How to react to an emergency vehicle

You hear the twin note siren and see the blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror, deciding what to do when you hear an emergency vehicle approaching can be a dilemma. Do you stay where you are and potentially block the progress of an emergency vehicle? Or do you move into a position that may put you or other road users at risk?

Often the emergency vehicle is on top of you before you see or hear it and the reaction is to take drastic action to get out of the way. The Bill Plant qualified driving instructors tell students that good driving practice will alert you early to emergency vehicles, by carrying out regular mirror checks both side and rear for example, and keeping the windows slightly down around town, so you can hear sirens approaching. We advise that you do not panic and brake, or cross red lights to get out of the way, think where you are on the road, maybe it is best to continue until the opportunity arises for the emergency vehicle to pass you safely.

Published by admin on June 20th, 2008 in Bill Plant, Road Safety