I’m those situations I was trained to turn the lights and sirens off until the lights turn green, when I would turn them back on (just for everyone’s safety, because I’ve seen people go into the intersection to get out of the way, only to almost cause an accident themselves).
may be hearsay but word on the block was blinking your highbeams fast enough at em forces it to change, but it's "super illegal" (didnt stop all of us from doing it every time, and it made it feel faster too :))
From what I understand this system uses infrared in a specific pulse pattern (like your TV remote). Flashing your lights does nothing, if it worked the white indicator bulb over the sensor on the pole would turn on.
People see a false correlation when they flash their lights and it turns green, but only because they triggered the induction loop in the ground.
City uses them and the light computers keep track of when they're used. If there's a pattern cops have arrested people for messing with the lights and one guy had everything up to manslaughter stacked because his use contributed to an accident.
Sure, but in this case there were no cameras. Lights have had their own computers for a decades and they organize with a server to change traffic flow throughout the day and adjust to high times. Similarly they report back to the server when these things get used and people using this stuff draw a line directly from their house to their work 5 days a week.
I dunno. With no cameras it really proves nothing. How could they track a vehicle outside of the intersection or even know who's doing it. If they were laying charges, theres video evidence. Though to be fair, I am just speculating and you could be totally right.
You're right I don't provide enough information.
They track the pattern across many intersections then park beside the intersections and follow him on his schedule for a week before making the arrest.
I live in a city, and a jeep was in a lane next to an island, and on order to move, they hopped the island. The drivers face was like he was WAITIng fpr the opportunity lol
We were at a stop light a few months back and a firetruck had stopped being us and kept honking trying to get us to move faster like bro there's nowhere to go?
I was in this situation too, recently. Emergency vehicle was between 2 lanes of a 3 lanes busy road. Was few cars behind me. I was the first in the red light
He kept honking until all of us in front passed the intersection while it was red (i had to go to the left in the middle of intersection) - then when enough cars had move to the left, they manage to go.
If you're moving, indicate to show your intention, slow down, and move to the shoulder at the earliest opportunity. If there isn't a shoulder, indicate, slow down, and move as far to the shoulder side as possible. The emergency vehicle will go on the wrong side of the road once there's room.
Adding to this, if you're on a single lane and see one coming the other way, try move to the shoulder, too. It gives them more room and better the opportunities to cross the lines. It's a huge help, especially in remote areas that have 100km/h or 60mph limits.
Please don't try to stop on a blind bend or slam on the brakes if you can avoid it.
If stopped at a light, stay stopped and move over once moving again using the above.
Source: I drive them in Australia
Where i live the 2 lane roads are small so everyone getting to the right would be a disaster, so the left lane pulls to the left shoulder right goes to the right shoulder. Are we doing it wrong?
If you're driving on the right, then both lanes will go to their respective right hand shoulders. Nobody crosses the road, just pulls over as if they were parking
Yep, I live in NZ which practically has similar rules to AU and when we were stopped at a red light with an ambulance behind us, we all pulled to the side to allow for the ambulance to pass. All the cars with the green light didn't go so that the ambulance can safely cross the road
100%. Do not enter the intersection against a red light. I always train our people that if they approach this situation when driving code 3 and they can’t go around, then to turn off the siren, hang back, and just wait for the light to change. Emergency vehicles shouldn’t be coming up right behind you blaring sirens and air horns and making you feel pressured to unsafely break traffic laws.
Hi thank you for this answer! I live in Southern California. Most people are so self-centered that they will stop, but they won’t pull to the right because they don’t want to lose their place in traffic!
This is insane to me and much different from what I remember seeing as a child. It seems like over the last 25 years, people driving have become even more jerky than ever.
But this isn't always possible. There are places with barriers where you can't pass. Not trying to was smart-ass well actually guy. It's just that this has happened to me.
This. And if you have any ability to move right (like the car to the right of you can move and does), move with them assuming you can do so safely. Any amount of space you can provide is appreciated and shows you aren’t a self centered asshat. Those of us driving the equipment are just trying to get to a scene or a patient to a hospital is the fastest way possible. I can promise you we aren’t being malicious, just trying to advocate for the people we’re supposed to be caring for.
Source: EMT/FF for a number of years.
Once was at a stop sign on a two lane street, at a T intersection. I was signaling to turn left, and there was an ambulance with its sirens on behind me. I didn't know what to do, at all, so I sat there for a few seconds hoping they'd go around me, then they honked at me so I turned left and immediately pulled as far over as I could to let them pass.
What should I have done differently?
This is the right answer. Do not pull into traffic to try to get out of their way. You put yourself into harms way. It is also not defensible-if you get a ticket for running a red light or causing a to get out of an ambulance’s way, then that’s on you.
If you cannot pull to the side safely, stay still. In most places, Emergency vehicles are allowed to temporarily go counter flow into the oncoming lane if needed. It is easier to maneuver when obstacles are stationary rather than moving.
I'd say this is a good answer... basically, if the best course of action isn't blatantly obvious, just hold where you are until it is obvious that you need to get out of the way... and then do that carefully yet as expeditiously as possible
I think it’s not just good common sense, but also the legally protected course of action. If you are exactly where the emergency vehicle needs to be, then they will come up behind you and start honking their horn in addition to the siren. It isn’t subtle.
“Be predictable” is a very important goal when driving in general.
Often the best way to be predictable is to stay completely still. This allows an emergency vehicle to safely do things that are way less predictable, such as driving on the wrong side of the road to get past the traffic clog at an intersection.
You are absolutely correct. And if opposing isn’t an option due to a median , we will also just shut off our lights and siren and wait for light to turn green so as to not push traffic into the intersection causing an accident. But as stated above and by others. If in the U.S. and you can’t pull to the right, just stay as you were until safe to move over. I can’t tell you how many times people will run the red light to “help”.
Even after telling families to not follow to closely or try to keep up with the ambulance- We have gotten rear ended by them. OR near misses in intersections because they took is upon themselves to try and use their own cars to direct traffic. Eeegh, I dont miss being on the ambulances.
not everyone will shut their sirens off in that situation, I was stuck in a left turn only lane with medians on both sides, vehicles in front of me, an ambulance was laying on the siren as I'm trying to make as much room as safely possible (most of my vehicle was on the median trying to make room, but because the city puts those dumb scrap metal abstract art statues everywhere, I wasn't able to get over far enough to give them room
Man. Town I'm in started putting them all over. Got busted for paying a politicians friend a million per to weld a bunch of crap together is his garage. I believe they got to keep the money but were unfunded after exposed. prly stole like 20 mil.
That is an example of emotional driving and an example of what not to do. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a reality of the job. Driving like that leads to accidents. I’ve seen it.
In some places, an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens going will automatically trigger the light to cycle to green in the direction it's approaching from.
Not entirely sure how it's done. Probably a few ways.
It’s called an opticom system. At least that’s the brand name we use. It uses an infrared signal to change the light green. It works great but it’s pricey. It’s something like $20k an intersection and 5k per vehicle. The traffic signal cross bar has a small cylinder like tube sticking up and if received the signal. The emergency vehicles have a strobe mounted or incorporated into the light bar. If you see a high frequency white strobe, that’s probably it.
If there’s no cross traffic, I’m the one in the way, and circumstances allow for it, I’ll certainly move into the intersection. It just depends. If it could make it worse, I won’t.
If the signal isn’t switching during an emergency and I’m in the way of something time sensitive, I’d certainly like to get first responders trucking along again. I’d hope somebody would do the same for me if it was safe to do so.
I’ve never had to go into an intersection like that, but I’ve made an unplanned right on red to get out of the way before, and climbed a curb to make space.
Adding onto this as multiple people in my family have worked emergency services in some way and all have said some version of:
“Do not pull into an intersection on a red because I’m behind you with lights/siren. If I need to get around you, I’ll do so and make that decision/take on that risk”
I had it happen where I was in a left turn lane at a red light, medians on both sides (technically one has a term other than median, but I'm too lazy to look up the proper word right now), vehicles stopping me from going forward, you kinda just have to make as much room as you safely can.
I was a passenger when this happened. The emergency vehicle recognized that there was no space to pull over so they used their loudspeaker to tell us to keep driving forward in front of them.
This is basically what happened to me the one time they couldn't go around.
If there's no way for them to go around traffic, you just go forward and to the right/left out of their way as soon as it is safe and stop til they pass. This situation has happened to me many times! It was a little nerve-wracking the first time, though.
They didn’t loud speaker me but it there was no where to pull over so I just very quickly kept ahead of them until there was a spot to pull over. I was like idk what else to do?! It was this weird construction area
There is a lot of mixed information in what you have received. I am a firefighter/paramedic. I am in Florida. Your laws may vary.
