Imagine looking in your mirrors during your driving lesson and you see the blue lights of an emergency vehicle behind, you’ve got your window down a crack and you can hear the screech of the sirens getting closer. You’ve probably got sweaty palms just thinking about it now. Now imagine you’re 15 minutes into your driving test. Or maybe you’ve just passed and you don’t have your driving instructor sat next to you, helping you stay calm and collected
You can stop panicking now, we’ve got you.
The last thing you want is to hold the Police, Ambulance or Fire Engine up and delay them, but if you’re not sure what to do then you could cause a bit of a problem.
What to do if there is an ambulance behind you?
Or any other emergency vehicle like a Police car or Fire engine. If they have their lights on and sirens sounding they are looking to make progress on the road. Firstly avoid a knee-jerk reaction and try to stay calm. Look for a safe spot to pull over or slow right down when you’ve found one either slow down or stop. Be careful when you are looking for a place to allow them to pass to make sure you take into account things that might cause a problem. Things like central reservations and junctions might mean you need to change what you were planning. Other traffic might dictate where you stop as well as stopping too close to another vehicle on the opposite side of the road will make the space smaller and mean the emergency vehicle needs to slow down or have their way impeded.
Remember to make sure you know what the person behind is doing too, if they are too close, slamming the brakes on isn’t going to help.
The highway code, what does it say?
Looking at the highway code the rules that really apply are below:
They can be broken down into a few do’s and don’ts
DO
Consider the route of the Emergency Vehicle
Make sure you obey traffic signs
Pull over to the side of the road if necessary
Don’t
Panic
Stop on the brow of a hill or a bend
Don’t go up the kerb
Stop quickly
Rule 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 any vehicle following you may not have the same view as you.
Rule 281
Warning signs or flashing lights. If you see emergency or incident support vehicles displaying flashing lights in the distance, be aware there may be an incident ahead (see Rule 219). You should slow down and be prepared to move safely into another lane or stop.
The emergency services, traffic officers and recovery workers may be required to work in the carriageway; for example, dealing with debris, collisions or conducting rolling roadblocks. You MUST follow any directions given by Police or traffic officers as to whether you can safely pass the incident or obstruction.
Other things to consider when encountering an emergency vehicle
What’s behind you?
Make sure you check your mirrors. The person driving behind you might not have spotted the emergency vehicle coming up behind
Where to pull over to.
There have been recent cases where drivers have been fined for pulling into a bus lane to allow an emergency vehicle to pass. Treat a bus lane when it is in operation as a hard shoulder on the motorway. Don’t go into it to allow the Ambulance, Police car, or Fire engine to pass. Consider what is coming towards you as well. Pulling over opposite another car that’s pulled over won’t leave much room between the two of you for the emergency vehicle to get through.
When you’re at the scene of an incident.
Yes we know it’s tempting to have a good look at what’s going on but if you spend too much time looking then you’re increasing the risk of having an incident yourself. Stay focussed on the road ahead, stay safe!
Revolution Driving Lessons offers quality Driving lessons with expert driving instructors in Mansfield, Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton in Ashfield, Hucknall, Alfreton and Matlock.