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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not cross line at junction to let police past

210 replies

DiggerDave · 11/09/2020 01:18

First post on mumsnet and could be a controversial one!

Many people don't seem to be aware that you're not technically allowed to break the law to let emergency vehicles past, including crossing the line at the lights. Police supposedly know this and Blue Light Aware, which advises on how to help 999 crews, says on its website: "On these occasions, they know that other motorists are not allowed to ‘jump’ the red light, and the emergency vehicle would ideally not activate its sirens and lights until it was safe for the vehicle in front to cross the solid white line at the junction."

The problem is that many officers don't seem to have got this memo and will attempt to bully you out the way, like one did to me today.

About 18 months ago, I pulled across the line to let an ambulance past and got a fine and three points. As the line was set back from the counterflowing traffic, I wasn't causing any danger and it was a perfectly safe manoeuvre.

I wasn't initially concerned and thought I could get it rescinded. To my surprise, they wouldn't remove it and I had to take the points. This would be a pain for any driver, but in my case it affects my job significantly. I'm a site supervisor and my job requires a Class 2 HGV license amongst other things. My employer is extremely strict and won't tolerate more than six points - it's company policy. I'm already on three now thanks to the above incident and another such incident would put me on my last chance.

I can't afford to lose the ability to provide for my family, so today when I was at the front of the queue and everybody else moved over, I made the police car wait. He started beeping and flashing and so did the other drivers. Once he finally went past, giving me an angry glare, I then had several other drivers giving me wanker signs etc.

What's a bloke to do! Really made me feel tiny but didn't have a great deal of choice! There was a great big red light camera (gatso type) right next to me so was unlikely to get away with it.

OP posts:
housemdwaswrong · 11/09/2020 01:32

It's a difficult one. I have and would again go through a light to allow an emergency vehicle through. There's an outside chance someone's life could depend on it, and I'd rather pay a fine than let someone die. My job doesn't rely on driving though so easier for me. I think ultimately the law should be changed.

They are not meant to 'encourage' this though as you say, and are not supposed to use lights and sirens if you have no legal action to take. That bit of the law doesn't apply to them but the fines apply to us.

Yanbu.

HamRadio · 11/09/2020 01:34

That’s shit. I sympathise with you OP.

ReefTeeth · 11/09/2020 01:34

Well that law needs to be changed!

Based on what you've said yanbu.

Greeneyes78 · 11/09/2020 01:35

i too sympathise but i would have moved.

ThePawtriarchy · 11/09/2020 01:36

I was going to say YABU but given the points, I see your point. Was it given by a police officer?

Torvean32 · 11/09/2020 01:46

I think fines/ points should be cancelled when you moved to allow an emergency vehicle past. However you were right and they should not try and force you to move if the lights on red

Chloemol · 11/09/2020 01:54

I don’t blame you, and I would be cross if I got points for doing this

I agree the law needs to be changed, but until then police need to be educated

I would write to the chief constable, telling him what you have told us, and what Blue Light Aware says and asking him to reiterate to his police force that they are forcing people to break the law

Original poster
DiggerDave · 11/09/2020 02:04

I was going to say YABU but given the points, I see your point. Was it given by a police officer?

Letter in the post.

The issue is that I spend a lot of time on the road and it's easier than you might think to get points when you're sometimes driving a truck for ten hours a day. I accidentally ran a red light before when I was less experienced - it wasn't dangerous as there is usually a slight lapse due to the counterflow of traffic being set back and needing to pull off from a standing start, but it could've got me a ticket had there been a camera.

I would've had plenty of time to make it across, but I instinctively hit the brake when it changed to amber, before immediately realising I should've kept going as had too much momentum to stop before the line (32 ton truck). This moment's hesitation/braking meant that I'd lost too much speed (trucks are very slow to accelerate) and I crossed just as it changed - nowadays I slow in anticipation then put my foot down after a certain point.

It's also surprisingly easy to miss a sign indicating a change from 40 to 30 when there are other trucks on each side of you. It might sound daft to those who haven't experienced it, but I used to spend up to 50 hours on the road some weeks and would only have to make this mistake once in a three year period to be in hot water at work (points stay on for three years).

