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AIBU?

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Original poster

For not driving through red light with ambulance behind me

311 replies

User34445566677 · 07/12/2025 21:13

Stuck at red lights in 3 lanes of traffic. I was in right hand lane to turn right, at the front of white line and railings to my right so couldn't pull to the side. Middle lane for straight on. Left hand lane (towards hospital) is always allowed to filter through first via green light to the left, then after a while, the forward and right turn green lights come on. Ambulance comes up my lane whilst red traffic lights on. Blue lights and sirens on, all while the ambulance is indicating left (I am the only car in this lane, other lanes have several cars in). Ambulance leaves sirens on, and even beeps while lights are on red ( though i am not 100% sure this was the ambulance, but don't know who else it would have been?). From what I have read, you should not cross during a red light even for an emergency vehicle, I would have been entering a box junction? Was I BU to not cross the red light? And I think the Ambulance would have been quicker going in the left lane which filtered through first? Very confused. TIA

OP posts:
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6
Sesma · 07/12/2025 21:28

BadgernTheGarden · 07/12/2025 21:24

Do you know anyone who has?

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There has been cases reported in the press

Serencwtch · 07/12/2025 21:28

Report it to the ambulance trust as that is dangerous.
No you definitely should not go through a red light & the ambulance driver should have turned off the siren (but left lights on) until they were able to overtake.

A similar incident happened locally & an 80 year old pedestrian was seriously injured by the car driver. The ambulance driver was also charged with dangerous driving because he left the siren on & pressurized the car driver into doing a dangerous move.

If ambulance drivers can't manage their emotions when driving they shouldn't be driving on blue lights. The arrogance of alot of them locally is quite shocking.

rainbowsparkle28 · 07/12/2025 21:27

YANBU. Ambulances etc. are able to go through red lights, let them do that if needed, but don’t go through a red yourself, end up being in trouble, or end up causing an accident.

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/fined-for-moving-out-of-the-way-of-an-ambulance/

CombatBarbie · 07/12/2025 21:27

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

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Incorrect...... lights and sirens are irrelevant. Its against the law and they do not have the authority to run red lights either UNLESS its safe to do so. People just panic all traffic will.stop at junctions/roundabouts when they see/hear an emergency vehicle.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/12/2025 21:26

BadgernTheGarden · 07/12/2025 21:24

Do you know anyone who has?

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I don’t personally know anyone who’s been arrested for murder either, but I’m fairly sure that doesn’t mean that I can risk stabbing someone 🤷🏻‍♀️

MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly · 07/12/2025 21:26

rwalker · 07/12/2025 21:21

There’s no need to to go all the way through you creep forward the bare minimum and manoeuvre so it can get past

fingers crossed it wasn’t someone in cardiac arrest arrest who ended up dying or brain damaged because you were pissing about at the lights
every single second counts

If you are at the front of the queue then there’s nowhere to go - it’s illegal and dangerous to go though a red light, even if an ambulance is behind. There could be multiple deaths caused by going through a red so don’t make the OP feel guilty for doing the correct thing.

Notmyreality · 07/12/2025 21:26

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2025 21:24

You are wrong, you cannot go through a red light to let an emergency vehicle past

You can be fined for avoiding an ambulance | RAC Drive

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But but.. the law!
MNetters are increased with the letter of the law especially when it comes to driving and incapable or rather terrified of making a personal judgement call.

MossAndLeaves · 07/12/2025 21:25

Vanillalime · 07/12/2025 21:19

You are 100% correct but I can imagine this feeling a bit intimidating. I’m sure the beep must have been another driver as surely an ambulance driver would know not to pressure you to drive through a red light?!

If theyre listening to their colleague losing the patient in the back and can see one car which can safely move between them and the hospital I can imagine they would beep.. they are still human with emotions despite training.

AmberRose86 · 07/12/2025 21:25

Oh I hate this. I’ll always always do my best to get out of the way but sometimes there is simply no place to go 😣 I feel your pain OP. It’s so stressful.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/12/2025 21:24

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

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🤦🏻‍♀️

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2025 21:24

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

Show quote history

You are wrong, you cannot go through a red light to let an emergency vehicle past

You can be fined for avoiding an ambulance | RAC Drive

You can be fined for avoiding an ambulance

Road laws still apply in the event of encountering an emergency vehicle. So what should you do? Our guide gives you all you need to know.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/fined-for-moving-out-of-the-way-of-an-ambulance/

BadgernTheGarden · 07/12/2025 21:24

Sesma · 07/12/2025 21:22

You still get points and a fine

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Do you know anyone who has?

NewMe2024 · 07/12/2025 21:23

Maybe the beeping was to get people to try and squeeze over rather then run the red light. Running the red light could have caused an accident so definitely not right to do.

Joeninety · 07/12/2025 21:23

BadgernTheGarden · 07/12/2025 21:22

Could you not have pulled slightly into the junction to let the ambulance through? Normally you just try to get out of the way someone's life may depend on it.

Exactly. But don't forget this is 'modern' UK now. Common sense is out of the window ?!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/12/2025 21:23

travailtotravel · 07/12/2025 21:16

Omg you pull forward enough to let them through .... everyone can see the ambulance and gets pit of its/your way in letting it pass. When the blue lights are on get out of the way.

This is so completely the wrong response it almost feels deliberate!

You are not permitted to break traffic laws to let an ambulance through - it’s no defence.

Notmyreality · 07/12/2025 21:23

Presumably they wanted you to creep forward a few m to make enough room for them to pass. Depends on the junction but for most you would still be perfectly safe and as long as there are no cameras wouldn’t be in any trouble.

AnotherNameChange1234567 · 07/12/2025 21:22

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

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Incorrect, you absolutely can be prosecuted and people are.

Original poster
User34445566677 · 07/12/2025 21:22

Vanillalime · 07/12/2025 21:19

You are 100% correct but I can imagine this feeling a bit intimidating. I’m sure the beep must have been another driver as surely an ambulance driver would know not to pressure you to drive through a red light?!

Thank you, welll I would hope not but I looked around and couldn't see any other situation in which beeping would be necessary!

OP posts:
MossAndLeaves · 07/12/2025 21:22

It's hard to judge without being there, but if I could've safely pulled out and infront of the car in the middle lane I would have done that.
It's not typical behaviour for ambulances to keep their sirens on at a red light so I would take that to mean its a critical patient who needs to get there ASAP.

Sesma · 07/12/2025 21:22

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

Show quote history

You still get points and a fine

BadgernTheGarden · 07/12/2025 21:22

Could you not have pulled slightly into the junction to let the ambulance through? Normally you just try to get out of the way someone's life may depend on it.

Burningbud1981 · 07/12/2025 21:21

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2025 21:19

You are not supposed to go through red lights for emergency vehicles, apart from it being dangerous you could get prosecuted for it

Not if you’ve gone through a light and stopped to allow an ambulance to pass.

calkel · 07/12/2025 21:21

I can think of plenty of examples where passing a red light to let an emergency vehicle through would be perfectly safe as visibility is all around so to crawl forward a few feet would cause zero issue. Yes it’s illegal, would I do it? Also yes.

rwalker · 07/12/2025 21:21

There’s no need to to go all the way through you creep forward the bare minimum and manoeuvre so it can get past

fingers crossed it wasn’t someone in cardiac arrest arrest who ended up dying or brain damaged because you were pissing about at the lights
every single second counts

Sesma · 07/12/2025 21:20

travailtotravel · 07/12/2025 21:16

Omg you pull forward enough to let them through .... everyone can see the ambulance and gets pit of its/your way in letting it pass. When the blue lights are on get out of the way.

Not over the red light