Would you...

We will get past you folks, just don't panic, pull over and stop immediately if you see us approaching from behind. Take stock of your options.

It's sometimes better if you dont pullover and stop immediately, but actually speed up and stop further ahead in a safer position.

In 15 years of driving Fire Appliances as an EFAD driver, I've seen some really mad reactions to us trying to negotiate traffic on the way to a shout.

You don't have to get out of the way immediately, put some thought into your reaction to an emergency service vehicle behind you, and react accordingly.

I do know however, that not all drivers can manage to put much "thought" into anything, so this only really works in an ideal world.

Another thing to make a point of from my point of view.

The way PDA's work in the Fire Service ( Pre Determined Attendances ), means that a lot of the time, it won't just be one appliance trying to get past.

A lot of firecalls require two appliances to mobilise and invariably, the fire appliance that has just passed you may well be followed either by another appliance going to the same shout or an HRU ( Heavy Rescue Unit ) if they are attending a road traffic collision.

So when the first one passes you, don't get caught staring at it thinking "Look at the big red fire engine"...!!!!. Check your mirrors as the first goes by for another one and then check mirrors again before you move off after it has passed.
 
I wouldn't damage my vehicle just to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. I wouldn't go through a red light or into a bus lane either if it ment getting a fine.
 
Nope I wouldn't mount a kerb unless it had a dip, which is fine. I did that once though and had to come off on a really high bit and heard the most god awful clonk :(

I always pull in as far as possible / use someone's driveway / inset bit of road/whatever
 
al123 said:
I know the OP’s question was what would you do and not what should do but this is what the Highway Code says.

219
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.
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SHould have known that. I have mounted the kerb before but I think it was low. We need some pics to show what is considered a high kerb.
 
No i wouldn't damage my alloys to let an emergency service vehicle through. I'd try and accelerate to a place where they could pass me safely.
 
Can I come in with a question? If you move into a bus lane to let an emergency vehicle through, then move back out again, would you still get fined, assuming bus lane hours are in operation obviously?
In response to the OP, yes, but mainly because my car is a POS anyway. Though I have never had the need to do this.
 
RossG said:
Can I come in with a question? If you move into a bus lane to let an emergency vehicle through, then move back out again, would you still get fined, assuming bus lane hours are in operation obviously?
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On some other motoring forums, there are people who have had tickets because of this, whereby cameras have just snapped them in that lane. Although they said they appealled, I am not aware of what the outcome was.
I would hope that it would have been waived but this is England, so anything's possible.

oooh, 2000 posts.
 
DB_SamX said:
On some other motoring forums, there are people who have had tickets because of this, whereby cameras have just snapped them in that lane. Although they said they appealled, I am not aware of what the outcome was.
I would hope that it would have been waived but this is England, so anything's possible.

oooh, 2000 posts.
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But is it really worth the hassle?
 
MrSix said:
If you're a vigilant driver then you'll have prior warning from hearing the sirens, that should give you enough time to manouver your vehicle to an appropriate place.
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Yeah, I'd never say I'm the best driver in the world but I'm observant enough to spot or hear an ambulance with plenty of notice.

Worst incident I've had was when I spotted an ambulance with plenty of notice, carried on until there was a big gap in the parked cars and I pulled in with plenty of room for the car behind as well. Unfortunately the dozy cow must have had her mirrors set to make-up application position with "Booty ***" blasting out on the stereo cos she decided to do a "what are you stopping for?" gesture and pulled out around me right infront of the ambulance :eek: She then did the usual "****.... ambulance.... what to do.... ummmm..... lets stop dead and block them" :rolleyes:

Back to the original question I wouldn't mount any curb I thought had a chance of damaging my car. I have however mounted normal size curbs but always do so at full lock and haven't had any scuffed wheels from doing so.
 
I'd mount a kerb but not one that would obviously damage my car, unless there was no other way for them to get past in the near future.
 
hittman said:
No I wouldn't. They are trained to pass you safely.
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I don't really get this. All the training in the world isn't going to make the ambulance fly.

Your responsibility, in taking your vehicle on the road, is to make all effort possible to get the out of the way.

I mean, if it's a foot high kerb and theres no way you're getting up it, fair enough. But I would have thought most cars could get up a 6inch curb fairly easily.

What did one shepard say to the other?
"Lets get the flock out of here."
 
jamoor said:
But is it really worth the hassle?
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For what? Going in the bus lane or appealing the ticket?

First one: most likely no now that I know that I could get a ticket for it. I'd prob slow down or get to the end of the bus lane.

Second one: defintiely yes.
 
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