Yes, jurisdictions vary the actual legal authority.
The Setup
A cross intersection. Two lanes both directions, divided roadway (center median strips with curbs) with an additional left turn lane in all directions. Controlled by traffic signals, including left turn arrows. This is a very busy intersection, even on a quiet Sunday.
The Scenario
I witnessed this this morning as I was picking up the Sunday newspaper. I was not in a vehicle and had full view of the entire intersection.
What Happened
The light was green for the cross traffic. Traffic in the primary street was backed up at least five to seven cars in both lanes, in both directions, with at least two cars waiting in the left turn lanes in both directions.
Am ambulance running lights and siren approached the intersection in the stopped street. It moved into the left turn lane (behind the two stopped vehicles) and changed the siren to repeated on off use of the siren horn (instead of the usual woo-woo siren). The ambulance driver also laid on his vehicle horn as well. The two stopped turning vehicles were “forced” into making premature left hand turns, while the cross traffic was running and had a green light. This put both drivers into harm’s way. Only after the ambulance was visible to the cross traffic did the cross traffic traffic stop and allow the ambulance through, which did not turn but moved back into the main lane of traffic and proceeded on it way. (The two vehicles waiting to turn – stopped by red arrows/red lights – managed to get through traffic and there were no accidents.)
Questions
Can am emergency vehicle force you to break the law and put you in harm’s way like this? Had a cross traffic vehicle hit a turning vehicle “forced” (intimidated?) into the intersection by the ambulance, would the ambulance be at fault?
It has always been my understanding that while every driver must give way to an emergency vehicle (running lights and siren) whenever possible, however, if that is not possible, then either stop right where you are so the emergency vehicle will go around you, or said emergency vehicle must wait until the other vehicles can legally get out of the way.
I don’t think an ambulance can “force” you to do anything, whether it involves breaking the law or not - you don’t legally have to make any effort to facilitate an ambulance’s journey, it’s just obvious that it’s the right thing to do. So I suspect the answer is no: if those cars had decided to sit in front of the ambulance blocking it, there’s nothing the ambulance could do. But given that there could have been someone dying in the back of the ambulance, personally I’d be willing to risk some dodgy driving to let it through.
Having said that I just spoke to a friend who seems to think that it is actually against the law to not make way for an ambulance. I will have to wait for those more knowledgeable than me to come along to find out who’s right.
I question the premise that the two cars which turned were breaking the law. Certainly they had a duty to only proceed if it was safe to. I was in a similar situation, stopped at a red once. I made sure it was safe, proceeded through the intersection and pulled over to the [del]left[/del] right and let the ambulance through. I had no fear of getting a ticket (although I guess it was possible).
you can run red lights if you are in a funeral procession and the lead car went through the intersection.
you can run red lights if you make a path for an emergency vehicle doing the siren/lights, you treat it as a yield sign situation.
you could get a ticket for not making way for an emergency vehicle, though you might get off claiming you didn’t think you could legally (long chance) or that you didn’t think could safely (better chance).
Here in the U.K., people have been prosecuted for going through red lights to allow emergency vehicles to pass. This has not endeared the police to the public.
The ambulance driver did not violate provisions (2) and (4), and (1) supports that the drivers were not breaking the law. It’s not like the ambulance physically pushed the cars into the intersection.
You are not required to put yourself at risk. Making such a turn is not required. You should move aside - if you can - but you should do nothing dangerous.
You should yield right of way, and try to accomodate the emergency vehicle’s progress as much as posisble without making any dangerous maneuvers. The exact phrasing of any given jurisdiction’s laws will vary, but all will tend towards saying pretty much that.
In practice, you’ll never be prosecuted for such things. Just do what you feel is reasonable.
I don’t know about the legality of the situation, but from a safety standpoint, the two cars turning left should have been OK, right? I imagine the cross traffic should have stopped for the ambulance anyway?
Cite? I find that hard to believe. Maybe it happened once due to poor judgement by some rookie copper and the media kicked up a shitstorm about it, but as a blanket statement I find that very misleading.
No, actually I am pretty sure it’s the law. There is no doubt that here in California you are shall yield right of way.
Are you from the US? I have a troubling time believing there is any place in the US does not require motorists to facilitate an ambulance’s journey* as best they can by yielding rights of way. . .
*A genuine emergency while running a Code 3 with full lights and siren.
While there may be nuances across 65 jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada, in general it’s incorrect to suggest that the driver of an emergency vehicle can compel you to “break the law” – for the simple reason that states’ rules of the road specifically allow for the overriding of an automated traffic control device like a stop sign or traffic light by direction of a police or peace officer or, usually, the direction of an authorized emergency responder in the process of dealing with an emergency. In short, you are not “running a red light” when you obey a policeman’s or fireman’s direction to proceed despite what the light may be stuck on. Likewise, an ambulance, police car, fire engine, or rescue vehicle proceeding “Code 3” (lights and siren) n response to an emergency supersedes obedience to a non-emergency traffic-control device.
I recall taking the written test for an operator’s license when we moved here, my New York license having expired so I needed to get a ‘new’ license rather than transferring my NY one. One question was:
When if ever is it legal to go through a red light?
A. Never
B. Whenever it’s safe to do so
C. When directed to do so by a peace officer
D. After coming to a full stop and yielding to other traffic.
The answer, of course, is “C” – it does not specify the “right on red” turn.
EMT and fireman checking in, with North Carolina experience. Other jurisdictions YMMV.
If I’m running hot and get caught at a traffic light behind traffic, I cannot compel you to make an illegal move to get out of my way. As an ambulance driver, even with a critical patient in back, I’m not going to force the issue if I’m stuck behind you, but I will make some pretty dodgey moves to get around the mass of cars IF I see a hole I can get through.
I have run stop lights, but I’ll stop first, then proceed through. I also treat green lights as though they will turn yellow before I get there. A wrecked unit does my patient no good.
I will cut people some slack for not yielding if there’s not a safe way to do it, such as in a sharp curve or narrow shoulders, but I also get very POed if there’s a mile of wide straightaway with no oncoming traffic, and they won’t pull over. I have called for police intercepts on both failure to yield (once) and the wake riders (twice), who try to pretend they’re family following behind to take advantage of my lights.
The people in the OP made their moves at their own risk, and I would not have moved if I was in their situation. When the light turns green and the intersection clears is the proper time to get out of the way.