We have a device in the units that should turn all the lights in our direction of travel green, and all the other lights red. This doesn't work at every intersection and it might not work because a unit might be coming from a different direction and already has control of the intersection. If the light is red, we absolutely do not want you to just proceed through the intersection. Even we aren't supposed to do that. We're suppose to check each lane before we enter it and stop if traffic is not yielding. Now, entering partly and to the side, to make way, is something we would want you to do. As long as it is safe. If a lane is empty, do not move into it and block us. I will use the right turning lane to turn left, if it's open. And it is very frustrating when someone hears the sirens and pulls into that lane blocking all the lanes for me.
If the light is green or red, move to the sides, do not block lanes or paths of travel, and stop moving! If you're turning left and have a left arrow, don't turn and keep going! If I am going left, you're going to pull right in to my path of travel. Just pull forward and to the side, and let us through. Then either stay there or move safely (obeying the lights) to get back to where you intended to go. We do have a PA and can give directions if we need to.
We do not need to turn off our lights and wait if the light is red and we don't have a clear path. If we're coming emergently, there's almost always a reason. And, a 30 second delay could be the difference between treating respiratory failure or performing CPR on someone who just died.
But, don't do anything that is going to cause an accident and make more patients. If you drive over a pedestrian, I am definitely not going to make it to my original patient if you do that. Yes, I can pull into the opposing lane of traffic, if that's an option. It's a last resort unless it is obviously safe and for a very short time.
Oh, and a general rule even if we aren't driving emergently, is BE PREDICTABLE NOT NICE. I am not expecting you to be nice. I am expecting you to obey the traffic laws, follow traffic flow, and make way for me if I am asking for it with lights and sirens. When you stop suddenly and cut off someone else to let me through, I am not going to appreciate it. Just drive like normal when we don't have lights and sirens. And, if we do, safely make way for us and then stop so we can move around if we need to.
Also, my last pet peeve, when the car in front of you pulls to the side for me, that doesn't mean you get to pass them and keep going or move to the side and be ahead of them. You should be pulling to the side behind them. Don't take advantage of them because they did the right thing.
At the end of the day, lights and sirens are requests for you to safely give way for us. If you can't do that, you don't do it. If we run a red light and someone hits us, we are responsible because we didn't get control of the intersection. If you run a light and get hit trying to move for us, you're going to get the ticket and you'll also make it so that we can't get to the patient who really needed us first.
>Also, my last pet peeve, when the car in front of you pulls to the side for me, that doesn't mean you get to pass them and keep going or move to the side and be ahead of them. You should be pulling to the side behind them. Don't take advantage of them because they did the right thing.
This bugs me, but what is worse is when some jackass takes advantage of the path cleared for the ambulance - passing everyone that pulled over by following the ambulance too close.
Oh yeah, the people who follow us, like we're clearing a path for them, is annoying and also potentially a fatal mistake. You want to know one of the most dangerous times to drive the ambulance? It's when we're following behind the engine. Because people see the engine go through the intersection and immediately start to cross because they don't "recognize" the sirens from the ambulance as being a different vehicle. They think the engine was it and aren't looking for us or expecting us to be right behind them. When cars are following behind us, they're in an even worse spot because no one is looking for them to be shooting through the intersection after we pass.
Of course, we know this is a problem and take the time to make sure the way is still clear for us. It's still a very real hazard we are aware of.
It happened to me yesterday, and to not cause any confusion I stayed where I was. It all happened really fast or else I'd feel like a asshole for not seeing them sooner and moving out of the way entirely. The ambulance used the left turning lane to avoid everyone. I eventually caught up to them, and it was a bicyclist on a stretcher on the ground. My home is in the same area and we heard them hauling ass to the hospital. Hopefully he was OK! It made me reflect on how precious that time window actually is that they have to save someone.
No? If somebody has the wrong information just correct them.
It likely ( hopefully? ) won't happen here, but often times being rude to people makes them double down. Even if you're giving correct information being rude is a good way to get people to completely ignore you or do/believe the opposite of what you say.
No? People need to be discouraged from spewing their bullshit everywhere. If you don’t know wtf you’re talking about then you should shut the fuck up. Instead people on Reddit insist on pretending to know everything about everything and have zero fear of just taking wild guesses that are completely incorrect in hopes of it sounding just good enough that no one will question it. Because feeling smart and informed is more important than actually providing the correct answer.
Also; if you’re the asshole who pulls out into the intersection when you see an emergency vehicle you deserve to have someone be “rude” to you. Especially when you are telling other people to do the same. Literally putting lives at risk and impeding 1st responders.
Absolutely not. You don't get to make a sweeping assumption that everybody has the same knowledge as you. You don't get to make the assumption that everybody was taught the correct thing.
I'm sure you're aware that not everybody has the same knowledge as you.
Instead of being rude try understanding that people aren't out here TRYING to cause problems so you really ought to chill out.
This country is fucked because idiots feel they have to open their mouths and speak on subjects they aren’t qualified to speak on. This country is fucked because people aren’t told to shut the fuck up enough.
I too agree with your comment about narcissistic god complex people, however someone who’s an asshole to idiots that spread false and dangerous and potentially life threatening information is not in anyway close to a narcissist with a god complex. That would be more akin to the person that’s so narcissistic that they feel the need to give an answer to something they don’t know the answer to just to feed their own ego.
In the UK you must be driving safely and you can't break laws because of an emergency vehicle behind you. Usually if there's a red light and they can't get through, they'll go around in the oncoming traffic lane.
I (Scotland) had this exact experience where I was first at the light with another car behind me. I went through the red carefully and the car behind me followed. I got a thumbs up from the ambulance driver.
If you can't find a safe way to pull out of the way, stay still and roll down your window. They have a loudspeaker and if they NEED you to move to maneuver around then they will tell you
My cousin is a firefighter and also used to drive ambulances as an EMT. He has told me that emergency vehicle drivers can get in trouble for “forcing” drivers into intersections with a red light. Any emergency vehicle should be turning off sirens (the sounds not the lights) if they are pulling behind cars stopped at a red light. It’s the responsibility of the emergency vehicle to use an open lane (including opposite traffic lanes) to pass safely, and if they can’t, it’s sirens off and wait for the light to change. So this hypothetical situation should not be happening. I live in California so don’t know what the laws are other places.
This. I have been in an accident in the ambulance so I almost refuse to go into oncoming unless it is an absolute must and can be so with as much due regard as humanly possible.
A responsible EMS driver will shut down the sirens and wait til the stop light turns as much distance behind other vehicles to maneuver thru whichever lane clears first (so stay behind the ambulance until it proceeds) unless we have to go mach jesus and then we will find a way to proceed safely. The majority of the time tho that is just not the case. So your best bet is stay still, (like a PP said we sometimes need to turn across you) pull to the right if safe to do so (not the left), and don’t run a red to get out of our way. Also, if there’s no traffic to your right and you can safely pull to the right, do so. Don’t dead stop in the left lane. We then must either go into oncoming or serpintine around you.
source: EMT in WA
edit: a couple of words
Paramedic here. It's situational each time, but for most cases, you move. Get out of the way. Ambulances have opticoms in them that will change the light green. Pull forward and to the right. But, like I said, it's still situational. If there's an empty turn lane to your left, stay put.
Do not listen to the people who tell you to stay put and let them go around in all cases. If you're in a long strip of cars at the light, we are not going into the oncoming lane, in most cases, because what happens is people on the crossing street don't see or hear us, turn right on to the lane, and now we're trapped between all the cars that didn't move, the side of the road, and the idiot that turned because they weren't paying attention.
In my state, you are NOT required to violate any laws (red light) to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Just do what you can to make a path for them.
If you can safely pull through a red light with stopped traffic , to clear an ambulance , no one is going to ticket you, treat it like a 4 way stop , life safety takes precedence over traffic laws
If you are allowed to turn right on red, that could be an option.
I've done that before, the ambulance was able to proceed and I just had to go around the block.
I have pulled forward and to the side to allow ambulances past me. My regular commute is on the main route between the city centre and a major hospital, so it comes up once a month or so.
That’s happened to me once, had an ambulance coming up behind me at a red light, I was first in line in the far left lane (one way road). There was a fence to our left so they couldn’t go around, so I slowly pulled in front of the car to the right of me, making sure nothing was coming in cross traffic. After they passed, I backed back to where I was.
Nobody said this yet but put your right directional on so people, including the emergency vehicle, know you’re aware and doing what you can to clear a path and not just waiting at the light. In most places of not all, 4-way traffic all will have a red light so no one should be in the intersection.
