Do you know what to do when an emergency vehicle is coming towards you in your vehicle?
Police, fire and ambulance vehicles are emergency vehicles.
If an emergency vehicle is coming towards you in your vehicle and is sounding an alarm or showing flashing red or blue lights, you should:
- Remain calm and do not panic
- Give way to the emergency vehicle by moving as far to the left of the road as you can. Do not break the law to give way to an emergency vehicle (ie drive through a red light or speeding to stay ahead of it).
- Always signal your intentions and use your indicators to let the driver of the emergency vehicle know exactly what you are doing.
The Road Traffic Act 2000 states that “A driver shall give way to, and make every reasonable effort to give a clear and uninterrupted passage to every police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm.”
The simplest and safest way to do this is to remember these 3 key points:
- Slow down.
- Keep to your left.
- Don’t panic
Penalty: Failure to give way to an emergency vehicle = 4 demerit points and $400 infringement.
Above all, remember that while the law says you must give way to emergency vehicles, there is no point endangering yourself or other drivers in the process – so try not to panic. Emergency vehicle drivers are all professionally trained to drive under emergency conditions and make their way safely through the traffic.
Source: www.roadrules.rsc.wa.gov.au
