Running A Red Light Due To Emergency Vehicle....

[DangerUXD]

Today I was walking to work and at some traffic lights I regularly cross there were 3 lanes, all occupied waiting for the lights to change. A fire engine came along, blues and twos, the car it was comming up behind pulled forward right over the junction, ie through a red light, to make room. Camera took picture etc so driver will get at least an NIP, will the driver escape prosecution? Will they just check the date and time and believe him when he says he moved for a fire engine or will he have to go through weeks of pain and agravation to avoid points+fine. Your answers will help me decide what I will do if I find myself in the same position. Thanks!

[Khandro]

As the fire engine passed through the red light it will too have been photographed (and timed) so it should been seen to have been part of the same incident.

[DTCwordfan]

Depends on the council - there was a programme on the Beeb about this, so sorry no conclusion can be made......just check your local council position.

[daffy654]

I thought you were only supposed to move for emergency vehicles if it is safe to do so. Driving through a red light isn't really safe so I would say that he is liable to be in trouble for it.

[Baldric]

I have a couple of friends who drive on 'blues and twos' they always say,
"you drive normally, we'll find a way past you!"

[paddywak]

I don't know if the law has been changed but though they regularly do it even emergency vehicles had to obey the traffic and not run them. Some years ago an accident happened just outside Mansfield when a fire engine
ran the lights on red, hit a car that had the green and smashed into a sho causing several fatalities. I forget the result but I do remember the engine driver being prosecuted.

[paddywak]

^^^^
Please excuse the typos

[jake-the-peg]

This question came up on here a while ago.

Technically it's illegal even in this circumstance but as I said then you're not going to get prosecuted for it

Someone then found a case that was - so I went and dug up the outcome which was the case was dropped - I'll see if I can find the link

[JonnyBoy12]

What is an NIP, when it is at home, excuse my ignorance?

[Hopkirk]

Notice of Intended Prosecution

[jake-the-peg]

Here we go

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Motoring/Question1069936.html

[joko]

i sort of did this once - but only because even though i was over the line, i was not in the line of other traffic because of the shape of the junction.

traffic was bad too so i dont think they could have gone on the other side. also because of railing and crossings etc. they pulled up behind me, sirens blaring and just waited...so i moved over.

i dont know if the lights flashed, but i never heard anything after that.

[joko]

i thnk the problem is if people panic and make a stupid manouvre, which could cause more problems

at junctions though when a siren is heard people tend to just stop until it passes so the chances of a vehicle that has crossed the line to make way being struck by a crossing car is slim.

[DangerUXD]

OK thanks, so the case was dropped jake, but it does seem uncertain and also it does seem to involve a load of agravation. I think I'll just sit there and wait for green if I'm in that situation.

[hc4361]

Easy to say you'll sit and wait when you've got an emergency vehicle directly behind you with sirens and lights.

I would make way for the vehicle either by driving in front of the stationary vehicle next to me or mounting the pavement.

In fact I have been stuck in a traffic jam in such a situation and a fireman walked down the middle of the road instructing everyone to get on the pavement to make way.

[DangerUXD]

I will make room if I can but in light of the above I'm not going to put myself through the agro for a matter of waiting for the lights to change. At the junction in question there is really no where to go without crossing the solid line. Perhaps the law needs clarification.

[DangerUXD]

he may have told them to get on the pavement but I bet he would try and force them through a red light. Anyway it resolves in 10 seconds to a minute but those are very long seconds!

[Dervockwan]

As a rule of thumb keep yourself right first every time and worry about the engine driver later. Their emergency is not your problem and after all they are as liabale to prosecution as any other road user and you cannot be faulted for obeying the law if the powers that be decide to make an issue of it. Pulling over is a courtesy and NOT an obligation.

[SeaJayPea]

I'd always get out of the way, indeed I have done. Bear in mind they may be going to your house, or a loved one in a car accident.

[ladybirder]

The only time you can go through a red light is if you are directed to do so by a policeman.

[joko]

very true dervock - there is no legal requirement to move, they will go round you ... but still... those extra seconds could be life and death for someone ...