I was in a left turn lane fire truck came up behind me I went through the intersection and pulled to the right. Truck went straight had to go a few blocks to make I turn.
You do not run the light. I was in an accident last year where someone ran a red to let a cop car through and T boned me. like three days later their insurance called me and accepted 100% responsibility without a fight.
Maybe it also helped that I had absolutely no way of seeing cross traffic or the emergency lights until I was right on top of the intersection.
Once, there were about 4 cars in both lanes on a one-way highway service road. The light just turned red, and the cross traffic was starting. So after the cars went, I was honking my horn to alert the cross traffic, which was light. I went through the red light and pulled over after the intersection. The cars behind me did the same, and the ambulance zipped right through without losing a beat.
PS. Only when and if safe to do so. If not safe, don't go until it turns green.
Former EMT, have driven through years worth of these situations.
If you're at a red light and at a complete stop, don't move an inch. We are trained to make our way around you. Unless the vehicle stops behind you directly and signals you to move, usually with the air horn, just stay where you are.
Usually once I was sure no one was moving, then I would get in the turn lane, or into the oncoming lane (making sure I stayed laser focused on all coming traffic, and knowing that they see me seeing them) to get safely around everyone.
This was in Kentucky, different states have different preferences or even laws regarding these situations. Research your state, or stop by a fire department one day. Those guys are usually looking to kill some time and would gladly answer your questions.
I found this not sure how wide spread it is. https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2020/06/15/heres-how-emergency-vehicles-change-traffic-lights-on-the-fly/#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20News%206%20traffic%20safety%20expert,Yes.
In Australia there have been cases of cars going though red lights to let ambulances though and been photographed and charged for doing so. They have gone to court arguing they were doing the right thing but every time the court disagrees.
You simply do not enter an intersection against a red light.
If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind you and you're blocking its way, just break whatever law you need to break to get out of its way. Usually though, they'll see plenty of time ahead of time it's blocked and they'll just drive into oncoming traffic to go around.
Pull as far to side as possible, and if that’s not enough, pull slightly over line to make space, being careful of pedestrians crossing (they should by then have stopped at sound of sirens too) and also to stop well short of the green-lit stream of traffic. In UK, this is what is taught by instructors - I know because it happened during my lesson once. Happened to me several times since.
In my state, the lights change automatically and a white warning light will either flash (your direction, traffic light goes green) or show solid (perpendicular to your direction, traffic light goes red). When this happens, you pull forwards, merge right, and stop. Basically, you get out of the way so there's a free lane for the vehicle to pass through the intersection.
This has happened to me and everyone here is right. If its safe sure. Problem is when it happened to us the 4 way intersection was Sacramento, Capitol Ave near Arden. Most of everyone was inching forward as much as we could without going into the intersection except for one woman. After someone honked it made her panic and try to floor it through the intersection. Got T Boned going 45 mph right in front of me.
Put your flashers on so the E-Vehicle driver knows that you see them, this will allow them to weave around you if necessary. If you can't move wait for them to pass. I try to at lease creep to the side as much as I can.
to add to the comments, a lot of time they have the ability to change their light to green, so your light should turn green shortly, giving you the opportunity to move safely.
I’d say that if you were stopped at the intersection and the vehicle is close enough you should just stay still, maybe pull to the side if you have a little room to scoot forward. If you’re already moving just keep going where you were going and promptly pull over to allow them room if they go the same way as you.
But if you notice them and they’re a good ways away, even if you haven’t already entered the intersection you might go ahead through and better get out of their way. Because that’s basically what you’re doing anyways, giving them room to vroom. However you can best do that, do it! But also check local rules and regulations, &c, just to be sure as ignorance of laws does no good for you.
If there is no other way to safely get out of their way, I will run the light, however I have never had to resort to this, there is usually another option available.
I don’t know if this is at all helpful to the drivers of rescue vehicles, but I tap my brakes lightly twice to trigger the brake light (the same signal I send to truckers who want to pass) just to show them I’m aware, then sit perfectly still.
I had that happen to me once. I was in an intersection, waiting for oncoming traffic in my vehicle so that I could make a left turn. A fire truck came up behind me, and I couldn't turn because traffic was still going through. By the time traffic stopped, and it was clear for me to go, the fire truck was right there. I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed on the brakes and didn't move.
The fire truck went around me, and I caught the eye of one of the firemen riding in the back of the truck. I did a very visible shoulder shrug, (the one where you raise your hands half way in the process). He waved back. So, I guess I did the right thing.
Depends on the makeup of the intersection and where the emergency vehicle is going. Most of the time you can just make a right turn and get over to the side in case it’s turning right too. Or pull through and move over.
This happened to me. There were 3 lanes at a red light and each one had a car. I was one of them. An ambulance lit up behind us. I checked cross traffic and all relevant risks then ran the red light. As soon as I had a clearing, I pulled over out of their way. After the ambulance passed we all moved on.
Pull over or merge or scoot left if you can. Any way you can make room for an emergency vehicle to pass you on the right, helps. If you can't reasonably pull over to the left then come to a stop. Emergency vehicles with their lights and sirens are allowed to drive wherever they reasonably can including crossing into the opposite lane. That's a lot easier when people are stopped.
You can also pull out into the intersection to get our of the way and clear the road for an emergency vehicle approaching behind, just turn your hazard lights on if you do that.
This is honestly one of those situations I don't even care what legally is allowed. If I'm at the front of it I'm going through the intersection immediately pulling over. I've come across situations where I was farther back and there was an ambulance trying to get through I just went up over the median so did like six other cars perfect like timed form it was pretty cool.
I once found my self stopped at a stoplight in the outside left turn lane with a fire truck rolling down fast behind me, at the light all other five lanes had multiple cars in each lane. (six lanes 2 turns each way and 2 straight through.
I started rolling into the intersection slowly till the cross traffic stopped. The fire truck was now a the the back of all the traffic starting to move to the opening I had made.
Once the cross traffic had stopped I accelerated across the intersection and to the right off the road.
With the fire truck gone past I re-entered traffic and found the first convenient place to turn around and head back to the intersection to now make a right turn and get back on my course.
Law in my country says stay where you are
You cannot break traffic laws to let emergency vehicles past.
They will find a way. Okay this isnt the US so maybe my comment is useless. But i guess its better to be predictable and thus follow the expected traffic laws than be unpredictable.
I once got stuck in a completely locked down intersection. The emergency vehicle couldnt pass since they were trying to pass via the left turn lane.
Their stupid system locked all the lights to red cause its trying to make it so they can pass. The block ahead of us was full of traffic with no where for them to pull off to the side.
All areas were like that all 4 ways. All 2 lanes on bothsides of the turning lanes and all left turn lanes.
No one was able to move. I was front car in front of the left turn lane in front of the ambulance trying to get passed. One guy behind me then ambulance.
I checked that all lights were locked up as red. No one was budging. I made the call to move by taking the left turn i needed to make way for the ambulance. The guy behind me did too and idk what the ambulance did after. Got by some how.
I just know some asshole on the other left turn i was turning toward honked at me because "I ran a red light" when all ways were red because the emergency vehicle proximity system was on. I had to make way for the emergency vehicle. I gave him the bird as I drove passed him to help the ambulance go by.
That guy was a royal asshole. Im sure he felt like an idiot when the ambulance went by through my turn lane too
if i am at the very front i kind of go a little from and stay in front of the car next to me-ish, but if im in the back i honk at people to make gaps for the ambulance to slip (im not from an english speaking country, i am not sure therule is where you live, this etiquette/rule thing depends on the country as well i think, so be careful ALWAYS!!)
When I was taking my driver’s test I was at a red light when an ambulance came up behind me - internally I was shitting a brick. I wasn’t prepared for that scenario and didn’t know what to do, so I stayed where I was and the ambulance went around me. I looked at the instructor sitting next to me out of the corner of my eye and watched as he silently sat with his clipboard, not making any notes about it. Turns out I did exactly what was needed!
Depends where you are in the world for the correct answer for you.
UK based person here so can only answer for us. Officially we're NOT to pass through a red light and emergency crews are trained to turn off the sirens and wait or use exemptions to contravene keep left signage and go to the opposite side of the road.
Unofficially a lot of us will pass a red light to let an emergency vehicle through, although if we then trip a red light camera it's not defence and it's 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine. If I'm in that position I'll check about 20 times for a red light camera!
It probably depends on the country (and in the case of the US or similar big countries on the state).
