Drivers getting more reluctant to move to let emergency vehicles on blues and twos through

[Kloh]

Drive a lot in rush hour traffic having doing Dolly hours (9-5) and recently when an emergency vehicle is coming from behind the traffic, very few move to the side - there is room, until the ambulance is almost touching the other vehicles’ bumpers. Inconsiderate, selfish and ignorant.

Always?!? Even in heavy rain or wind or at 70 on the motorway? How
bad is your hearing you need your window open to hear a siren?

This is it. Near me the Council planners in the their wisdom have closed most side streets and limited them either to residents/deliveries or made them school street (cannot enter during peak school hours). Both types of road have sharp cameras fixed on their entrance and exit mouths.

They’ve also installed those lovely dividers in the road to create a physical barrier between cyclists and cars.

The result and reality of these measures is that ALL traffic now sits on narrow main roads with traffic in both directions cheek by jowl.

Emergency vehicles don’t stand a chance in this scenario, and I imagine there are many delays to responses to emergencies.

I have not noticed that in my town

I watched two lanes of solid London traffic today part and let an ambulance through with real thought and speed.
I didn’t think it would get through but cars moved quickly, went up curbs and the ambulance moved quite fast. It must have been at least 50 cars.
There are A LOT of emergency vehicles rushing around my area and people always move.

I've noticed for a good while now that many drivers don't even notice the ambo/police car until it's right on their bumper. Which is weird considering the pitch of the siren and the fact that you can see the lights for miles. General inattention, I suppose.

But surely you would see the blue flashing lights in your mirror? If not your mirror is not positioned correctly.

I'll only move over if there's a safe place for me to pull over to and I won't be breaking any rules like going into a yellow box etc.

It annoys me sometimes when emergency vehicles have the lights flashing, sirens blazing when there's nowhere for the traffic to go without breaking the law. Pointless. Especially as the sound seems to paralyse some drivers so they just stop which isn't helpful to anyone including the emergency vehicle.

The article says the fine was cancelled when challenged, so not a great example.

Unfortunately that message hasn’t got through to the people who just stop on an A road, not thinking about how completely unsafe it is, plus the fact that stopping traffic actually prevents the ambulance coming through anyway.

Yes! Councils have a budget then from last week Feb “use it or lose it” with budget of roadworks. It maybe mid Feb this year with Easter being the first weekend of April.

I fear a lot of people don’t use their mirrors very often.

I’ve never noticed this. I find cars move out the way very quickly. You get the odd car who doesn’t notice but surrpunding cars beep or flash.