GEM Motoring Assist’s latest advice to help car drivers better understand different road user groups focuses on sharing the road with emergency vehicles.
GEM says the “vast majority” of road users want to help an emergency service driver, but it is not always clear what they are expected to do. As a result, GEM says “too many members of the public are putting themselves in danger, breaking the law or risking damage to their cars” while trying to assist an emergency vehicle on a blue light run.
A short video from GEM – made with the full support of the emergency services – outlines the most appropriate course of action for drivers to take in a variety of situations where they may encounter an emergency vehicle.
David Williams MBE, GEM chief executive, said: “Emergency service drivers make ‘blue light’ journeys because someone needs their urgent help.
“We in turn can help them by giving them the room they need. In so doing, we may well be helping to save a life.”
GEM five tips to promote safety for drivers and emergency vehicles are:
• Stay safe and legal. No one expects you to put yourself at risk or break the law in an attempt to help an emergency vehicle.
• Remain calm and observant. The earlier you spot an emergency vehicle, the more time you have to plan.
• Don’t make judgements on which emergency vehicles deserve your help and which ones don’t. Aim for a consistently thoughtful and courteous attitude that puts safety first in every situation.
• If you slow down or stop, don’t move off or accelerate until the emergency vehicle has passed completely.
• There may be more than one emergency vehicle coming, so listen for different sirens, and look all round before moving off.
Thank you for your stated support for Space is Safe Nigel. David is right about the law regarding solid white lines. It appears that parking on them is not legal but stopping and setting down and picking up is. As regards horse or horses, it would appear that one can overtake a horse being ridden or walked but one pulling a caravan is NOT! That is according to the police information website. The law is a funny thing.
PS other than those things actually stipulated in the Highway Code one cannot pass ANYTHING ELSE without committing an offence. So if its sheep or cattle that’s also against the law. I presume also a pedestrian or more pedestrians. A group of cyclists no problem.
Bob Craven Lancs. Space is Safe Campaigner
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Nigel:
There are only a few exceptions to crossing/straddling solid white lines for the purposes of overtaking. The object to be overtaken must be stationary unless it is a pedal cycle, a horse, or a roadworks vehicle traveling at less than 10mph. Drivers of emergency vehicles, as far as I am aware, are not exempt from the above rules so they cannot overtake slow moving vehicles unless they are involved in road works if there are solid white lines.
David, Suffolk
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I like Bob Craven’s comment ‘Space is a Safe Campaigner’. Space and time are your friends. Too little road safety campaigns/policies promote having space and time to react, within which also comes having the right speed for the conditions so that there is time to react.
Nigel Albright
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Excellent video, Pat, in general terms.
Just one or two points:
1) Learner driver vehicle did not have a secondary mirror
2) Double whites – can pass providing vehicle is 10mph or less (not when actually stopped
3) Police stopping proceedure – it will probably be following without blue lights and then switch them on when they want to stop you.
Nigel Albright
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This blue lights awareness video has been around for a while as well and is also worth a look. http://www.bluelightaware.org.uk
Pat, Wales
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Some years ago Devon and Cornwall Police were teaching their drivers that when on blues and twos in certain situations (i.e tail back at RABs) to switch off the lights and stop using the siren in order to avoid collateral damage caused by drivers over reacting to emergency vehicles on a shout.
They also publicised this to the general public as part of an education process. The problem can be that those on blues and twos feel it is a basis for barging through traffic rather than an aid to their safe progress on a shout.
Nigel Albright
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Is GEM’s 3rd advice bullet point really necessary? For there to be sufficient numbers of drivers choosing to not assist (or even hinder?) one branch of the emergency services that it warrants a top 3 in GEM’s advice, is worrying. Which branch of the emergency services is it that experiences noticable levels of public obstruction? Is this a new form of protest and what has led to citizens feeling they need to do this? But first, is there any data that supports GEM’s suggestion that there is such a problem with public attitudes?
Dave Finney, Slough
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It should say do not drive through traffic lights on red. Do not wait until they are at the rear of you and are required to put there sirens on. It certainly makes one jump. Do not rush through lights on Amber just to clear the way. Amber means stop. Do not be overly concerned if you are committed and can’t go anywhere. They will understand and make their quickest way past you anyway. And do not accelerate and follow the emergency vehicle for whatever reason.
Bob Craven Lancs…… Space is Safe Campaigner
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