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You're at a stop light and an ambulance comes from behind

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What confuses me is the way the ambulance was driving, it seemed to me he wanted the people in front of him to move. The people in the turn lane eventually backed up and it went into the oncoming lanes, but the ambulance could have easily went into the oncoming lane from the beginning (it was completely empty)

I was just wondering what the law says about it.
 
Originally posted by: drnickriviera
What confuses me is the way the ambulance was driving, it seemed to me he wanted the people in front of him to move. The people in the turn lane eventually backed up and it went into the oncoming lanes, but the ambulance could have easily went into the oncoming lane from the beginning (it was completely empty)

I was just wondering what the law says about it.
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Legally, they're allowed to go into the incoming lane if it's "safe" to do so. They proceed at their own risk. If somebody had turned into the lane, or if there was somebody in the lane and there wound up being a head-on collision, the ambulance would be at fault.

Like I said, the ambulance can do what it needs to when coming to intersections, but that does not absolve them of responsibility. They're supposed to cross/switch lanes/etc if it is safe to do so.

The ambulance driver was trying to minimize risk and hazard to itself by getting people out of the lane.
 
I was in a situation where I was in a left turn lane that had a median to my left and to my right both lanes were packed with cars stopped at a red light. An ambulance came behind me - he couldn't go around because of the median to the left and then all of the cars at the red light to the right.
All traffic all four ways was stopped, so I just made a left turn on the red light so the ambulance behind me could pass through.

I think if you just exercise common sense, what you do should be obvious.
 
Wait 5 seconds until the preemption cycle is executed, and go at the green. Even the most podunk nowhere traffic lights around here have MIRT recievers planted on them (except the temporary ones in the construction site, and those are illegally installed 6 ways to sunday) - and this is fvcking Pennsylvania.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Wait 5 seconds until the preemption cycle is executed, and go at the green. Even the most podunk nowhere traffic lights around here have MIRT recievers planted on them (except the temporary ones in the construction site, and those are illegally installed 6 ways to sunday) - and this is fvcking Pennsylvania.
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Apparently not here. It was sitting there for a good 10 sec.

 
Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Wait 5 seconds until the preemption cycle is executed, and go at the green. Even the most podunk nowhere traffic lights around here have MIRT recievers planted on them (except the temporary ones in the construction site, and those are illegally installed 6 ways to sunday) - and this is fvcking Pennsylvania.
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Apparently not here. It was sitting there for a good 10 sec.
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That sucks. I was driving when I saw lights flashing behind me, so I obviously pulled to the right to get out of its way. But it's pretty nice following an ambulance since they flip all of the lights for you. 😀
 
I usually notice they pull up to the lane with the least amount of cars waiting, once I see traffic has stopped in all directions, I proceed through the intersection 🙂

Sometimes If I am the only car I'll pull in front of the car in the lane next to me, (yeah i'm part way in the intersection, but not blocking traffic)

I've even heard cops tell people to proceed through the light once traffic stopped at all sides.
 
If it is safe to do so, get out of the way. If not safe, stay there. If you pull out into the intersection and cause an accident that will require another ambulance. And your busted ass vehicle will still be in the way.
 
I've had ambulances come up behind me twice -- both times I proceeded through the intersection. IIRC, it was both at the same intersection -- not much cross traffic (on and offramps to I75), and what little traffic there was at the time would've been able to see the ambulance fine, since it was directly behind my (small) vehicle.

I figure if I needed an ambulance for something, I wouldn't want someone blocking an ambulance to wait for a green light unless it was unsafe to proceed.
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
Your supposed to be courteous and move out of the way if it is safe and possible. If it's not, don't try to do something stupid.

Also, even though those lights and sirens are blaring, the ambulance is still supposed to proceed with caution. If an accident results from the driver's negligence, they can be cited.
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I used to be an EMT/Ambulance driver. IF you're at a red light and all the lanes are blocked (first of all the ambulance shold be on the other side of road but let's say that didnt happen), the ambulance is supposed to turn off the lights and sirens and wait for the light to change colors and then turn them back on. You are NEVER allowed to break a road law in order to accomodate an ambulance, i.e. when stopped at a red light, DO NOT move into the intersection.
 
I wouldn't swear to it, but I believe that legally an emergency vehicle with lights and siren has the highest right of way there is, which trumps red lights, etc. So legally I believe you have to get out of the way, as long as it's possible to do so without causing an accident.
 
If you're in a place with any amount of money and population, they should have the light thingies at every intersection that can catch the signal from oncoming emergency vehicles and change the signals to let your lanes go.
 
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