Lack of awareness whilst driving

[Event Horizo]

You have to obey the Highway Code at all times, even when letting emergency vehicles pass. It's illegal to go through a red light at all times, it's definitely not a grey area.

 

I really understand your concern for the highway code BUT when there is an ambulance with its sirens behind me on an emergency call then common sense kicks in. Let's say there were ten set of red lights on route and everyone followed that rule with an emergency vehicle it could delay the response by 10-15 minutes!!!!!!!!:

[tzijlstra]

I completely disagree with stopping at a red light at junctions. It does seem to be a grey area. Many times i have edged forward at red traffic lights to let an emergency vehicle through safely. That is common sense and blocking it could take vital minutes off a life or death situation.

 

I think common sense needs to prevail, edging forward (for example into the empty space that is a pedestrian crossing when there are no pedestrians) can be sensible, but you often see people panicking and putting their foot down to get out of the way, through a red light - that simply should not happen, hence the rule is simple for everybody to understand - do not go through red.

 

My father was a paramedic and you won't believe how often people actually get involved in dangerous situations due to hearing the sirens and thinking they are now part of the ''above-the-law'' status of the ambulance. Trust me, the driver rather has you safe and sound than taking a risk so they can get past and save 5 seconds - if they really are in a life-threatening rush they will catch those five seconds up by putting their foot down where it is safe to do so, preferably with police escort aiding them.

[davyboy]

I completely disagree with stopping at a red light at junctions. It does seem to be a grey area. Many times i have edged forward at red traffic lights to let an emergency vehicle through safely. That is common sense and blocking it could take vital minutes off a life or death situation.

 

Some while ago locally a car passed a red light to let an ambulance through.

It was seen by the camera and the driver was prosecuted and fined for going through the red light.

His excuse was not accepted.

[peak4]

You have to obey the Highway Code at all times, even when letting emergency vehicles pass. It's illegal to go through a red light at all times, it's definitely not a grey area.

 

I really understand your concern for the highway code BUT when there is an ambulance with its sirens behind me on an emergency call then common sense kicks in. Let's say there were ten set of red lights on route and everyone followed that rule with an emergency vehicle it could delay the response by 10-15 minutes!!!!!!!!:

 

Sadly common sense doesn't always apply. I've read about instances where a "helpful" driver has been prosecuted, but also where the initial charge has been dropped when the circumstances were explained.

 

See also these two links;

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q699.htm

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-you-could-be-fined-for-letting-an-emergency-vehicle-past/

 

Note the stuff about bus lanes too; who knows how SCC would respond to a bus lane contravention, if a driver moved out of the way to let an emergency vehicle past.

 

---------- Post added 23-04-2016 at 22:09 ----------

 

Some while ago locally a car passed a red light to let an ambulance through.

It was seen by the camera and the driver was prosecuted and fined for going through the red light.

His excuse was not accepted.

 

Here's one,

and another, there are plenty of others.

 

It can be a bit of a fight to get a fine dropped though

[Nagel]

Also it is about time we prosecuted people from having Sat Nat Machines on their windscreens. You see so many drivers blindly following them and not paying any attention to the road. It is like they are hypnotised into being zombies. Why people need to have one on for their daily commute is completely baffling. If their memory so shot and attention span so short they should surrender their driving license back to the DVLA as an unfit person to drive.

 

Maybe they have sat navs for the daily commute for the live traffic updates so they can see where the traffic jams are and avoid them?

[Cyclone]

 

Also it is about time we prosecuted people from having Sat Nat Machines on their windscreens. You see so many drivers blindly following them and not paying any attention to the road. It is like they are hypnotised into being zombies. Why people need to have one on for their daily commute is completely baffling. If their memory so shot and attention span so short they should surrender their driving license back to the DVLA as an unfit person to drive.

 

This is one of the most stupid comments I've ever heard.

[*_ash_*]

I couldn't believe this possible.

I was driving along a straight road in a stream of traffic when I heard and saw an ambulance, lights flashing siren going, about 20 cars back.

Everyone let it pass until it was just behind the car behind me.

I signalled left to let the car behind know I was pulling in when to my amazement he overtook me blocking the ambulance who gave him a blast, causing him to pull over at last.

Driver must have been blind and deaf:loopy:

 

 

It wasn't a taxi was it?

[muddycoffee]

This is one of the most stupid comments I've ever heard.

 

You should filter past a row of slow moving cars in the summer on a motorcycle. It may change your attitude. Some of them are shocked and try to swerve out of the way it never occurs to them to check their mirrors. the worst ones all have a sat nav in front of them.

If you were on the other side on your bicycle it might cause you injury.

[Cyclone]

You think that it's somehow the satnav that stops them looking in there mirrors? Rather than just being poor drivers?

[sutty27]

I couldn't believe this possible.

I was driving along a straight road in a stream of traffic when I heard and saw an ambulance, lights flashing siren going, about 20 cars back.

Everyone let it pass until it was just behind the car behind me.

I signalled left to let the car behind know I was pulling in when to my amazement he overtook me blocking the ambulance who gave him a blast, causing him to pull over at last.

Driver must have been blind and deaf:loopy:

 

Its even more amazing when some people slow down or stop in an attempt to let emergency vehicle pass, only to force the emergency vehicle to slow down or stop.

 

Please make sure that slowing or stopping won't cause an unnecessary obstruction that the emergency vehicle will find difficult to negotiate. Sometimes the best course of action is to continue driving within the speed limit.