Another common issue is car drivers changing lanes as they cross the junction and blocking the space you've just committed to pulling into, leaving you blocking the whole junction.

Had I crossed the lights today and got another three points, any incident like the above in the next three years could see me without a job.

OP posts:
safariboot · 11/09/2020 02:15

YANBU. I 100% understand being once bitten, twice shy, on this.

RedRumTheHorse · 11/09/2020 02:21

Your post isn't controversial. It's ashame you couldn't get the licence plate of the police car.

honeygirlz · 11/09/2020 02:25

This has never happened to me in many years of driving, how has it happened to you twice?

I’ve never had to cross the junction line to let police/ambulance pass.

Are you going to prevent ambulances from passing too?

housemdwaswrong · 11/09/2020 02:27

It's happened to me twice. I don't know why that's unbelievable? Op drives for a living so chances are higher, and I drive about 500 miles a week.

markzuckerbergsgreytshirt · 11/09/2020 02:28

@honeygirlz

This has never happened to me in many years of driving, how has it happened to you twice?

I’ve never had to cross the junction line to let police/ambulance pass.

Are you going to prevent ambulances from passing too?

There's a huge difference between someone who has been driving for years and someone who drives for a living. The OP explained how easy it was to end up in this scenario.
honeygirlz · 11/09/2020 02:28

You got a fine twice?

TingeOfTheGinge · 11/09/2020 02:29

Do you have footage of the incident? I'd be contacting the local force and my mp had I been put in that position.

honeygirlz · 11/09/2020 02:30

Yeah but in the hundreds of times I’ve let police/ambulances pass you would think I would have seen someone have to cross the junction line. Hasn’t happened.

housemdwaswrong · 11/09/2020 02:32

I've got a fine once for jumping a red light at a roundabout, and risked another as I went through a junction red light which had a camera on, in order to let an ambulance through. I didnt receive a fine for the second one. I can't believe you e never been in this situation and you drive.

Original poster
DiggerDave · 11/09/2020 02:33

This has never happened to me in many years of driving, how has it happened to you twice?

Do you spend ten hours on the road daily in the city centre like I used to when it first happened?

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 11/09/2020 02:38

I can sympathise about how easy it is to get a fine and points.

I do a lot if driving each week in a lot of unfamiliar places and if there is a bus/truck/van in the way then you can easily miss the signs.

Didn’t know about pulling over the white lines and staying over.

Dd says if you go over then stay over the line. If you reverse back it can activate the camera.
Her friend was fine pulling slightly into the junction to let an ambulance through but it was when they reversed back over the line to wait for the lights to change that the camera flashed and they subsequently got a ticket.

Original poster
DiggerDave · 11/09/2020 02:59

Dd says if you go over then stay over the line. If you reverse back it can activate the camera.

Her friend was fine pulling slightly into the junction to let an ambulance through but it was when they reversed back over the line to wait for the lights to change that the camera flashed and they subsequently got a ticket.

I believe this to be true. I've heard that you can be over the line, but you're ok as long as the camera shows your position to be stationary in subsequent shots. I'm assuming this is to account for those cars that pull forward to turn right but then are unable to go (perhaps a cyclist jumped the lights and stopped them turning before the counterflow of traffic started, or any number of things).

OP posts:
housemdwaswrong · 11/09/2020 03:02

Hmm. Maybe that works for junctions but not roundabouts, or else I had a rogue camera on my roundabout one.

stayathomer · 11/09/2020 03:10

It is crazy that this would happen twice to anyone! Sorry to hear it but I keep falling back to for the greater good on it (the emergency vehicle needs to be somewhere etc) It is a tough one though

honeygirlz · 11/09/2020 03:15

Why don’t you take advice from your employer on how to handle this in future OP?

tttigress · 11/09/2020 03:19

I think I would have just moved, but I do sympathise.

I have seen emergency services almost cause accidents with their driving while on blue light.

cheeseychovolate · 11/09/2020 03:19

Until my husband went on a driving awareness course both he and I never realised you could get points for this, I don't move now if at traffic lights and an emergency vehicle is behind me, I feel bad but the driver should know better than to bully you into moving. The law needs changing.