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Lights & Sirens driving

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CFS_Firey:
In answer to your second question, I think it would be a good idea to have designated routes, or a publicised standard to follow (ie, emergency vehicles will always travel in the right hand lane).
I believe some countries have a standard that says which lane the emergency vehicles will use, so that when motorists hear/see an emergency vehicle coming, they simply clear that lane, rather than panic and scatter, like they do here...

6739264:
They are meant to merge left, upon hearing or seeing an emergency vehicle... But you know as well as I do that when you're belting down the road and the appliance is being driven in either the middle or left hand lane, it causes a great deal of confusion.

Freeways and large multi-laned roads are the big ones. Because SACFS offers no real driver training in terms of response driving, people drive the appliances with a civilian point of view - Eg: I'm on the freeway, I'm a truck, I'd better use the left hand lane.

It would be really simple if emergency vehicles traveled in the right hand lane, regardless of the speed you're going...

CFS_Firey:

--- Quote from: 6793264 on August 19, 2007, 12:40:40 PM ---It would be really simple if emergency vehicles traveled in the right hand lane, regardless of the speed you're going...

--- End quote ---
Agreed.  Is the merging left thing in the road rules, or is it just tradition?

6739264:
According to Section 78 of the Australian Road Rules:

78—Keeping clear of police and emergency vehicles
  (1)  A driver must not move into the path of an approaching police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm.
Offence provision.
Note — Approaching, emergency vehicle and police vehicle are defined in the dictionary.
  (2)  If a driver is in the path of an approaching police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm, the driver must move out of the path of the vehicle as soon as the driver can do so safely.
Offence provision.
  (3)  This rule applies to the driver despite any other rule of the Australian Road Rules.

There used to be an advertising campaign, if i recall correctly, that was all about moving to the left out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Although nothing is explicitly stated in law.

SA Firey:
As a former AO we undertook Priority 1 driving tests and it has always been the rule of thumb to maintain the outside lane to allow vehicles to merge to the left and/or stop in the left hand lane to allow clear passage.
This also allows the emergency vehicle to cross the median strip if required to bypass stopped traffic.

You cannot expect the public to give you a clear run if you are travelling lights and sirens in the left hand lane,unless you are about to turn left.

At the end of the day common sense must prevail and also the decision to travel on the incorrect side of the road must take into account weather conditions,visibility to oncoming traffic,nature of emergency.

As for driving on tram lines try driving on them in the wet, and you will get a big surprise if you push it :wink:

There is no situation so great as to create another emergency!!

You cant help anyone if you are involved in an incident enroute to a job.

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