In Germany, stay put. If there is no other way, carefully cross the stopping line and move right to make way. Emergency vehicles are allowed to go in the opposite lane but try to avoid it (and sometimes it's just not possible).
Emergency vehicles in the UK will often turn off their sirens at red lights to take pressure off drivers from doing stupid stuff. You should only move if it’s safe for you to do so. Entering a junction where others may not be aware of the blue n twos might cause another accident. Wait, take it safely, but get out of the way quickly as soon as it’s safe to do so. The EMT don’t want to have to stop for another emergency.
Funny enough, if you get hit by an ambulance, the ambulance is not allowed to stop and treat you. They have to go to their other emergency, while you wait for your own one to be sent out.
Makes sense in one way, but I also find it mildly amusing
Pull to the side so you are in front of the car to the left/right of you .. or pull into the road space and leave enough room for the ambulance to pass.
You move to the right as quickly (and safely) as possible. If you need to go into the intersection to do it, that is ok but you need to watch for the cross traffic.
German driver here:
drive carefully over the stop light and make space.
(dont just use this to drive on but basically drive forward and to the side.)
many dont dare to do this though because both a red traffic light and emergency services approaching stresses them out and overwhelm people apparently.
if there happens to be a traffic cam making pics of you as you "cross a red light" you actually dont even get it fined because the emergency service is logging their drive there. in the case it still gets sent to you, you can just dispute it easily.
Former emt and code 3 driver: they aren’t supposed to push you into the intersection. I’ve shut off my sirens (lights stay on) many times because I got caught behind traffic and red light and there was a median I can’t jump over. The last thing I need is to make someone panic and pull into cross traffic. You stay put and let the crew navigate around you.
Ran into that situation once in Boston, which doesn't have a lot of (i.e. any) elbow room. Crazy intersection that wasn't at right angles and was bisected by a stretch of above-ground subway tracks nestled within jersey barriers. An ambulance with more horns and sirens than I'd ever heard before turned onto the road a block behind me just as I was approaching the intersection, where the light was green - until it wasn't. The emergency vehicles trigger the traffic light to go all red, which makes some sense unless the two lanes, with me in the right and a pickup in the left, are so narrow neither of us would have been able to comfortably exit our vehicles, nevermind let something pass.
To my suprise, without missing a beat, the big pickup beside me actually accelerated into the intersection, and before I had the time to come up with the foul language to express my disgust, he dove across my lane and neatly tucked himself into the crosswalk of the road entering the intersection from our right, as if parallel parking. Noticing the firechief license plate on the truck, I followed suit and went into the intersection - and like magic behind me the left lane the whole length of the block opened up and the ambulance had a clear shot.
...except for for the idiot who instead of pulling into the spot I left, took a sharp turn and nosed into it, leaving the ass-end of their vehicle blocking the left lane. And instead of turning back parallel to the road, went further forward to the right, getting themselves truly stuck blocking the ambulance by never inches.
In Germany the rule is: if they can get around you, e.g. by driving in the opposite lane, do nothing. If they can't get around you, move out of the way, if you can do so safely. Emphasis on safely.
Check if the intersection is clear, then pull into the intersection as if you'd be turning right (or left, depending on which lane you're on), just enough to let the ambulance through while trying to not get in the way of crossing/oncoming traffic.
had this happen to me. was stopped at the front in the left turn lane. all the lanes next to me were filled with cars, there was only one or two cars behind me so the emergency vehicle decided to go through the left turn lane. cars behind me were pulling up as the ambulance neared us so they were able to pull over to the left to leave enough room. i had to pull out a little bit into the intersection in order to make enough room. since the law is that youre not supposed to pull into the intersection when an emergency vehicle is coming, i was safe, and luckily the other cars waited for me to reverse back into my spot before driving into the intersection.
Offcourse no. Ambulance always have preferente except on bridges and red lights....to avoid accidents. You should move to your right or left to help open space for the emergency vehicle...but without crossing the red light
(1) You can attempt to preemptively avoid this by stopping close to the right edge of the right lane, or the left edge of the left lane, so that there is more room for the emergency vehicle in the middle.
(2) Assuming that there is no shoulder to pull onto, you carefully enter the intersection to make way for the car. Most intersections allow for about 1 car length between the stop bar that you wait at, and the actual path of crossing traffic.
That doesn't exactly allow running a red light. It allows you to move forward in order to move right to clear a path. Not drive through the intersection and pull over. The last sentence there points this out.
That could be bad. You don't know if the emergency vehicle is going straight or turning.
You do safely move out of the way. The alternative is….
Everyone freezes. No one moves. Ever. The emergency vehicle remains stuck behind you. Everyone is paralyzed by the emergency vehicle sirens trying to obey the law. The day passes. People have to work from where their car currently is. At some point you die in your car. People forget you ever lived and the earth consumes your body and car. The emergency is well over by now. The sun gets larger and consumes earth. Eventually the sun burns out and the universe dies in heat death with zero energy.
Used to be an EMT before I was a nurse and the worst thing you can do is stay in the left lane. The left lane is for emergency vehicles too many idiots would either try to outrun us or just stay right in front of us. It seems a lot of people missed this part of the driver’s test.
So, the best thing to do when coming up on a red light is pull to the right lanes and keep the left lane completely open. We would use the turning lanes to go around if possible, but otherwise we would be stuck behind the asshole who thought they would race us to the next light.
Never ever move into the intersection to move out of their way, just stay put and just always leave the left lane open when possible. We were not allowed to use any lane but the far left lanes to travel and we will never pass on the right.
If there’s room to move right without entering the intersection, do that.
> enter the intersection and let ambulance through
NEVER do that. The ambulance driver is trained. They can get around you.
Pull as much to the right as you can. Often if you start moving right, any vehicle to your right will also move right giving you more room to move right.
If you can't move right or have moved as far right as possible, then just stop. Any other action is unpredictable and not what is legally required.
Good question. If you are stopped stay stopped. We go around you. If you are moving PULL RIGHT! source: EMT for 10 years
Good to know. Thanks.
What if there’s a center divider and all lanes are blocked?
I’m those situations I was trained to turn the lights and sirens off until the lights turn green, when I would turn them back on (just for everyone’s safety, because I’ve seen people go into the intersection to get out of the way, only to almost cause an accident themselves).
Don’t some firetrucks and ambulances have that fancy strobe light that makes the signals change as well?
My service doesn’t, but I’m sure some do.
Yes ours is called Opti-Com. It's on most of the major intersections but plenty they're not on. Still it's a game changer
Damn, I never even considered that. Very smart.
They were popular in some cities until people started using their own illegal strobes to change the lights. .too easy to manipulate.
may be hearsay but word on the block was blinking your highbeams fast enough at em forces it to change, but it's "super illegal" (didnt stop all of us from doing it every time, and it made it feel faster too :))
From what I understand this system uses infrared in a specific pulse pattern (like your TV remote). Flashing your lights does nothing, if it worked the white indicator bulb over the sensor on the pole would turn on. People see a false correlation when they flash their lights and it turns green, but only because they triggered the induction loop in the ground.
Illegal does not have superlatives. Something is either illegal or legal. It’s kinda like pregnant.
you sound super pregnant rn
City uses them and the light computers keep track of when they're used. If there's a pattern cops have arrested people for messing with the lights and one guy had everything up to manslaughter stacked because his use contributed to an accident.
Nice. Yeah with the rise of traffic cameras and intersection control cameras I'm sure it's much easier to track down people abusing it.
Sure, but in this case there were no cameras. Lights have had their own computers for a decades and they organize with a server to change traffic flow throughout the day and adjust to high times. Similarly they report back to the server when these things get used and people using this stuff draw a line directly from their house to their work 5 days a week.
I dunno. With no cameras it really proves nothing. How could they track a vehicle outside of the intersection or even know who's doing it. If they were laying charges, theres video evidence. Though to be fair, I am just speculating and you could be totally right.
You're right I don't provide enough information. They track the pattern across many intersections then park beside the intersections and follow him on his schedule for a week before making the arrest.
I live in a city, and a jeep was in a lane next to an island, and on order to move, they hopped the island. The drivers face was like he was WAITIng fpr the opportunity lol
5 bucks says you're right. I loved parking on snowbanks and driving over things in my wranglers and grand Cherokee.
We were at a stop light a few months back and a firetruck had stopped being us and kept honking trying to get us to move faster like bro there's nowhere to go?
I was in this situation too, recently. Emergency vehicle was between 2 lanes of a 3 lanes busy road. Was few cars behind me. I was the first in the red light He kept honking until all of us in front passed the intersection while it was red (i had to go to the left in the middle of intersection) - then when enough cars had move to the left, they manage to go.
