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Welcome to Gemini Driving Response to

Blue Lights

This information contains the correct response to blue lights
Gemini Driving hopes you will find this information helpful, this is the response the emergency vehicle will expect from other road users,
Gemini Driving is a site dedicated to driving and driver training, you can e-mail Gemini Driving for advice on any driving matter, all e-mails are treated with the strictest confidence.

Reacting to emergency vehicles

The highway code offers some advice on the correct course of
action to take upon seeing Emergency vehicles travelling on an emergency call, this information seeks to address the short fall of advice in the highway code, in order to enhance road safety and improve the public understanding of the intentions of emergency vehicle drivers. 

Here are some Do's Don'ts

KERBS

Do not mount the kerbs to avoid emergency vehicles, you may damage your vehicles steering, tyres, wheels and suspension, larger vehicles may damage the pavement, there is also a risk to pedestrians.

Causing an Obstruction

Do not stop opposite vehicles if such positioning would not allow
the emergency vehicle to pass

Reacting to emergency vehicles

Junctions

If you are about to emerge from a side road and see or here an
emergency vehicle on the major road, do not try to emerge until it passes.

Traffic Lights

If whilst travelling across a traffic light Junction, you become aware of an emergency vehicle approaching from either side, do not brake harshly, this may cause an accident, if you cannot stop by gradual braking then keep going across the Junction, emergency vehicles, MUST give way to traffic crossing on a green light.

Reacting to Emergency vehicles

at Roundabouts

If you are on a roundabout and see an emergency vehicle approaching, Do not brake harshly to allow the emergency vehicle to enter the roundabout, there may be a vehicle behind you that is unable to stop, if possible reduce speed gently without causing danger to yourself or other road users, otherwise keep going and the emergency will enter after you safely.

Second Emergency vehicle

After one emergency vehicle has passed be aware that a second emergency may be approaching, check your mirrors and listen for sirens, when there are two emergency vehicles running towards the same incident, different types of sirens should be used to assist other road users identification.  

Reacting to Emergency Vehicles

                   Double White Lines

If an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind whilst you are travelling along a double white line system, where the line nearer to you is solid, maintain a safe speed and do not exceed the speed limit, the emergency vehicle will hang back from your vehicle and may even turn off some of the emergency equipment, if you see an obvious area signal your intension to do so, at the end of the white line system or where the lines change priority find a safe place to stop or slow down to allow the emergency to pass. 

Motorways or dual Carriageways

 Where emergency vehicles are travelling on a dual- carriageways or motorways drivers in front should move to near side lanes, this will allow the emergency vehicles to use the outer lane, when moving into near side lanes, drivers should signal there intentions and take care not to pull directly in front of a vehicle already in that lane.

Reacting to Emergency Vehicles

Obstructions  

Where the traffic is stationary or very slow moving on multi-lane roads, the emergency vehicle may straddle the lane markings, other should move in the appropriate direction to facilitate the progress of the emergency vehicle.

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