Stupid motorists near emergency vehicles

thelawnet

I don't know what is wrong with people, two days in a row I've seen an ambulance trying to get through here (straight ahead)

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Victoria+Way,+Woking&hl=en&ll=51.321574,-0.558414&spn=0.003205,0.006539&sll=51.320522,-0.560271&sspn=0.00641,0.013078&oq=victori+woking&t=h&hnear=Victoria+Way,+Woking,+Surrey,+United+Kingdom&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.321536,-0.55856&panoid=ZJinhJUWgySftkISggCihw&cbp=12,56.67,,0,16.76

The first time the ambulance was stuck behind about 6 or 7 vehicles with a red light. It had its siren on, but two or three in front of that there was a minibus who was blasting his horn, presumably trying to get traffic to go through the red light? !!!!!!?

The next time, the right hand lane was blocked by a council gardening vehicle, so there was only one lane available, the lights went green, but the car at the front of the queue, instead of proceeding across the junction when the light changed (where on the other side there would be a completely empty right-hand lane for overtaking),decided to STOP at the green light, forcing the ambulance to weave around it into the left-turn lane, then back into the straight ahead lane.

People's stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

wealdroam

Sorry, I don't understand what this has to do with money saving.

Perhaps this thread should be on The Money Saver's Arms?

geo555

Given that there is a red light camera and the fact that motorists have been fined and given points for crossing the red lights, even when it's for an emergency vehicle, I can understand the reluctance of a motorist to get out of the way.

forgotmyname

Yeah, I bet there would be no evidence of an ambulance when then ticket for jumping the lights drops onto the mat.

ColinFishwick

Its illegal to go through a red light even for a ambulance people have been fined for it


http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=87110

There are no exemptions for member of the public to pass a red light.

When a vehicle is being used for fire brigade, ambulance, bomb or explosive disposal, national blood service or police purposes and the observance of the prohibition conveyed by the red signal would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, then stopping at the line shall not apply to the vehicle, and the red signal shall convey the prohibition that that vehicle shall not proceed beyond the stop line in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or to cause the driver of any vehicle proceeding in accordance with the indications of light signals operating in association with the signals displaying the red signal to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident;

System

It will be an absolute offence but you may be able to claim Special Reasons as mitigation. Unfortunately the conviction for running the red light would stand but you would not receive a penalty in the form of points or fine. It could still hurt at insurance renewal when you have to declare the conviction.

from North wales Police web site

Remember: Emergency vehicle drivers are specially trained and have exemptions to the law that you don't have, so you must not go through red lights or speed to allow them to pass.

ColinFishwick

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204944/Driver-gets-60-fine-moving-yard-red-light-let-police-van-999-pass.html

"Driver gets £60 fine after moving a yard through red light to let police van on 999 call pass"

muckybutt

Many emergency drivers are tought not to keeps sirens blareing when there is stationary traffic at traffic lights so as not to panic the motorists in front, when the lights change and traffic starts to move then they normally put the sirens back on again.

As said above it is illegal to cross a stop line at a red ATS unless you are conducted to do so by a uniformed police officer, simply having a siren and blue flashing lights behind you is not an exemption.

thelawnet

wealdroam wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand what this has to do with money saving.

You must be new here.

vax2002

Or pull to the left in to a bus lane £90 KERCHING ! No excuses

thelawnet

geo555 wrote: »

Given that there is a red light camera and the fact that motorists have been fined and given points for crossing the red lights, even when it's for an emergency vehicle, I can understand the reluctance of a motorist to get out of the way.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

In the first case, a MINIBUS, was trying to force multiple vehicles to go through the red light, in order to let the ambulance through.

In the second case, the light had gone green, but rather than go, the car in front of the ambulance decided to stop, forcing the ambulance into the left-turn lane, before weaving back in front of the stopped car.

I wouldn't expect anyone to go through a red light, but stopping at a green one with an ambulance behind you with nowhere to go is pretty stupid.