Stopped at a red light, ambulance approaching behind me.

[BeauJangles]

Hey guys,

I think I'm a pretty good driver (6 yrs with a license, no tickets, no accidents), but tonight I was hit with a situation where I wasn't really sure what to do.

I was stopped at a red light at an intersection. The road I was on had three lanes, one of which was a left-hand turn only lane. I was in the middle lane. An ambulance approached from behind and I ended up pulling in front of the car in the left-hand turn lane (and ultimately just deciding to take that left).

Is there a better course of action? Where do most people look to pull over? My only saving grace here was that the stop line was 15 feet from the actual intersection, so I could get over without putting my nose into crossing traffic.

In case it isn't clear, I drew a crappy image. I'm the blue car, the ambulance is in red.
http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aspp2.jpg

Like I said, I've been driving for a few years, but I've never been in that situation before. Weird.

Thanks!

 

[onlyCOpunk]

If it was safe for you to get out of the way, then that is what you do. If not you stay still and let the ambulance work it's way around you.

 

[Chryso]

I think you did fine.

 

[Slew Foot]

I used to drive an Ambulance. Youre supposed to turn off the lights and sirens and wait for the traffic to clear in that situation. You're not supposed to make people move into lanes of traffic to get out of your way.

 

[richardycc]

pull slightly to the right, so it will give enough room for the ambulance to get by you on your left side. as soon as the ambulance has passed, go straight as if nothing ever happened.

 

[Newbian]

Roll down the window and ask them how much for some of the good stuff. 😉

 

[rudeguy]

When in doubt, stay put.

I have always been taught to slow down and pull to the right. If I can't do that, I just stay where I am.

 

[nanette1985]

Get out of the way, if you can do it safely. If not, stay put and let the ambulance do the lights-siren thing and get thru the intersection their own way. Keep watching everybody.

Looks like you did the right thing.

 

[drum]

you should have gotten out and saved the patient in the ambulance

 

[Kaervak]

The EMS service I work for states that we only pass on the left so I'd prefer people to pull off to the right as far over as possible. But as long as you get out of the way as best you can you're ok. 🙂

 

[Auggie]

AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

actually that's not true. There are LOTS of circumstances where it is okay to proceed through a red light when its is determined to be all clear.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

I believe this is correct.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
If it was safe for you to get out of the way, then that is what you do. If not you stay still and let the ambulance work it's way around you.

This

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

I believe this is correct.

Ambulances turn all 4 lights red. If you're blocking the way, the intersection will be clear so you can get out of the way.

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: Toasthead

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

actually that's not true. There are LOTS of circumstances where it is okay to proceed through a red light when its is determined to be all clear.

How about when there's a giant Transformer coming from behind you?

 

[IronWing]

Here's a fun one:

You're cruising down a rural interstate with very light traffic, basically just you and the ambulance you a rapidly overtaking. The ambulance has its red/white lights on. It is going 10 mph below the speed limit. You are going the speed limit. Is it legal to pass it and continue on your way or do you have to hang out a safe distance behind the ambulance? Yes, this happened to me. I passed it.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Here's a fun one:

You're cruising down a rural interstate with very light traffic, basically just you and the ambulance you a rapidly overtaking. The ambulance has its red/white lights on. It is going 10 mph below the speed limit. You are going the speed limit. Is it legal to pass it and continue on your way or do you have to hang out a safe distance behind the ambulance? Yes, this happened to me. I passed it.

I say just give the ambulance ample room to move. Its if its barreling down the highway, get out of the way. If its going with traffic, move over a lane to give it some room. Common sense.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
When in doubt, stay put.

I have always been taught to slow down and pull to the right. If I can't do that, I just stay where I am.

the law here says the same thing. Either pull over to the right or stay where you are so that the ambulance, police car, firetruck, etc, can figure out the best way to get around everyone.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: rudeguy
When in doubt, stay put.

I have always been taught to slow down and pull to the right. If I can't do that, I just stay where I am.

the law here says the same thing. Either pull over to the right or stay where you are so that the ambulance, police car, firetruck, etc, can figure out the best way to get around everyone.

People who stay put are the worst. I hate it when people just stop moving when an ambulance comes down the street. That's worse than doing nothing at all. Now all of these stopped cars are blocking the road.

 

[lokiju]

Everyone should pull to the right if possible.

 

[zzuupp]

Since you never impeded its right of way, I *think* that you were ok.

I would definitely have passed it as well.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: Toasthead

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Auggie
AFAIK, it's legal to SAFELY run a red-light to let an ambulance get through traffic.

Um no. Under ZERO circumstances are you to run a red light. If conditions won't allow you to pull to the side, you stay where you are.

actually that's not true. There are LOTS of circumstances where it is okay to proceed through a red light when its is determined to be all clear.

yeah. the all-encompassing rule: it's legal to do all within your power to avoid an accident, even if that means breaking other laws.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd say the ambulance should have gotten into the right lane in that situation. lane with the least cars and that one guy could have just turned around the corner to the right...