Emergency Vehicles and Bus Lanes

F_T_Buyer

marlot wrote: »

People have been fined for going through red lights to let emergency vehicles through. You risk the same thing if moving into the bus lane

Exactly. Remember blue flashing lights behind you doesn't give you permission to break motoring law. Common sense doesn't come into it.

I read Pepipoo a lot, and I'm surprised how people get fines... Even someone got a fined for leaving their fog lights on last week in between the patches of fog - how about fining those who don't turn their lights on at all!

As for the bus lanes, the ambulance could/[STRIKE]should[/STRIKE] use that - if they are over taking on the opposite side of the road, you should not move into the bus lane; you will have no defence if you get a fine!

Strider590

F_T_Buyer wrote: »

Even someone got a fined for leaving their fog lights on last week in between the patches of fog - how about fining those who don't turn their lights on at all!

Too bloody right!!!

Lum

Before going on about fines like that, remember that rear fogs should only be used when visibility is below 100 yards.

In the patchy fog I was just in coming back to Wales on the M4, while there was patchy fog the visibility never dropped that low, and the three people who did have their fogs on just made it painfully bright for the people behind. Predictably those people were a middle lane moron doing 50, someone doing about 100mph and a taxi driver doing 90ish.

In actual fact, apart from a handful of very short patches, it was fine to just continue at 70 on normal headlights.

It seems that some people just go into their own personal "fog mode" and continue until all traces of fog have completely disappeared.

dickydonkin

On a similar note - I saw the stupidest thing yesterday with an ambulance.

The dual carriegeway near where I live in Durham had the outside lane coned off due to ongoing roadworks. Just to add it was a Sunday with nobody working.

There was a 40mph limit, and the ambulance (blue lights flashing) was behind a line of traffic in the single lane but decided to use the coned off lane to get past everyone - and at speed as well.

I could not believe this - how did the ambulance driver know there were no excavations/obstructions in this lane?

At the end of the coned off lane, there was a line of cones which it seemed the ambulance driver was not aware of and he had to brake sharply and take evasive action at speed - nearly turning the thing over!

Hopefully, the injured person in the back was secured!

NBLondon

It is amazing the number of people who don't spot blue lights in the mirror.

Many years ago I was on the M62 in roadworks so it was coned down to one lane. I saw the blue lights in the mirror and watched a sequence of cars switch to the hard shoulder to allow them through. I did the same - and the guy in front completely failed to notice a marked police Range Rover with blues and twos going two feet from his bumper...

Mind you - the OP's question arises again - would it have been better for them to belt up the hard shoulder?

vax2002

marlot wrote: »

People have been fined for going through red lights to let emergency vehicles through. You risk the same thing if moving into the bus lane

Happened in Leeds, 18 drivers were given penalties by bus lane cameras that pulled over for emergency vehicles attending a crash all were enforced.
So by all means pull in the bus lane, or move through the Red lights, but be prepared to get your wallet out.

maninthestreet

Do you actually commit an offence if you fail to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle with it's blue lights on and sirens sounding?
Or is this just a failure to comply with the HW code?

newbutold

Most people myself included automatically go pull over to the left if you see an emergency vehicle coming up behind you with blues on, so I can see why the ambulance chose to not use the bus lane. Despite being on a emergency call the driver still has to drive in safe manner being aware of his surroundings and overtaking/keeping to the right is the safest option I think.

vax2002

Just asked terry our neighbour, he was an ambulance driver for 20 + years until he got a very cushy part time job in the office.

He says : The Ambulance drivers should use the route that offers the quickest and safe route, that the use of Blue Lights and sirens is an aid not a necessary and at Bus lanes, he would have switched off the sirens and used the bus lane as it causes less panic than leaving them on full time and the Ambulance would gain a considerable advantage just like buses do in that lane and if he needs to hop out in to traffic, hit the hooters, he also says that emergency vehicles are exempt from bus lane rules .

PS, He also says Leeds United will win the premiership in 2014...

Stephen_Leak

maninthestreet wrote: »

Do you actually commit an offence if you fail to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle with it's blue lights on and sirens sounding?
Or is this just a failure to comply with the HW code?

Using the bus lane or obstruction. Take your choice. You're a driver. You're guilty. The only question is of what.