pulling into bus lane to let police car pass

gingerdad

http://www.bluelightaware.org.uk/

Really useful website for any questions.

leosayer

neilmcl wrote: »

That's the last thing you should do. The drivers would/should have worked out a suitable route past you and if one didn't exist will, as they did in your case, direct you. Trying to "anticipate" what an emergency vehicle will do can be just as dangerous as panicking.

Maybe you're thinking of a different scenario than me.

If I'm in lane 2 overtaking cars and I see an ambulance behind me in lane 2 gaining on me, should I not anticipate that he wants to continue in lane 2, indicate left and then pull into lane 1 when it's safe to do so?

I don't see what's dangerous about that.

spacey2012

You can do what you like for an Ambulance, but if you pull across a solid white line in to a camera controlled zone you will receive a penalty charge notice.
You are free to make any amount of moral judgements with regards to civic duties to move out of the way, just keep paying the penalty charges.

Jamie_Carter

gingerdad wrote: »

http://www.bluelightaware.org.uk/

Really useful website for any questions.

:T:T I was just looking for that video.

Jamie_Carter

leosayer wrote: »

Maybe you're thinking of a different scenario than me.

If I'm in lane 2 overtaking cars and I see an ambulance behind me in lane 2 gaining on me, should I not anticipate that he wants to continue in lane 2, indicate left and then pull into lane 1 when it's safe to do so?

I don't see what's dangerous about that.

I'm pretty sure that neilmcl was referring to slow moving or stationary traffic, which is where most problems are caused by drivers trying to anticipate the route of the emergency vehicle.

Jamie_Carter

spacey2012 wrote: »

You can do what you like for an Ambulance, but if you pull across a solid white line in to a camera controlled zone you will receive a penalty charge notice.
You are free to make any amount of moral judgements with regards to civic duties to move out of the way, just keep paying the penalty charges.

What a ridiculous statement to make.

Other road users will expect emergency vehicles to go through red lights. But they won't expect you to. So your actions may cause a collision (this has happened many times in the past), which could end up holding the emergency vehicles up.

I think you need to watch the video in gingerdad's link.

smashingyour...

missile wrote: »

It seems your "opinion" is based on ignorance.
Do you know what training police officers receive before being allowed to drive a panda? Those of us who do, call it barely adequate not "extensive"
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/public-are-being-let-down-over-899164

No training at all is required.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

The article is talking about refresher training, and keeping standards up.

The standard to drive a panda car isn't as high as it is for a traffic police car, but it is still far higher than the average road user.

I don't have the exact figures, but the article was from 2010. Very stringent refresher training has been introduced since then in most counties (if not all), by all emergency services.

With no training given to drive a panda can you explain why it is higher?

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

No training at all is required.

And where do you get that from?

Unless things have changed recently (which I doubt as standards are getting more stringent), then without any extra training the panda cars can only be driven as a normal car. And not driven on blues, or be exempt to any road traffic laws.

derrick

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Not just the police. Although technically only they can instruct you to break the law. But in the case where someone just had to cross a double white line, then you should take instruction from any emergency vehicle driver. You are allowed to cross double white lines in an emergency (if safe to do so) anyway.

No you are not!

HC Rule 129

Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid.
This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26



The rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.

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