Im sure this has popped up before, but, if you are sitting first in the queue at a red traffic light and have an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, ( with blues and twos ), what should you do? Will the courts etc really lift any penalty given if you end up having your photo taken for jumping it ?
But then, to sit and wait is blocking an emergency vehicle. Again illegal.
Opinions folks
If SAFE to do so then move out of the way
Legality is trumped by safety in this case
The only drivers who have been prosecuted were ones who did not appeal any contravention that got through in error - most are voided before they get sent out
m.youtube.com/watch?v=btRHvQEIkcU
1 minute 30 in.
This was always my understanding and experience.
If an emergency vehicle comes up behind a load of traffic that has nowhere to go, they usually turn the sirens off to try and prevent idiots from panicking.
Personally, I take each one on it’s own merits, if I can slide out of the way I will, but if there’s a camera that I’m likely to trigger, then it’s going to have to wait.
BUT, I find that most cameras aren’t triggered if you use the cycle bit, so, as long as you didn’t stop in that in the 1st place, you’ve got 6’ or so to use, depending what you’re in and your position in the first place, that might be enough.
waynedl:
This was always my understanding and experience.
If an emergency vehicle comes up behind a load of traffic that has nowhere to go, they usually turn the sirens off to try and prevent idiots from panicking.
Personally, I take each one on it’s own merits, if I can slide out of the way I will, but if there’s a camera that I’m likely to trigger, then it’s going to have to wait.
BUT, I find that most cameras aren’t triggered if you use the cycle bit, so, as long as you didn’t stop in that in the 1st place, you’ve got 6’ or so to use, depending what you’re in and your position in the first place, that might be enough.
And if you get a cyclist in the process you get a prize,win win win.
If there is a camera, stay put, no camera then move on 
The only person who can tell you to pass a stop line is a uniformed copper. The emergency vehicle should not put itself in a position that forces a driver to break the law, they should turn off their sirens too.
In reality, each case has its own rules and is down to the driver and the experience they have.
bobbya:
waynedl:
This was always my understanding and experience.
If an emergency vehicle comes up behind a load of traffic that has nowhere to go, they usually turn the sirens off to try and prevent idiots from panicking.
Personally, I take each one on it’s own merits, if I can slide out of the way I will, but if there’s a camera that I’m likely to trigger, then it’s going to have to wait.
BUT, I find that most cameras aren’t triggered if you use the cycle bit, so, as long as you didn’t stop in that in the 1st place, you’ve got 6’ or so to use, depending what you’re in and your position in the first place, that might be enough.And if you get a cyclist in the process you get a prize,win win win.
& another Ambulance. [emoji603]
Always a judgement call but if at the front I will ease across to create space, usually traffic in all directions has stopped. Theres a risk this can make things worse but to just sit there and do nothing can be just as bad.
Sure these drivers are highly trained to pick the passage that is best but human error can mean assistance is needed from time to time. If its a seconds count shout moving to create options can save a life.
Sometimes though your buggered if you dont and buggered if you do.
Don’t hinder them or cross the stop line, they’ll find a way past.
On the subject of blue lights why do many people see a blue light vehicle coming towards them and pull to the side, even when the emergency vehicle has nothing infront of it? They wont cross onto your side of the carriageway for no good reason.
Wardaddy:
Don’t hinder them or cross the stop line, they’ll find a way past.
On the subject of blue lights why do many people see a blue light vehicle coming towards them and pull to the side, even when the emergency vehicle has nothing infront of it? They wont cross onto your side of the carriageway for no good reason.
Personally I would cross a white line at lights if it meant the ambulance was going to get there quicker, I think I’m capable of assessing the situation regarding my own safety.
On your second point, it amazes me every time I see a blue light just how some people panic, even when they’re on the opposite side and don’t need to do anything to aid the blue light vehicle, as seen in the video above at 3min20. What are the nobbers doing??!! 
I have a video of me driving (Which would need edited first) from one of our in vehicle cameras.
It shows me behind a van for SIX minutes trying to get past him on the motorway.
Traffic lights are easy in comparison!
What about when you pull in to let a ambulance/fire engine go by then nobody lets you back onto the road talk about bad cricket 
merc0447:
What about when you pull in to let a ambulance/fire engine go by then nobody lets you back onto the road talk about bad cricket
Thats why I try to position myself so I can force my way back in once the ambulance has got through.
I heard somewhere a few years ago you don’t have to give way to blues and twos,the onus is on the driver[police or otherwise]to find a way through,if at lights and I cannot move then obviously I stay where I am,not nice cos you could be risking someones life, I will move if I can but no point stressing out over it
merc0447:
What about when you pull in to let a ambulance/fire engine go by then nobody lets you back onto the road talk about bad cricket
Worse than that, I saw a car a few months ago tailgating an ambulance as it blasted past everyone down the middle of the road
If it isn’t a dual carriageway the vehicle will normally pass on the opposite side anyway, against the oncoming traffic.
Pete.
Your not obliged to run a red light and can be prosecuted if you do. However, emergency drivers are taught to hold back at queuing traffic and turn all sirens off.
They can also be held accountable, if proven to have intimidated motorists to the point they’ve forced their way through.
I drive these
It I come up behind you with my lights and tones on if I can’t get through I switch the tones off and happily sit behind you until the lights change and you move of, I don’t want you to go through the lights if they on red irts safer for you to stay were you are then when the lights change move off and I will follow until it’s safe for you to pull into the left or I can cross into the other side of the road and pass you