Sounds Funny - Ambulance
 

Ambulances can legally run red lights and make unauthorised U-turns from Dec 1
07 Nov 2017 02:09PM (Updated: 07 Nov 2017 02:10PM)


SINGAPORE: From Dec 1, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulances will be able to legally run red lights and make unauthorised U-turns when attending to emergencies.

“This exemption provides legislative clarity that SCDF ambulance drivers are allowed to proceed past red traffic lights and make U-turns at non-designated junctions when responding to life-threatening emergencies,” SCDF said in a release on Tuesday (Nov 7).

The announcement came after a question from Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC Louis Ng, who had asked if ambulances are allowed to run red lights when attending to emergencies.

“MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) is working towards exempting SCDF ambulances from legislative provision that prohibits red light running and unauthorised U-turns,” Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin replied in Parliament on Tuesday.

This review will include police vehicles and fire engines, he added.

AMBULANCE DRIVERS MUST FOLLOW OPERATING PROCEDURES

While the law currently prohibits ambulances from running red lights and making unauthorised U-turns, SCDF officers can do so when "responding to life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest and stroke, when every second counts”, Mr Amrin said.

Despite that, drivers still have to follow operating procedures when doing so, he said.

“An ambulance driver who intends to run a red light or make an unauthorised U-turn is required to sound the siren and activate the blinker lights to alert other road users,” he added.

“When approaching the traffic junction, the driver must slow down and come to a complete halt so that he can make a situational assessment of the traffic conditions before proceeding further.”

In the case of a traffic summons, an appeal will be lodged and the Traffic Police will waive the offence if the ambulance driver was responding to a life-threatening emergency.

Mr Amrin acknowledged that this process can be “avoided by providing legislative clarity”, noting that such exemptions already exist in California and the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, he urged motorists to exercise “civic responsibility” by giving way to emergency vehicles, stressing that this can make a real difference in saving lives.

He added that MHA will continue to raise public awareness on the issue, pointing to how it has worked with the Land Transport Authority to display “give way to emergency vehicles” notices on electronic signboards along expressways.

The ministry is also updating the highway code to include pointers on how motorists should respond when they encounter emergency vehicles.

“Motorists who refuse to give way to emergency vehicles are liable for four demerit points and a composition fine. If there are aggravating factors, the offenders will be prosecuted in court,” Mr Amrin said.

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I've always been under e impression emergency vehicles are permitted to run red lights, make u-turns or even to some extend, drive against traffic, just to attend to emergencies. It's an emergency after all, shouldn't they be allowed, so long as they don't cause an accident or threaten others' lives?

The part on motorist who refuses to give way, should just include JAIL! There some bloody idiots who simply refuses to give way to ambulances with beacon lights or sirens.

In fact I have seen in Japan from my hotel room high up at least 30yrs ago, when an ambulance or police car approaching a junction, all four sides stop to give way.

Different countries different culture... some countries, ppl will pull over and let emergency pass.

In M'sia, at traffic junction or jams, whenever drivers hears siren, they will be on lookout where is the emergency vehicle. If it's behind, you will see a very nice pattern, where vehicles will create a lane in the middle of 2 lanes (both sides turning away to create a passage). It's a very heart warming sight, knowing THEY CARE.

Here in Singapore, you see some cases of IDIOTS on expressways, right lanes, who simply refuses to give way (even when lane 2 is clear for them to F**K OFF)... these morons probably think, if it's emergency, they can jolly well overtake from e left??? Or these morons thinks IT IS NOT THEIR their kin in the ambulance or the ambulance is rushing to save their kin.... Retarded mentality individuals.

Seen on FB recently a worrying trend that if it rains, its ok to break the rule - can stop yr car under HDB void deck and smoke under shelter at no smoking area like bus stops, etc.

Too many restriction pertaining our emergency vehicles. Now then I know ambulances are not allow to beat red lights even in emergency.

Used to kan the ambulance drivers for being lousy and not go through red lights even when no traffic conditions.

If ambulance cars can beat red light, then they would need to send two ambulances at the same time. Why? Because the 2nd ambulance may be needed in case the 1st ambulance got into accident after beating red light :)

Yes I have seen one ambulance got into accident at the junction just outside CGH.

Just my opinion.

Being a road user, we have to be conscious of our environment. Statistics proved that there are more accidents occurring at traffic junctions. Ambulances with sirens are meant to warn other road users of them in an emergency.

There's a certain clowns in Singapore, that refuses to give way to ambulances, some drivers thinks that not all are genuine emergencies. We have the duty of graciousness towards emergency vehicles (than doubt) don't we?

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At least emergency vehicles have sirens on. But from time to time we see odd drivers who beats e red light due to lost of focus/concentration. That's way more dangerous.

I think the highway code should include a paragraph to all new drivers. That they should give way to all emergency vehicles even though they have the right of way.

Also, all cars should stop at junction even it is green light whenever an emergency vehicles is approaching the traffic junction.

It is drivers education more important to be change so that it will be natural instinct to give way to emergency vehicle on the road. IMHO.

In Singapore, just increase the punishment. starts with a jail sentence for those who refuses to give way. Many offenders are too rich and paying a fine is not a issue.

Why don't they allow ambulance to use the road shoulder on the highways ??

I thought the road shoulder is meant for emergency vehicles.

Yes road shoulders are used by emergency vehicles from time to time but the peak hour jam is horrendous that ambulances have a hard time driving onto e shoulders even.... and there are ppl who attempts to use shoulders sometimes or drive in ways that makes e flow not smooth.

P/S : I been in an ambulances (90s) that were rushing on e shoulder.


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Years back, a bro asked me if property value would be affect with KTPH gg to Yishun. Well, I just told him, value aside, if your kin is being rushed to hospital in an emergency, you wish you are staying next door to hospital. The anxiety and torment of having a loved one being delayed or lost, due to the distance to hospital is hard to endure.

here in singapore , vehicles will slow down until very slow just to look at the traffic accident , even opposite lane