For not driving through red light with ambulance behind me

[User34445566677]

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

Legally, no. And what’s interesting about the OP is that she thinks it might have been a normal driver beeping. So then you get somebody that thinks an ambulance is beeping and gets pressured to make a bad decision.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t / haven’t made a potentially ‘illegal’ move to let an ambulance past, but making aggressive pronouncements about what every driver should do is irresponsible and shortsighted.

It can meet that criterion.

You did the correct thing.
I wonder if the ambulance chose your lane as turning right can wait in the box junction once the lights were green, unlike the other 2 lanes which shouldn't cross the junction, unless they can clear it. So possibly that's why they weren't in the left lane? Not sure I'm explaining myself well 😅

She wasnt 'pissing about', she was following the highway code and the law. Jesus, what you said was unnecessarily unkind and wrong

You were legally right. I have been caught out by this and went over the line. I never heard anything from the police or received a fine. In future, I would try and edge over as much as possible to help create space without actually fully crossing into the box.

You know… I’m saying the same thing, essentially.

I’ve just spotted your username and realised that in prior discussions you kind of fought to the death, so I’m backing out now like Homer Simpson into a hedge 😊

It sounds as though you did what was right and safe OP. Ignore the people yakking on about common sense. You might use your common sense to drive onto a verge or pull into a bus lane or some such scenario, but not to drive through a red light. Some of these clowns shouldn’t be on the road.

You cannot and should not do ANYTHING dangerous when driving, your own life is absolutely just as important as that of anyone in the ambulance or waiting for an ambulance.

Very wise. Never get into a discussion with Masterbeth 🤣 life is too short!

As far as I’m aware you are told to never cross red lights for any emergency vehicle - therefore YANBU

i thought in circumstances as you described emergency vehicles are meant to silence there sirens until the light goes green as to not pressure other drivers. If they are the ones that beeped they are totally in the wrong

Are you sure they didn’t beep to turn OFF the horn? The sirens are controlled by the horn.

I'm not making your point because you are still breaking the law by going through a red light for an ambulance. If you are certain lights have failed proceed with caution and treat as an unmarked junction which of course is for both temp and permanent lights. Must admit I am getting confused as to what your point actually is. You are wrong about the ambulance bit so are throwing failed lights into the mix

u most certainly shouldn't "pull right if possible" if you're in the UK!

It's clearly American from the spelling. I didn't read further than 'offense' and 'license'.

Why ask ChatGPT or Google anyway, why not just look at the Highway Code and get a definitive answer?

It sounded like a very prolonged beep to me- and looking around there was no one who deserved to be beeped at. But I may be wrong. Maybe the beeping was at cars to the left to move- even though there was no where to go. We were very stuck.

I don't think 'allowed' is the right term, there's certainly no ambulance driving law that says you must shut off the siren if unable to proceed through a red. Theres guidance to do so as it can be intimidating but it's just guidance not a rule.

I drive regularly on blue lights and do shut off the siren if the junction is blocked. I find even in doing so the majority of people edge through the red to make a gap and if they do I'll continue on my way. The majority of the jobs we goto a few seconds won't likely effect an outcome so I certainly don't try to pressure. However on the rare occasion going to something like child not breathing then a 20-30s delay can easily be the difference between life a death so in those very rare cases I will be a bit pushy

What a vile human being you are.

This

I am not wrong about the ambulance. You don't even know what I've written about the ambulance!

I have never said crossing a red light is not against the law. I have said crossing a red light is not always dangerous. You are making my point for me.

Just showed this to DH who is police. You absolutely did the right thing. People should absolutely not do dangerous manoeuvres to allow emergency vehicles through. In his exact words “the onus is on the driver of the emergency vehicle to find a route. The onus is not on other drivers to do dangerous manoeuvres to allow an emergency vehicle through”.

So you did the right thing. People suggesting otherwise need to brush up on their high way code.

Why can't you Google the Highway Code?

No-one has suggested anyone should do a dangerous manoeuvre.

@rwalkeryou are wrong, you should absolutely NOT creep forward. I’m a paramedic so I know what you should and shouldn’t do.

I'm sure someone must have posted this already, but here is the relevant section from.the Highway Code (my emphasis):

219 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 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.

Strictly speaking, the OP was correct not to go through a red light, but the ambulance may have considered that she could have moved to the right or crept through the light to allow them to pass without endangering others.

I imagine they saw one car in the right lane and thought we'll go that way and she'll move over or forward a bit and we can then turn left.

Personally I would have driven slowly through the light to give them room.

@travailtotravel NOPE. You don’t.

Which is fine if you’re happy to accept the fine and points. Some people can’t/aren’t if they need a clean license or points totting up would be a ban etc