The legality of emergency vehicle lights

[avalon]

I know I'm on the other side of the world but I believe the rules are very similar down here. I drive a fire truck, and as long as the lights and siren are in operation I'm permitted to go 20 kmh over the speed limit if I consider it safe to do so. However, If I'm involved in an accident and It is found that my actions were the cause of that accident, I, as the driver would be prosecuted for dangerous driving.

 

[Fnaar]

Perhaps he's realised that he wasn't going to sell any ice creams going that fast (one for Morecambe and Wise fans there )

 

[asterix]

..In my mind, the ambulance had used it lights and sirens to break the speed limit and was not in a real emergency, ..

They are exempt from speed limits as emergency vehicles.

Incidentally, anyone in York, there are at least 2 unmarked police cars cruising round our streets. About 10 days ago I was at a roundabout in Acomb when I saw the ordinary-looking car behind had switched on blue lights. I had to cross the roundabout and pull over with half a thought he might be stopping me But no, I saw a wave of a hand and they sped off to Chaloners Rd where a kid alighting from a bus had been knocked over by a car (survived fortunately).
.

 

[Roadrider48]

The speed limit applies to ambulances unless they are in an emergency situation!
All I was saying was that if an ambulance is in traffic without blues and twos operational and cruising along with the traffic, how the hell is any other road user supposed to know that they're in an emergency situation?

 

[Sara_H]

The speed limit applies to ambulances unless they are in an emergency situation!
All I was saying was that if an ambulance is in traffic without blues and twos operational and cruising along with the traffic, how the hell is any other road user supposed to know that they're in an emergency situation?

You're not supposed to know! That's the point! Use of lights and sirens can have a real impact on driver behaviour, both ambulance driver and others around that can negatively impact the neurological and haemodynamic status of seriously ill patients, due to lurching acceleration and heavy braking. This can also make nurses in the back of ambulances a bit vommy!
It's generally in the patients best interests to not use lights and sirens unless you need to use them to clear traffic.

 

[Roadrider48]

So back to my point! How do other motorists know? No lights, no sirens, no nothing! If an emergency vehicle is travelling in this manner and then acts irrationally and causes an accident. Who's fault is it?

 

[Sara_H]

So back to my point! How do other motorists know? No lights, no sirens, no nothing! If an emergency vehicle is travelling in this manner and then acts irrationally and causes an accident. Who's fault is it?

Why do you need to know? In the situation I'm describing the vehicle should be driving normally at normal speed. Responding to an emergency isnt always about driving Starsky and Hutch style at 90 mph to the nearest hospital. if they need to progress quicker than normal traffic conditions allow they use lights and sirens to allow this.

 

[Roadrider48]

Lol....

 

[Matthew_T]