5 Tips to Promote Safety for Drivers and Emergency Vehicles

How confident are you of knowing what to do when you’re on the road and you see an ambulance blue light in your rear view mirror? There’s an emergency, ambulance lights flashing as the crew hurry to help someone in immediate need. What’s the best way to help while ensuring you stay safe and also respect the rules of the road?

GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging all road users to be ‘Blue Light Aware’, and to stay safe and legal when helping emergency services vehicles.

The call comes as councils across England and Wales continue to charge drivers for traffic offences such as driving into bus lanes or not stopping at red traffic lights. GEM’s line-up of short video animations at bluelightaware.org.uk outlines the best course of action for drivers to take when they encounter an emergency vehicle.

5 Tips to Promote Safety for Drivers and Emergency Vehicles

GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst says: “Pulling over for emergency vehicles is something the vast majority of drivers will always wish to do. We want to help emergency service drivers, and most of the time it’s just a simple case of pulling over to let them past.

“But we need to ensure that anything we do as drivers is safe and legal. That’s because we must all follow the rules of the road, even when giving way to an emergency vehicle.

“Can ambulances run red lights and exceed speed limits? Yes, but only after extensive advanced driver training – and it’s still the individual responsibility of the emergency driver should anything go wrong. Driving standards for emergency response vehicles are rightly very high. The privileges and exemptions they use will only be granted once they are able to show an advanced level of driving and a thorough knowledge of road traffic law.

“Blue light drivers have certain privileges, but they must still respect the emergency vehicle driving regulations. We have no such privileges, so if we drive through a red traffic light or into a bus lane to make space for an ambulance, we are putting ourselves in danger and risking a substantial fine, even if we’re simply trying to help.

Drivers of UK emergency vehicles appreciate the assistance we provide when it’s safe and legal, but they do not expect anyone to put themselves or others in danger – or on the wrong side of the law, according to GEM. They are also keen to ensure that other drivers think about when to pull over for emergency vehicles.

“The line-up of short videos will show how we can help at junctions and roundabouts, on motorways and on stretches of road where overtaking is not permitted,” concludes Neil Worth.

“So do set aside a few minutes to understand the best ways you can help when there’s an emergency vehicle trying to get through. Not only will you be better placed to stay legal and safe, you’ll be doing your bit to help when someone’s life could depend on it.”

What does the Highway Code say about emergency vehicles?

The Highway Code, Rule 219 provides detailed guidance on what drivers should do when encountering emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors' cars, or incident support vehicles using flashing blue, red, or green lights and sirens.

Highway Code advice includes:

Stay calm and alert. When you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching with flashing lights and/or sirens, do not panic. Turn down any distractions like music, and check your mirrors to determine the vehicle’s direction and number.

Make way safely and legally. Consider the route of the emergency vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs and road rules. This means you must not break the law, such as going through red lights or entering bus lanes illegally.

Pull over if necessary. If safe and legal, pull to the side of the road and stop to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or a narrow section of road where visibility or space is limited.

Avoid hazards. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians. Avoid mounting the curb or braking harshly at junctions or roundabouts, as the emergency vehicle driver may have a different line of sight.

Be patient. Wait until all emergency vehicles have passed before moving back into traffic.

Understanding emergency vehicle lights and sirens

The primary colour for emergency vehicles is blue. Blue lights are used by police, ambulance, fire engines, HM Coastguard, bomb disposal, mountain rescue, and certain other specialist vehicles.

Amber (yellow/orange) is used as warning lights rather than for priority. Amber lights are commonly seen on breakdown, recovery, refuse and road maintenance vehicles, and vehicles restricted to lower speeds (such as tractors).

Green may be used by doctors' vehicles responding to emergencies. Like amber, green lights do not give right of way or priority but indicate the urgency of a doctor's journey.

White is used as flashing headlights on emergency vehicles, especially police cars and ambulances, to improve visibility.

Red is used as rear-facing warning lights (for example, on police vehicles at an incident) to indicate caution to approaching traffic.

Emergency sirens (usually a two-tone, wail or yelp pattern) are used to provide an alert to other road users that an emergency vehicle is coming. If there is no clear route through traffic, for example, at red lights or heavy congestion, emergency vehicles may switch off their sirens to avoid pressuring other drivers into illegal or unsafe moves.

