You are driving on the road and stuck in a traffic light. Suddenly, you saw an ambulance with flashing lights coming from behind from your rearview mirror. What should you do in this situation? To your knowledge, an ambulance is categorised as an emergency vehicle. According to the Road Transport Department (JPJ), drivers must give way to emergency vehicles with their sirens turned on.
How should you react and move when approached by emergency vehicles on the road? Read on as we explain more in detail for your reference in the future.
What is considered an emergency vehicle?
- Police
- Fire
- Ambulance
- Military
What should you do when approached by emergency vehicles?
Of course, you need to move over your vehicle out of the way of any emergency vehicle that is coming toward you. This includes whether they approach from behind or in front of you.
Please be reminded to move quickly whenever you see the lights and hear the siren of a police car, an ambulance, or a fire truck.
Here are some scenarios you encounter emergency vehicles on the road.
Scenario A: If the emergency vehicle is behind you
If you saw an emergency vehicle coming from behind, please slow down your pace. Pull your vehicle or change to a lane away from the emergency vehicle. However, if a lane change is not possible, reduce speed and proceed with caution.
If your vehicle is stationary amid traffic on a multi-lane road and unable to move over the shoulder, try to move as far as you can. An emergency vehicle such as a fire truck or ambulance needs space (at least a 3-meter gap) to pass through.
Stop your car until the emergency vehicle passes through you.
Scenario B: If you see a stopped emergency vehicle
If an emergency vehicle is stopped on the right side of the road with its lights flashing, slow down your speed and pass with caution.
Move into a lane that is a bit farther away. This is to give the emergency vehicle extra space to maneuver.
Scenario C: When the vehicle is coming towards from the opposite direction
You are supposed to pull over your vehicle as quickly if an emergency vehicle approaches from the opposite direction.
You have no idea if they are proceeding down the road, or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right in front of you.
What you should not do?
Blocking intersections
Avoid blocking the intersections. If you need to move your vehicle out of the path of an emergency vehicle and stop as soon as possible, please be reminded to never stop partway through an intersection.
If you are in an intersection when the emergency vehicle approaches from behind, please drive out of the intersection before pulling over.
In some cases, emergency vehicle drivers may use a loudspeaker to ask motorists who are blocking their path.
Following an emergency vehicle
Don’t take advantage of following an emergency vehicle that has active sirens and flashing lights too closely.
Don’t be self-center. Prevent from using an emergency vehicle’s clear wake to get ahead of other traffic.
Can you get sued for blocking an emergency vehicle’s pathway?
According to Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, emergency vehicles on duty have the right of way over all other traffic.
Rule 9(1) states that:-
- They must warn others that they’re approaching by sounding a siren, bell, or two-tone horn.
- They are still bound by their legal responsibilities and traffic laws on dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate driving.
Therefore, it would be an offence to get in their way. Here are several cases involving the public obstructing an emergency vehicle’s pathway:
- Police arrested two men for deliberately obstructing an ambulance that was taking a patient to hospital in March 2022. They were investigated under Section 341 of the same code for wrongful obstruction.
- Two men who had encroached into the path of an ambulance have been charged at the Magistrate’s Court here in March 2022 under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Be considerate with emergency vehicles on the road
It does not cost you a thing to be considerate. Please make way for emergency vehicles to pass through. You could be saving someone’s life by being considerate, who knows?
Therefore, be a considerate driver and tolerate your surroundings.
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