drive series landrovers - can't hear a bloody thing even with the windows open!

Originally Posted by pfillery

Or those of us who drive series landrovers - can't hear a bloody thing even with the windows open!

You know I thought that exact same thing when I typed that

We are allowed to go through red lights provided it is safe. It can be a bit of a catch 22 because if you are involved in an accident it will then be deemed that it was in fact unsafe.
Same thing applies if you are driving on the wrong side of the road.
Yes cars should move, but traffic is a fact of life and we know we may get caught in it.
Vehicles should move, but are only expected to do so if safe and not likely to cause damage.
Our roads are designed all wrong. There should be a centre lane for emergency vehicles.

Originally Posted by CraigE

We are allowed to go through red lights provided it is safe. It can be a bit of a catch 22 because if you are involved in an accident it will then be deemed that it was in fact unsafe.
Same thing applies if you are driving on the wrong side of the road.
Yes cars should move, but traffic is a fact of life and we know we may get caught in it.
Vehicles should move, but are only expected to do so if safe and not likely to cause damage.
Our roads are designed all wrong. There should be a centre lane for emergency vehicles.

Of course cars are required to move over only if it is safe to do so. At a major intersection a fire engine was held up by a car stopped at a red light and the truck had vehicles on either side. The fire engine driver thought the car could have moved out of the way and got a bit close and gave the car a bit of nudge - needless to say the fire engine did not get to the fire and spent about 30min with the car driver and the boys in blue explaining why he tried to push the car out of the way - I did see the cop with the infringement pad in his hand doing most of the talking to the engine driver - I assume that the car driver was able to convince the cop that it was not safe to get out of the way of the fire engine.

I do not know if an infringement was given out.

Here in QLd, our driving code of conduct has just recently been changed to force us to stop before proceding through a red light / stop sign. Also whether we like it or not, we can not force anyone through a red light... the infringement will not get waived just because you had us sitting behind you with lights and sirens.

I agree with the comment about people not hearing us coming... particularly on the highways, but the biggest issue in my opinion is that people are not taught what to do when they have a emergency vehicle coming up behind them... I've had many near misses on the roads because at least half the time the driver's first reaction is to brake (hard) or swerve sideways without looking

I'm not a crazy or reckless driver, but I regularly see things through work that scare me and make me ask WTF?

It's really simple... Lights and sirens means move over if possible, if not we'll try to come around you!