They keep blue lights on to remain visible, but silence the siren to reduce stress and noise. Sirens can be loud and distressing, especially in residential areas or at night. If the situation allows, crews may turn the siren off to avoid disturbing the public or a sick patient on board, while still using blue lights to signal their presence.

Studies suggest sirens are most effective at short distances and low speeds, so using lights only might better balance safety and noise considerations. Emergency vehicle drivers are trained to decide when to use sirens based on the immediate environment and urgency. They may turn sirens off temporarily and resume them when conditions allow safe and effective use.

Fines and penalties for getting it wrong

If you make a mistake or stop in the wrong place while giving way to an emergency vehicle, you can face legal penalties because traffic laws still apply even during these situations.

Possible fines and penalties include a fixed penalty notice of £100 and 3 penalty points on your driving licence for offences such as crossing a stop line at red to let an emergency vehicle pass, entering restricted areas such as bus lanes unlawfully, stopping in a yellow box junction. Fines can be higher if the offence goes to court, particularly if judged to be more serious or dangerous.

Unsafe manoeuvres to move out of the way (for example pulling over unsafely, causing danger) can lead to fines of up to £1,000 or more, depending on the severity and circumstances. If you are prosecuted for crossing a red light to give way, the court may consider your intention as mitigation, but there is no automatic exemption or guarantee the fine will be waived.

Why staying calm is important

Staying calm reduces risk, helps you stay legal and improves the chances that the ambulance can pass quickly and safely, supporting the emergency response effectively.

Practical scenarios: what you should do

At traffic lights: emergency vehicles will find a way around you. If you’re first in the queue at a red light, stay where you are, and leave the emergency vehicle to find its way around you. Do not go past the stop line unless directed by a uniformed police officer.

On quiet roads: if you hear a siren or see blue lights, stay calm. Look for somewhere safe to move left and stop. Keep going on the approach to a bend or on the brow of a hill - then pull over when there’s a better view ahead. Stay out of bus lanes, keep off kerbs and pavements, and don’t stop near traffic islands.

At roundabouts and junctions: if you’re approaching a roundabout or a junction and you see an emergency vehicle, look at its position, as this will let you know where it wants you to go. If you’re already at the junction, be patient and wait for it to come past. There may be more than one emergency vehicle, so check before moving off.

In a double white line system: an emergency vehicle will probably switch off its siren as it follows you. This is because the road layout doesn’t allow for a safe overtaking opportunity. So keep going – at the speed limit if it’s safe – until you’re clear of the solid white lines. Your clue to pull left and let it pass is when its siren goes back on.

On motorways and dual carriageways: pull over to the left to allow an emergency vehicle to pass in the outside lane if it’s clear. If traffic is slowing or stationary and there is no lane for the emergency vehicle, its position will let you know whether to move to the right or the left. When you’ve let it through, stay where you are as other vehicles are likely to be coming through.

Can I go through a red light to let an emergency vehicle pass?

You must not go through a red traffic light, even to let an emergency vehicle pass. The Highway Code and police guidance are clear: while you should always aim to help emergency vehicles, you must not break traffic laws in the process, including crossing a red light or entering a yellow box junction, bus lane or similar restricted areas. If you do proceed through a red light to move out of the way, you commit a traffic offence.

Is it law to give way to emergency vehicles?

The Highway Code states that motorists should make way for emergency vehicles using flashing lights and sirens - but only when it is safe and legal to do so. The Highway Code (rule 219) instructs drivers to take appropriate action to let emergency vehicles pass, such as pulling to the side of the road if safe, but also emphasises the importance of staying compliant with all traffic signs and signals.

Failing to allow emergency vehicles to pass when it would be reasonable and safe could potentially be interpreted as careless or inconsiderate driving, but there is no specific offence of "failing to give way to an emergency vehicle" in UK law.

What to do if a police car flashes you?

If a police car flashes its lights at you, it most likely means the officers are either requesting that you let them pass (typically during an emergency journey) or signalling for you to pull over so they can speak to you.

What lights do police flash?

Police vehicles flash blue lights to indicate they are responding to an emergency or require priority in traffic.

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