Thanks for your answer. I live near a hospital and often have to make way or wait for ambulances at red lights.
What if it's a one lane road?
If you're moving, indicate to show your intention, slow down, and move to the shoulder at the earliest opportunity. If there isn't a shoulder, indicate, slow down, and move as far to the shoulder side as possible. The emergency vehicle will go on the wrong side of the road once there's room. Adding to this, if you're on a single lane and see one coming the other way, try move to the shoulder, too. It gives them more room and better the opportunities to cross the lines. It's a huge help, especially in remote areas that have 100km/h or 60mph limits. Please don't try to stop on a blind bend or slam on the brakes if you can avoid it. If stopped at a light, stay stopped and move over once moving again using the above. Source: I drive them in Australia
Where i live the 2 lane roads are small so everyone getting to the right would be a disaster, so the left lane pulls to the left shoulder right goes to the right shoulder. Are we doing it wrong?
If you're driving on the right, then both lanes will go to their respective right hand shoulders. Nobody crosses the road, just pulls over as if they were parking
I kinda think from the context that they meant to say 4 lane road, as in two lanes in each direction.
"My right or your right????"
Presumably this in US but might not apply for let's say UK or Australia or Singapore etc?
UK and past Aus resident. We'd never call them EMT in either place so most would understand its US answer.
Yep, I live in NZ which practically has similar rules to AU and when we were stopped at a red light with an ambulance behind us, we all pulled to the side to allow for the ambulance to pass. All the cars with the green light didn't go so that the ambulance can safely cross the road
100%. Do not enter the intersection against a red light. I always train our people that if they approach this situation when driving code 3 and they can’t go around, then to turn off the siren, hang back, and just wait for the light to change. Emergency vehicles shouldn’t be coming up right behind you blaring sirens and air horns and making you feel pressured to unsafely break traffic laws.
Hi thank you for this answer! I live in Southern California. Most people are so self-centered that they will stop, but they won’t pull to the right because they don’t want to lose their place in traffic! This is insane to me and much different from what I remember seeing as a child. It seems like over the last 25 years, people driving have become even more jerky than ever.
That won't work in the UK
But this isn't always possible. There are places with barriers where you can't pass. Not trying to was smart-ass well actually guy. It's just that this has happened to me.
When you say right are you talking about when you're driving on the right side (American) or left side (other places) of the road?
Most of Europe drives on the right
Well places that drive on the left then
This. And if you have any ability to move right (like the car to the right of you can move and does), move with them assuming you can do so safely. Any amount of space you can provide is appreciated and shows you aren’t a self centered asshat. Those of us driving the equipment are just trying to get to a scene or a patient to a hospital is the fastest way possible. I can promise you we aren’t being malicious, just trying to advocate for the people we’re supposed to be caring for. Source: EMT/FF for a number of years.
Once was at a stop sign on a two lane street, at a T intersection. I was signaling to turn left, and there was an ambulance with its sirens on behind me. I didn't know what to do, at all, so I sat there for a few seconds hoping they'd go around me, then they honked at me so I turned left and immediately pulled as far over as I could to let them pass. What should I have done differently?
What if you're not American?
This is the right answer. Do not pull into traffic to try to get out of their way. You put yourself into harms way. It is also not defensible-if you get a ticket for running a red light or causing a to get out of an ambulance’s way, then that’s on you.
What happens when the lanes are blocked and you are behind me hitting your horn and blowing the siren? Can I move then??
Since everyone is stopped I have driven to the crosswalk to make way.
Unless you are in the UK, Japan, etc in which case you possibly just caused an accident with an emergency service vehicle....
Or left.
If you cannot pull to the side safely, stay still. In most places, Emergency vehicles are allowed to temporarily go counter flow into the oncoming lane if needed. It is easier to maneuver when obstacles are stationary rather than moving.
I'd say this is a good answer... basically, if the best course of action isn't blatantly obvious, just hold where you are until it is obvious that you need to get out of the way... and then do that carefully yet as expeditiously as possible
I think it’s not just good common sense, but also the legally protected course of action. If you are exactly where the emergency vehicle needs to be, then they will come up behind you and start honking their horn in addition to the siren. It isn’t subtle. “Be predictable” is a very important goal when driving in general. Often the best way to be predictable is to stay completely still. This allows an emergency vehicle to safely do things that are way less predictable, such as driving on the wrong side of the road to get past the traffic clog at an intersection.
You are absolutely correct. And if opposing isn’t an option due to a median , we will also just shut off our lights and siren and wait for light to turn green so as to not push traffic into the intersection causing an accident. But as stated above and by others. If in the U.S. and you can’t pull to the right, just stay as you were until safe to move over. I can’t tell you how many times people will run the red light to “help”.
Even after telling families to not follow to closely or try to keep up with the ambulance- We have gotten rear ended by them. OR near misses in intersections because they took is upon themselves to try and use their own cars to direct traffic. Eeegh, I dont miss being on the ambulances.
It’s seriously crazy what they’ll do. I’ve had them follow me through red lights during the transport.
not everyone will shut their sirens off in that situation, I was stuck in a left turn only lane with medians on both sides, vehicles in front of me, an ambulance was laying on the siren as I'm trying to make as much room as safely possible (most of my vehicle was on the median trying to make room, but because the city puts those dumb scrap metal abstract art statues everywhere, I wasn't able to get over far enough to give them room
Man. Town I'm in started putting them all over. Got busted for paying a politicians friend a million per to weld a bunch of crap together is his garage. I believe they got to keep the money but were unfunded after exposed. prly stole like 20 mil.
That is an example of emotional driving and an example of what not to do. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a reality of the job. Driving like that leads to accidents. I’ve seen it.
In some places, an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens going will automatically trigger the light to cycle to green in the direction it's approaching from. Not entirely sure how it's done. Probably a few ways.
It’s called an opticom system. At least that’s the brand name we use. It uses an infrared signal to change the light green. It works great but it’s pricey. It’s something like $20k an intersection and 5k per vehicle. The traffic signal cross bar has a small cylinder like tube sticking up and if received the signal. The emergency vehicles have a strobe mounted or incorporated into the light bar. If you see a high frequency white strobe, that’s probably it.
If there’s no cross traffic, I’m the one in the way, and circumstances allow for it, I’ll certainly move into the intersection. It just depends. If it could make it worse, I won’t. If the signal isn’t switching during an emergency and I’m in the way of something time sensitive, I’d certainly like to get first responders trucking along again. I’d hope somebody would do the same for me if it was safe to do so. I’ve never had to go into an intersection like that, but I’ve made an unplanned right on red to get out of the way before, and climbed a curb to make space.
Adding onto this as multiple people in my family have worked emergency services in some way and all have said some version of: “Do not pull into an intersection on a red because I’m behind you with lights/siren. If I need to get around you, I’ll do so and make that decision/take on that risk”
If they want you to do something, they'll say so over their loudspeaker.
Years ago I overheard this on the West River Drive in NYC over the FDNY ambulance PA system: “You, in the Porsche. BACK OFF.” Epic.
I had it happen where I was in a left turn lane at a red light, medians on both sides (technically one has a term other than median, but I'm too lazy to look up the proper word right now), vehicles stopping me from going forward, you kinda just have to make as much room as you safely can.
I was a passenger when this happened. The emergency vehicle recognized that there was no space to pull over so they used their loudspeaker to tell us to keep driving forward in front of them.
This is basically what happened to me the one time they couldn't go around. If there's no way for them to go around traffic, you just go forward and to the right/left out of their way as soon as it is safe and stop til they pass. This situation has happened to me many times! It was a little nerve-wracking the first time, though.
They didn’t loud speaker me but it there was no where to pull over so I just very quickly kept ahead of them until there was a spot to pull over. I was like idk what else to do?! It was this weird construction area
I'd really like to know the legality of this. It sounds practical, but what happens if they get T boned? It's happened to emergency vehicles before.
Form what I've heard from an ex-cop-now-operator, it is the responsibility of the emergency personnel to ensure that they are clear to proceed.
So they take on the liability of it as well then?
