crich area community news
Blues and twos
Deciding on what to do when you hear an emergency vehicle approaching can be a dilemma. Do you stay where you are with the potential to block their progress? On the other hand, do you move into a position that may put you or other road users at risk?
Whilst in no way unique, our local area presents some specific quandaries for the unwary driver. High overgrown hedges obstruct vision resulting in a late view of an approaching emergency vehicle. The hard stone surfaces of local buildings and rock faces sometimes result in confusing sound echoes masking the direction of approach. Narrow lanes, parked vehicles, visitors with little local knowledge and at times heavy traffic congestion all compound the problem. When coupled with a higher than average number of traffic accidents in our area there is a need for us to
be well versed in accommodating and assisting emergency vehicles.
I have discussed with group members who served in the emergency services, exactly what are they looking for from the public when on blues and twos. Their response, along with advice in the revised Highway Code (Rule 219), the IAM, RoSPA, AA and RAC provide the sources which form the basis for the following article.
All authorities agree that you should deal with the problem in the same way that you deal with any other potentially hazardous driving situation, namely observe, plan, and above all don’t panic.
Think about where you are on the road.
What is the safest option available to you?
What are the emergency driver’s options?
The aim must be that you get out of the way as soon as possible, indicate your intentions clearly and do so in good time. Above all, you must sacrifice everything for safety, but never sacrifice safety for anything else.
General advice includes:– don’t just brake. Whilst it’s natural to want to react, instinctively putting your brakes on immediately in front of an emergency vehicle may not help; it slows progress and may jeopardise other road users’ safety. Likewise, don’t pull in opposite obstructions, such as centre bollards, parked or queuing cars etc.
Think about where you are asking the emergency driver to overtake you – on the brow of a hill or a blind bend can be placing him or her in a very difficult position. If you are moving it may well be that you can continue at a reasonable pace and the emergency vehicle can follow you out of a pocket of congestion.
For some time the Highway Code has included green flashing lights in the colour range. These are used by doctors who may have received driver training but they may not be as practiced as others. The latest issue now includes flashing amber as used by the Highway Agency Traffic Officers and other support agencies. Be aware that there is potential to confuse these flashing lights with farm vehicles and other large loads. The best advice is to treat any flashing light with caution.
In our driving career, it is most likely that we will approach an incident in which the emergency services are attending. Rule 281 in the Highway Code gives advice under these circumstances.
Police vehicles will use rear facing flashing red and blue lights and traffic officers red and amber rear facing flashing lights to help control the situation. Under these situations, you must follow any directions given by authorised officers: failure to do so is an offence.
IMPORTANT
It’s a popular misconception that special conditions apply when you are accommodating an emergency vehicle’s passage. Speeding, running red lights, mounting pavements, stopping in bus lanes, box junctions and on solid white lines remain traffic offences. If an accident results from your actions, your prosecution may follow. The overriding advice must be don’t break the law: emergency drivers have training and legal exemptions that you don’t. Let them resolve the law.
When dealing with approaching emergency vehicles, be prepared for the unexpected actions of less skilful and inexperienced drivers. Remember we share the road with drivers we don’t know and whose skill levels we can only estimate.
Eric Elwell (Training Officer)
MATLOCK (Derwent and Hope Valleys) Group of Advanced Motorists Tel 01629 812732
www.iam.org.uk/groups/matlock