If you are sat at a red light,what is the law if an emergency vehicle is trying to get passed,and there is a delay in the lights changing,do you sit and wait,or get the fine for the camera that has nabbed you,if it went to court,would they throw out the mitigating cercimstances of the fire/police or ambo behind you is gesticulating and shouting out the window to make you move on through the red.
From what I understand blues and twos must not pressure drivers at red lights.
There was a recent case of this where the driver sat at red lights moved forward to let an ambo through, red light got him aand he went to appeal, Ambo service went as witness but said our guys are trained not to harass motorists at red lights and we wait patiently! Guy lost his appeal!
Me personally, if I know there is a red light camera, no way will I move forward, if there isn’t, then if safe I’ll do my best to give a clear path.
If it’s plod going for their morning butties then your damned if you do and damned if you don’t!
Given the recent court cases of people who moved through a red light to let them proceed and the hassle they had to go through to get the fine and points thrown out there is no way on this earth I am moving through red lights for any emergency vehicle. [zb[ 'em, they have made a rod for their own back.
At other places I will always make every effort to move and leave a clear path for an ambulance or
fire brigade vehicle but I don’t for a police vehicle. I don’t obstruct it but I don’t try very hard, as in almost not at all, to move for them.
At other places I will always make every effort to move and leave a clear path for an ambulance or
fire brigade vehicle but I don’t for a police vehicle. I don’t obstruct it but I don’t try very hard, as in almost not at all, to move for them.
It could be argued that the police are on thier way to an incident to prevent the need for ambulance/fire engine.
I must admit, I find it sad that someone would not make an effort to move out of the way for the police.
Coffeeholic:
Given the recent court cases of people who moved through a red light to let them proceed and the hassle they had to go through to get the fine and points thrown out there is no way on this earth I am moving through red lights for any emergency vehicle. [zb[ 'em, they have made a rod for their own back.At other places I will always make every effort to move and leave a clear path for an ambulance or
fire brigade vehicle but I don’t for a police vehicle. I don’t obstruct it but I don’t try very hard, as in almost not at all, to move for them.
Sums it up nicely.
rambo19:
I must admit, I find it sad that someone would not make an effort to move out of the way for the police.
Bring it on themselfs half the time.
I’ve been on the wrong end of the law too many times to count. I don’t think of them as my friends but as a group doing an important job for society. I have no way of knowing what the coppers are on their way to when I see them on blues and twos. They could be on their way to intercept a drunk driver or to a report of a child being abducted. To be less than helpful when they’re on a shout is an attitude I don’t understand. I will get out of their way asap. What I won’t do is run a red light and cop some points in trying to help them get where they’re going. Time for someone to apply commonsense in those situations!
Highway code rule 219 states " Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass,while complying with all traffic signs If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you."
Actually you’ll find that Emergency Vehicles are Obliged to treat Red Lights as Give Way signs, they have no legal right to pass through a red light Blues n Twos or not.
If your obstructing the junction it’s not your fault, there are radio devices available to allow the lights to automatically change to green for emergency vehicles as they approach the lights, however, if the local authorities are not prepared to splash out on them then they should carry the can.
Stay put regardless until the lights change.
44 Tonne Ton:
They could be on their way to intercept a drunk driver or to a report of a child being abducted.
Very unlikely as they don’t seem to respond to much so [zb] 'em, I really don’t care what they are heading to and they will still get there eventually so it’s all good. 
I wouldn’t do anything to help them in any situation, whether on foot or in a vehicle.
Coffeeholic:
44 Tonne Ton:
They could be on their way to intercept a drunk driver or to a report of a child being abducted.Very unlikely as they don’t seem to respond to much so [zb] 'em, I really don’t care what they are heading to and they will still get there eventually so it’s all good.
I wouldn’t do anything to help them in any situation, whether on foot or in a vehicle.
Is there a tale you want to tell Mr H? 
I’ll make every effort to clear a path for an ambulance or the fire brigade, I’ll even do what I can to keep out of the way of a police car if the blue lights are flashing but I won’t jump a red light if there’s a camera there for any of them.
As has already been mentioned there have been cases where people have been caught by the camera and they get no leniency whatsoever.
i’d jump a red light if it was safe to do so.
but not for the police, you just can’t trust the police.
20 years ago, when you had proper coppers, who could think for themselves, then i’d go through, but not nowadays.
I’ve been the other side, approaching a set of lights, could see the camera and knew about it as I did the route regular.
Blues approaching from behind, looked in mirror, saw them, looked up again and amber light, so I put my foot down.
A week later got a SPEEDING ticket through the post, appealed explaining what had happened and that I didn’t want to jump on red due to camera and I didn’t want to be in the ambulance’s way.
They sent me a letter stating that I was wrong, shouldn’t have done it, must obey the law etc, but in this case we’ll accept your appeal.
Go through and stop where possible.
Drivers are trained to sit a few yards back with sirens off but most try to clear a path.
A camera wont get you unless your at speed (some will) due to the way the ground loops work.
- Ex traffic (father)
44 Tonne Ton:
Coffeeholic:
44 Tonne Ton:
They could be on their way to intercept a drunk driver or to a report of a child being abducted.Very unlikely as they don’t seem to respond to much so [zb] 'em, I really don’t care what they are heading to and they will still get there eventually so it’s all good.
I wouldn’t do anything to help them in any situation, whether on foot or in a vehicle.
Is there a tale you want to tell Mr H?
Nope, nothing specific.
stagedriver:
Go through and stop where possible.Drivers are trained to sit a few yards back with sirens off but most try to clear a path.
A camera wont get you unless your at speed (some will) due to the way the ground loops work.
- Ex traffic (father)
A case that got a bit of publicity recently the driver was stopped at the lights and then moved for the emergency vehicle and the red light camera got him. No speed involved.
if i can pull over i will but never jump a red for any of them as said before all the services are supposed to adhere to the rules but nowt is done unless they hit something or someone.
Its up to the blue light driver to find a way through, or around…they can go around the right side of keep left signs.
Also, don’t forget if one comes up behind you whilst you’re doing 40 in the truck on a single carriageway in a solid white line section, they cannot pass you. Just keep going.
Its also illegal to drive onto the pavement with a truck to allow them past.
toby1234abc:
If you are sat at a red light,what is the law if an emergency vehicle is trying to get passed,and there is a delay in the lights changing,do you sit and wait,or get the fine for the camera that has nabbed you,if it went to court,would they throw out the mitigating cercimstances of the fire/police or ambo behind you is gesticulating and shouting out the window to make you move on through the red.
They most certainly should not be doing that, except, as mentioned in the video, a uniformed police office can direct you to move.