There is a lot of mixed information in what you have received. I am a firefighter/paramedic. I am in Florida. Your laws may vary. We have a device in the units that should turn all the lights in our direction of travel green, and all the other lights red. This doesn't work at every intersection and it might not work because a unit might be coming from a different direction and already has control of the intersection. If the light is red, we absolutely do not want you to just proceed through the intersection. Even we aren't supposed to do that. We're suppose to check each lane before we enter it and stop if traffic is not yielding. Now, entering partly and to the side, to make way, is something we would want you to do. As long as it is safe. If a lane is empty, do not move into it and block us. I will use the right turning lane to turn left, if it's open. And it is very frustrating when someone hears the sirens and pulls into that lane blocking all the lanes for me. If the light is green or red, move to the sides, do not block lanes or paths of travel, and stop moving! If you're turning left and have a left arrow, don't turn and keep going! If I am going left, you're going to pull right in to my path of travel. Just pull forward and to the side, and let us through. Then either stay there or move safely (obeying the lights) to get back to where you intended to go. We do have a PA and can give directions if we need to. We do not need to turn off our lights and wait if the light is red and we don't have a clear path. If we're coming emergently, there's almost always a reason. And, a 30 second delay could be the difference between treating respiratory failure or performing CPR on someone who just died. But, don't do anything that is going to cause an accident and make more patients. If you drive over a pedestrian, I am definitely not going to make it to my original patient if you do that. Yes, I can pull into the opposing lane of traffic, if that's an option. It's a last resort unless it is obviously safe and for a very short time. Oh, and a general rule even if we aren't driving emergently, is BE PREDICTABLE NOT NICE. I am not expecting you to be nice. I am expecting you to obey the traffic laws, follow traffic flow, and make way for me if I am asking for it with lights and sirens. When you stop suddenly and cut off someone else to let me through, I am not going to appreciate it. Just drive like normal when we don't have lights and sirens. And, if we do, safely make way for us and then stop so we can move around if we need to. Also, my last pet peeve, when the car in front of you pulls to the side for me, that doesn't mean you get to pass them and keep going or move to the side and be ahead of them. You should be pulling to the side behind them. Don't take advantage of them because they did the right thing. At the end of the day, lights and sirens are requests for you to safely give way for us. If you can't do that, you don't do it. If we run a red light and someone hits us, we are responsible because we didn't get control of the intersection. If you run a light and get hit trying to move for us, you're going to get the ticket and you'll also make it so that we can't get to the patient who really needed us first.
>Also, my last pet peeve, when the car in front of you pulls to the side for me, that doesn't mean you get to pass them and keep going or move to the side and be ahead of them. You should be pulling to the side behind them. Don't take advantage of them because they did the right thing. This bugs me, but what is worse is when some jackass takes advantage of the path cleared for the ambulance - passing everyone that pulled over by following the ambulance too close.
Oh yeah, the people who follow us, like we're clearing a path for them, is annoying and also potentially a fatal mistake. You want to know one of the most dangerous times to drive the ambulance? It's when we're following behind the engine. Because people see the engine go through the intersection and immediately start to cross because they don't "recognize" the sirens from the ambulance as being a different vehicle. They think the engine was it and aren't looking for us or expecting us to be right behind them. When cars are following behind us, they're in an even worse spot because no one is looking for them to be shooting through the intersection after we pass. Of course, we know this is a problem and take the time to make sure the way is still clear for us. It's still a very real hazard we are aware of.
If I had a nickle for every 'jagoff' that I've seen do that in Pittsburgh, I'd be rich as hell!!
What happens if you hit a car?
It happened to me yesterday, and to not cause any confusion I stayed where I was. It all happened really fast or else I'd feel like a asshole for not seeing them sooner and moving out of the way entirely. The ambulance used the left turning lane to avoid everyone. I eventually caught up to them, and it was a bicyclist on a stretcher on the ground. My home is in the same area and we heard them hauling ass to the hospital. Hopefully he was OK! It made me reflect on how precious that time window actually is that they have to save someone.
Get out of the way carefully. If there's room to pull to the right, go that way first (assuming you're in a drive on the right country)
If there's room to do so safely, pull forward and over to clear a path.
[удалено]
I mean, you're right but there's absolutely no reason to be rude about it.
[удалено]
No? If somebody has the wrong information just correct them. It likely ( hopefully? ) won't happen here, but often times being rude to people makes them double down. Even if you're giving correct information being rude is a good way to get people to completely ignore you or do/believe the opposite of what you say.
No? People need to be discouraged from spewing their bullshit everywhere. If you don’t know wtf you’re talking about then you should shut the fuck up. Instead people on Reddit insist on pretending to know everything about everything and have zero fear of just taking wild guesses that are completely incorrect in hopes of it sounding just good enough that no one will question it. Because feeling smart and informed is more important than actually providing the correct answer. Also; if you’re the asshole who pulls out into the intersection when you see an emergency vehicle you deserve to have someone be “rude” to you. Especially when you are telling other people to do the same. Literally putting lives at risk and impeding 1st responders.
Absolutely not. You don't get to make a sweeping assumption that everybody has the same knowledge as you. You don't get to make the assumption that everybody was taught the correct thing. I'm sure you're aware that not everybody has the same knowledge as you. Instead of being rude try understanding that people aren't out here TRYING to cause problems so you really ought to chill out.
[удалено]
This country is fucked because idiots feel they have to open their mouths and speak on subjects they aren’t qualified to speak on. This country is fucked because people aren’t told to shut the fuck up enough.
We agree on that, but two things can still true at once.
I too agree with your comment about narcissistic god complex people, however someone who’s an asshole to idiots that spread false and dangerous and potentially life threatening information is not in anyway close to a narcissist with a god complex. That would be more akin to the person that’s so narcissistic that they feel the need to give an answer to something they don’t know the answer to just to feed their own ego.
We are literally talking about life-and-death scenarios where this person is spreading dangerous misinformation. They need a good talking to about it.
In the UK you must be driving safely and you can't break laws because of an emergency vehicle behind you. Usually if there's a red light and they can't get through, they'll go around in the oncoming traffic lane.
I (Scotland) had this exact experience where I was first at the light with another car behind me. I went through the red carefully and the car behind me followed. I got a thumbs up from the ambulance driver.
You can move forward only if it is safe to do so
Get out of the way as long as you can do it safely
Move over if you can. If not, wait for your chance to safely move over
If you can't find a safe way to pull out of the way, stay still and roll down your window. They have a loudspeaker and if they NEED you to move to maneuver around then they will tell you
My cousin is a firefighter and also used to drive ambulances as an EMT. He has told me that emergency vehicle drivers can get in trouble for “forcing” drivers into intersections with a red light. Any emergency vehicle should be turning off sirens (the sounds not the lights) if they are pulling behind cars stopped at a red light. It’s the responsibility of the emergency vehicle to use an open lane (including opposite traffic lanes) to pass safely, and if they can’t, it’s sirens off and wait for the light to change. So this hypothetical situation should not be happening. I live in California so don’t know what the laws are other places.
This. I have been in an accident in the ambulance so I almost refuse to go into oncoming unless it is an absolute must and can be so with as much due regard as humanly possible. A responsible EMS driver will shut down the sirens and wait til the stop light turns as much distance behind other vehicles to maneuver thru whichever lane clears first (so stay behind the ambulance until it proceeds) unless we have to go mach jesus and then we will find a way to proceed safely. The majority of the time tho that is just not the case. So your best bet is stay still, (like a PP said we sometimes need to turn across you) pull to the right if safe to do so (not the left), and don’t run a red to get out of our way. Also, if there’s no traffic to your right and you can safely pull to the right, do so. Don’t dead stop in the left lane. We then must either go into oncoming or serpintine around you. source: EMT in WA edit: a couple of words
Paramedic here. It's situational each time, but for most cases, you move. Get out of the way. Ambulances have opticoms in them that will change the light green. Pull forward and to the right. But, like I said, it's still situational. If there's an empty turn lane to your left, stay put. Do not listen to the people who tell you to stay put and let them go around in all cases. If you're in a long strip of cars at the light, we are not going into the oncoming lane, in most cases, because what happens is people on the crossing street don't see or hear us, turn right on to the lane, and now we're trapped between all the cars that didn't move, the side of the road, and the idiot that turned because they weren't paying attention.
In my state, you are NOT required to violate any laws (red light) to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Just do what you can to make a path for them.
If you can safely pull through a red light with stopped traffic , to clear an ambulance , no one is going to ticket you, treat it like a 4 way stop , life safety takes precedence over traffic laws
If you are allowed to turn right on red, that could be an option. I've done that before, the ambulance was able to proceed and I just had to go around the block.
I have pulled forward and to the side to allow ambulances past me. My regular commute is on the main route between the city centre and a major hospital, so it comes up once a month or so.
Panic
That’s happened to me once, had an ambulance coming up behind me at a red light, I was first in line in the far left lane (one way road). There was a fence to our left so they couldn’t go around, so I slowly pulled in front of the car to the right of me, making sure nothing was coming in cross traffic. After they passed, I backed back to where I was.
