Would you go through a red light for an ambulance?

[Lauren1983]

More of a what would you do really...

Walking home and got to a set of traffic lights where someone had already pressed the button when I began to hear the sound of an ambulance. The ambulance was stuck behind traffic as there are lots of roadworks happening on the road.

Traffic lights turned red for cars so me and someone opposite decided to cross as I thought it would be better to get across quickly and to not cause confusion.

There were 2 blokes waiting to cross as well and they told the vehicle at the front of the crossing to go but he wouldn't until the lights had turned green. One of blokes waiting to cross started swearing and shouting at the driver. Should he have gone through? The other 5 vehicles behind would have had to as well although it may have been amber for them. What is the correct thing to do?

If I was first in the queue at the lights and the ambulance was directly behind me I’d pull forward and to the side, but I wouldn’t fully go through and drive on.
And I definitely wouldn’t cross the road as a pedestrian in that situation.

I always used to then I read a long thread on here about people receiving points for it and it not being dismissed at appeal. There were people on that thread who relied on their vehicles/license for their jobs and had received points and were they to do it again they wouldn't be able to provide for their families. I understand both sides, why people think they should and why it shouldn't be done, but no way.

@Tillied

The fact you were in cardiac arrest yet the ambulance pulled over, caused your DH to pull over to say that, really bloody dangerous.

More dangerous than a civilian vehicle going through red lights? They had to take action or he would have done it at every set of lights they passed.

I don’t think you should have crossed. You and the other crosser added more distraction and complexity to an already stressful situation. I’d have waited till the next green man, personally.

No. The Highway Code is very clear on this: you must not go through a red light, mount kerbs or break other rules to allow emergency vehicles through.

I was in awful traffic last week when an ambulance appeared Both sides had to mount the kerb otherwise the ambulance couldn't have moved.

You shouldn't put yourself in a dangerous situation in order to accommodate an emergency vehicle. Not sure I agree with not mounting the kerb though, I've been in many a situation where if that hadn't happened the only option available to the ambulance would have been to magically acquire stilts because the incident they're responding to is the reason we have nowhere to go but sideways.

@FunTimes2020

You can only drive through a red light if a police officer specifically instructs you to do so

What about temp traffic lights stuck on red? This happens to me all the sodding time.

The best thing to do for an ambulance is pull out of the way safely and remain stationary. If you’re already at a light it’s usually best to stay put as the ambulance will often go on the wrong side of the road. I would consider pulling over the line if it were safe to do so, and to enable me to pull off the carriageway. I would not drive through the crossing/junction entirely.

I’ve heard that you don’t have to actually stop/go at temporary traffic lights. Not sure if it’s true ?

There was an ambulance stuck at traffic lights behind me recently. It had no way of getting through so turned off the siren, but kept the lights on.
I thought that was sensible as it stopped drivers potentially breaking the law.

The problem comes when a camera snaps a car crossing a red light. Then it's automatic fine, points and no route of appeal.

No, you don’t run a red light and emergency service drivers specifically state they don’t want you to do so. If they can’t get through they will turn off the siren and wait. You WILL get 3pts and £100 fine if caught and WILL be found guilty if you plead not guilty.

The ambulance is actually at fault here. When approaching traffic lights that are red or turning red, they are supposed to switch off their sirens so drivers do not try and be helpful by going through a red light. It is illegal and dangerous.