Stupid motorists near emergency vehicles

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.

You're quite right, there are only two in the whole borough, and they are both on this stretch of road.

http://www.surrey-safecam.org/fe/default.asp?n1=1&n2=44&n3=42

If the motorists had followed the stupid minibus driver's lead, there would have been about £1000 of fines coming through.

It was actually quite a dangerous thing for the minibus driver to do, I was waiting to turn right (coming from the left in the streetview), on my bike, I heard the ambulance, the light went green, waited briefly to see what was going on, before continuing to turn right.

If someone had decided to go through the lights, it could have resulted in a serious accident.

wealdroam

thelawnet wrote: »

You must be new here.

Thanks for your reply, but again... what has this got to do with moneysaving?

sarahg1969

!!!!!! wrote: »

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

I wouldn't run the risk. The ambulance driver wouldn't expect you to drive through a red light, surely?

mgdavid

thelawnet wrote: »

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.
....., but stopping at a green one with an ambulance behind you with nowhere to go is pretty stupid.

if your only point is that there are a lot of stupid people out there,
yes there are, now what can you do about it - nothing? well then let's get on with life shall we?

thelawnet

wealdroam wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, but again... what has this got to do with moneysaving?

Last time I looked, this was the

"Motoring, Public Transport & Cycling (289 Viewing)
A special section just for discussing motoring and public transport"

forum.

If that has changed to something different, I must have missed the memo.

e999sam

As a fire fighter we are now trained to turn off sirens if there is traffic blocking a junction and only resume when the traffic can move away safely.
If we were to force traffic out into the junction then we could be held liable if they were to be involved in a collision.

andrew-the-cat

muckybutt wrote: »

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.

I agree - when I was last in London I saw this happen. Heavy traffic and all 3 lanes blocked up at a red light, ambulance comes up the back with blues on, stops and turns blues off. When traffic lights go green, he turns blues on and carries on.

I would quite happily go through a red light to let an emergency vehicle through, in fact I have done it a couple of times after making a thorough assessment that it is completely safe. One time I only had a move out a few feet, not even in to the path of traffic. The police driver thanked me as he went past.

I would not however go through a red light camera to let anything past. I know it sounds harsh but at the end of the day that is the law, and I value my licence.

namecheck

Slightly off topic, but I am amazed at the number of drivers who are completely unaware of an emergency vehicle behind them, even if there are flashing lights/sirens. And these drivers can be any age etc.

NBLondon

Just seen it this morning; A13 eastbound approaching the Canning Town roundabout/flyover. Here

The lights are red, I'm about third in line and there are two police cars screaming up behind, lights and sirens on. (Area cars not panda cars). Thankfully nothing in the bus lane so they went through that and around on the left. Not sure what would have happened if the lanes had been full.