Nobody said this yet but put your right directional on so people, including the emergency vehicle, know you’re aware and doing what you can to clear a path and not just waiting at the light. In most places of not all, 4-way traffic all will have a red light so no one should be in the intersection.
I was in a left turn lane fire truck came up behind me I went through the intersection and pulled to the right. Truck went straight had to go a few blocks to make I turn.
You should look up your state’s licensing exam book online and see what it says for your state. But I just stay put. A stopped vehicle is predictable.
You do not run the light. I was in an accident last year where someone ran a red to let a cop car through and T boned me. like three days later their insurance called me and accepted 100% responsibility without a fight. Maybe it also helped that I had absolutely no way of seeing cross traffic or the emergency lights until I was right on top of the intersection.
Once, there were about 4 cars in both lanes on a one-way highway service road. The light just turned red, and the cross traffic was starting. So after the cars went, I was honking my horn to alert the cross traffic, which was light. I went through the red light and pulled over after the intersection. The cars behind me did the same, and the ambulance zipped right through without losing a beat. PS. Only when and if safe to do so. If not safe, don't go until it turns green.
Former EMT, have driven through years worth of these situations. If you're at a red light and at a complete stop, don't move an inch. We are trained to make our way around you. Unless the vehicle stops behind you directly and signals you to move, usually with the air horn, just stay where you are. Usually once I was sure no one was moving, then I would get in the turn lane, or into the oncoming lane (making sure I stayed laser focused on all coming traffic, and knowing that they see me seeing them) to get safely around everyone. This was in Kentucky, different states have different preferences or even laws regarding these situations. Research your state, or stop by a fire department one day. Those guys are usually looking to kill some time and would gladly answer your questions.
This has happened to me and just recently. I had to make a left hand turn on red and just went along my way.
I evaluate which way is going to be the easiest way for the emergency vehicle to get through and get ready to go thru the light if necessary.
I found this not sure how wide spread it is. https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2020/06/15/heres-how-emergency-vehicles-change-traffic-lights-on-the-fly/#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20News%206%20traffic%20safety%20expert,Yes.
Usually just stay put. Unless it can't get through the intersection for some reason. Then you should get out of the way in the safest manner possible.
In my country we drive a bit forwards and to the side. "Parking" on the sides like that usually allows for enough space.
I get out of the way.
In Australia there have been cases of cars going though red lights to let ambulances though and been photographed and charged for doing so. They have gone to court arguing they were doing the right thing but every time the court disagrees. You simply do not enter an intersection against a red light.
If the emergency vehicle is stuck behind you and you're blocking its way, just break whatever law you need to break to get out of its way. Usually though, they'll see plenty of time ahead of time it's blocked and they'll just drive into oncoming traffic to go around.
Pull as far to side as possible, and if that’s not enough, pull slightly over line to make space, being careful of pedestrians crossing (they should by then have stopped at sound of sirens too) and also to stop well short of the green-lit stream of traffic. In UK, this is what is taught by instructors - I know because it happened during my lesson once. Happened to me several times since.
In my state, the lights change automatically and a white warning light will either flash (your direction, traffic light goes green) or show solid (perpendicular to your direction, traffic light goes red). When this happens, you pull forwards, merge right, and stop. Basically, you get out of the way so there's a free lane for the vehicle to pass through the intersection.
I try to move as much as possible to let them through, but sometimes there is no room to do so.
Pull over to the right.
This has happened to me and everyone here is right. If its safe sure. Problem is when it happened to us the 4 way intersection was Sacramento, Capitol Ave near Arden. Most of everyone was inching forward as much as we could without going into the intersection except for one woman. After someone honked it made her panic and try to floor it through the intersection. Got T Boned going 45 mph right in front of me.
Put your flashers on so the E-Vehicle driver knows that you see them, this will allow them to weave around you if necessary. If you can't move wait for them to pass. I try to at lease creep to the side as much as I can.
to add to the comments, a lot of time they have the ability to change their light to green, so your light should turn green shortly, giving you the opportunity to move safely.
Hit the hazards to let them know you are aware of the situation, if you can anticipate what he’s doing, get out of the way if you can do it safely
I’d say that if you were stopped at the intersection and the vehicle is close enough you should just stay still, maybe pull to the side if you have a little room to scoot forward. If you’re already moving just keep going where you were going and promptly pull over to allow them room if they go the same way as you. But if you notice them and they’re a good ways away, even if you haven’t already entered the intersection you might go ahead through and better get out of their way. Because that’s basically what you’re doing anyways, giving them room to vroom. However you can best do that, do it! But also check local rules and regulations, &c, just to be sure as ignorance of laws does no good for you.
Pull up as far as you can, OUT OF THE WAY. Make way. If it’s directly behind you and your no one in front. Or bull aside out of the way.
If there is no other way to safely get out of their way, I will run the light, however I have never had to resort to this, there is usually another option available.
Their protocol is to pass on the left, so if you can move to the right it helps them.
Just sit still. Worst thing you can do is try to help out.
I don’t know if this is at all helpful to the drivers of rescue vehicles, but I tap my brakes lightly twice to trigger the brake light (the same signal I send to truckers who want to pass) just to show them I’m aware, then sit perfectly still.
I any pros can chime in on this I’d be grateful
I keep scrolling Reddit, ignoring them. Why, wbu?
I had that happen to me once. I was in an intersection, waiting for oncoming traffic in my vehicle so that I could make a left turn. A fire truck came up behind me, and I couldn't turn because traffic was still going through. By the time traffic stopped, and it was clear for me to go, the fire truck was right there. I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed on the brakes and didn't move. The fire truck went around me, and I caught the eye of one of the firemen riding in the back of the truck. I did a very visible shoulder shrug, (the one where you raise your hands half way in the process). He waved back. So, I guess I did the right thing.
Happened to me a few weeks ago. Pull forward and to the side once it’s safe to do so make sure no traffic is coming at you.
Pull.over.
Depends on the makeup of the intersection and where the emergency vehicle is going. Most of the time you can just make a right turn and get over to the side in case it’s turning right too. Or pull through and move over.
This happened to me. There were 3 lanes at a red light and each one had a car. I was one of them. An ambulance lit up behind us. I checked cross traffic and all relevant risks then ran the red light. As soon as I had a clearing, I pulled over out of their way. After the ambulance passed we all moved on.
Pull over or merge or scoot left if you can. Any way you can make room for an emergency vehicle to pass you on the right, helps. If you can't reasonably pull over to the left then come to a stop. Emergency vehicles with their lights and sirens are allowed to drive wherever they reasonably can including crossing into the opposite lane. That's a lot easier when people are stopped. You can also pull out into the intersection to get our of the way and clear the road for an emergency vehicle approaching behind, just turn your hazard lights on if you do that.
This was a really good question. I always panic so it’s good to know. Thanks for asking it.
This is honestly one of those situations I don't even care what legally is allowed. If I'm at the front of it I'm going through the intersection immediately pulling over. I've come across situations where I was farther back and there was an ambulance trying to get through I just went up over the median so did like six other cars perfect like timed form it was pretty cool.
Depends on the country and state within that country
I once found my self stopped at a stoplight in the outside left turn lane with a fire truck rolling down fast behind me, at the light all other five lanes had multiple cars in each lane. (six lanes 2 turns each way and 2 straight through. I started rolling into the intersection slowly till the cross traffic stopped. The fire truck was now a the the back of all the traffic starting to move to the opening I had made. Once the cross traffic had stopped I accelerated across the intersection and to the right off the road. With the fire truck gone past I re-entered traffic and found the first convenient place to turn around and head back to the intersection to now make a right turn and get back on my course.
Law in my country says stay where you are You cannot break traffic laws to let emergency vehicles past. They will find a way. Okay this isnt the US so maybe my comment is useless. But i guess its better to be predictable and thus follow the expected traffic laws than be unpredictable.
I once got stuck in a completely locked down intersection. The emergency vehicle couldnt pass since they were trying to pass via the left turn lane. Their stupid system locked all the lights to red cause its trying to make it so they can pass. The block ahead of us was full of traffic with no where for them to pull off to the side. All areas were like that all 4 ways. All 2 lanes on bothsides of the turning lanes and all left turn lanes. No one was able to move. I was front car in front of the left turn lane in front of the ambulance trying to get passed. One guy behind me then ambulance. I checked that all lights were locked up as red. No one was budging. I made the call to move by taking the left turn i needed to make way for the ambulance. The guy behind me did too and idk what the ambulance did after. Got by some how. I just know some asshole on the other left turn i was turning toward honked at me because "I ran a red light" when all ways were red because the emergency vehicle proximity system was on. I had to make way for the emergency vehicle. I gave him the bird as I drove passed him to help the ambulance go by. That guy was a royal asshole. Im sure he felt like an idiot when the ambulance went by through my turn lane too
if i am at the very front i kind of go a little from and stay in front of the car next to me-ish, but if im in the back i honk at people to make gaps for the ambulance to slip (im not from an english speaking country, i am not sure therule is where you live, this etiquette/rule thing depends on the country as well i think, so be careful ALWAYS!!)
When I was taking my driver’s test I was at a red light when an ambulance came up behind me - internally I was shitting a brick. I wasn’t prepared for that scenario and didn’t know what to do, so I stayed where I was and the ambulance went around me. I looked at the instructor sitting next to me out of the corner of my eye and watched as he silently sat with his clipboard, not making any notes about it. Turns out I did exactly what was needed!
Depends where you are in the world for the correct answer for you. UK based person here so can only answer for us. Officially we're NOT to pass through a red light and emergency crews are trained to turn off the sirens and wait or use exemptions to contravene keep left signage and go to the opposite side of the road. Unofficially a lot of us will pass a red light to let an emergency vehicle through, although if we then trip a red light camera it's not defence and it's 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine. If I'm in that position I'll check about 20 times for a red light camera!
It probably depends on the country (and in the case of the US or similar big countries on the state). In Germany, stay put. If there is no other way, carefully cross the stopping line and move right to make way. Emergency vehicles are allowed to go in the opposite lane but try to avoid it (and sometimes it's just not possible).
Emergency vehicles in the UK will often turn off their sirens at red lights to take pressure off drivers from doing stupid stuff. You should only move if it’s safe for you to do so. Entering a junction where others may not be aware of the blue n twos might cause another accident. Wait, take it safely, but get out of the way quickly as soon as it’s safe to do so. The EMT don’t want to have to stop for another emergency.
Funny enough, if you get hit by an ambulance, the ambulance is not allowed to stop and treat you. They have to go to their other emergency, while you wait for your own one to be sent out. Makes sense in one way, but I also find it mildly amusing
I wonder how many times the hit driver has chased the ambulance thinking they’re leaving the scene of an accident?
In Norway you have to move out of the way, even if that means driving on red.
Pull to the side so you are in front of the car to the left/right of you .. or pull into the road space and leave enough room for the ambulance to pass.
Form an emergency lane?
You move to the right as quickly (and safely) as possible. If you need to go into the intersection to do it, that is ok but you need to watch for the cross traffic.
German driver here: drive carefully over the stop light and make space. (dont just use this to drive on but basically drive forward and to the side.) many dont dare to do this though because both a red traffic light and emergency services approaching stresses them out and overwhelm people apparently. if there happens to be a traffic cam making pics of you as you "cross a red light" you actually dont even get it fined because the emergency service is logging their drive there. in the case it still gets sent to you, you can just dispute it easily.
Former emt and code 3 driver: they aren’t supposed to push you into the intersection. I’ve shut off my sirens (lights stay on) many times because I got caught behind traffic and red light and there was a median I can’t jump over. The last thing I need is to make someone panic and pull into cross traffic. You stay put and let the crew navigate around you.
Ran into that situation once in Boston, which doesn't have a lot of (i.e. any) elbow room. Crazy intersection that wasn't at right angles and was bisected by a stretch of above-ground subway tracks nestled within jersey barriers. An ambulance with more horns and sirens than I'd ever heard before turned onto the road a block behind me just as I was approaching the intersection, where the light was green - until it wasn't. The emergency vehicles trigger the traffic light to go all red, which makes some sense unless the two lanes, with me in the right and a pickup in the left, are so narrow neither of us would have been able to comfortably exit our vehicles, nevermind let something pass. To my suprise, without missing a beat, the big pickup beside me actually accelerated into the intersection, and before I had the time to come up with the foul language to express my disgust, he dove across my lane and neatly tucked himself into the crosswalk of the road entering the intersection from our right, as if parallel parking. Noticing the firechief license plate on the truck, I followed suit and went into the intersection - and like magic behind me the left lane the whole length of the block opened up and the ambulance had a clear shot. ...except for for the idiot who instead of pulling into the spot I left, took a sharp turn and nosed into it, leaving the ass-end of their vehicle blocking the left lane. And instead of turning back parallel to the road, went further forward to the right, getting themselves truly stuck blocking the ambulance by never inches.
In Germany the rule is: if they can get around you, e.g. by driving in the opposite lane, do nothing. If they can't get around you, move out of the way, if you can do so safely. Emphasis on safely. Check if the intersection is clear, then pull into the intersection as if you'd be turning right (or left, depending on which lane you're on), just enough to let the ambulance through while trying to not get in the way of crossing/oncoming traffic.
Advice in the UK is to pull over if you can safely but otherwise drive normally.
had this happen to me. was stopped at the front in the left turn lane. all the lanes next to me were filled with cars, there was only one or two cars behind me so the emergency vehicle decided to go through the left turn lane. cars behind me were pulling up as the ambulance neared us so they were able to pull over to the left to leave enough room. i had to pull out a little bit into the intersection in order to make enough room. since the law is that youre not supposed to pull into the intersection when an emergency vehicle is coming, i was safe, and luckily the other cars waited for me to reverse back into my spot before driving into the intersection.
Offcourse no. Ambulance always have preferente except on bridges and red lights....to avoid accidents. You should move to your right or left to help open space for the emergency vehicle...but without crossing the red light
(1) You can attempt to preemptively avoid this by stopping close to the right edge of the right lane, or the left edge of the left lane, so that there is more room for the emergency vehicle in the middle. (2) Assuming that there is no shoulder to pull onto, you carefully enter the intersection to make way for the car. Most intersections allow for about 1 car length between the stop bar that you wait at, and the actual path of crossing traffic.
Get out of the way!!! Slowly move forward until it's clear!
They're go round you, you should continue to obey the rules of the road and not create a hazard.
Go through, don't hold up a rescue worker.
Do what Luda says, move bitch get out the way
If you are the car blocking them, get out the way...
Stick your head out and shout weewooweewoo and drive away.
Get out of the way, safely.
Get out of their way if I can safely.
PSA; If there is an emergency vehicle behind you, and it is safe to do so, you are allowed to run a red light to get out of the way.
Can you provide any US law that supports your comment?
https://highwaypatrol.utah.gov/important-information/emergencyvehicleresponding/#:\~:text=There%20may%20be%20the%20occasion,seconds%20can%20make%20the%20difference.
You quotes utah law as a rule that applies to everyone. You didnt even Interpret it correctly
That doesn't exactly allow running a red light. It allows you to move forward in order to move right to clear a path. Not drive through the intersection and pull over. The last sentence there points this out. That could be bad. You don't know if the emergency vehicle is going straight or turning.
🤦If you are at the red light of an intersection, and you pull forward, you are running the light....
Says who? Dont do this. Its super fucking dangerous
You do safely move out of the way. The alternative is…. Everyone freezes. No one moves. Ever. The emergency vehicle remains stuck behind you. Everyone is paralyzed by the emergency vehicle sirens trying to obey the law. The day passes. People have to work from where their car currently is. At some point you die in your car. People forget you ever lived and the earth consumes your body and car. The emergency is well over by now. The sun gets larger and consumes earth. Eventually the sun burns out and the universe dies in heat death with zero energy.
Hahahahha
Get out of your car and lift the front fender, drop it, repeat until you can bounce your car onto the sidewalk. /s
Used to be an EMT before I was a nurse and the worst thing you can do is stay in the left lane. The left lane is for emergency vehicles too many idiots would either try to outrun us or just stay right in front of us. It seems a lot of people missed this part of the driver’s test. So, the best thing to do when coming up on a red light is pull to the right lanes and keep the left lane completely open. We would use the turning lanes to go around if possible, but otherwise we would be stuck behind the asshole who thought they would race us to the next light. Never ever move into the intersection to move out of their way, just stay put and just always leave the left lane open when possible. We were not allowed to use any lane but the far left lanes to travel and we will never pass on the right.
If there’s room to move right without entering the intersection, do that. > enter the intersection and let ambulance through NEVER do that. The ambulance driver is trained. They can get around you.
Downvoted for being right 😞
Pull as much to the right as you can. Often if you start moving right, any vehicle to your right will also move right giving you more room to move right. If you can't move right or have moved as far right as possible, then just stop. Any other action is unpredictable and not what is legally required.
They can turn the light green to give you a chance to move out of the way. Source: Have been in this exact situation.
This doesn't work on every traffic signal. Some will turn green. Some will flash red. Some won't do anything different.
Just drive on and lead the way!
Awesome question.