Overtaking ambulance with blues on

[Norbury90]

Just wondering about peoples opinions on this? It was a scenario that occurred a couple of years ago, but I have never really known whether it was allowed or not.

I was driving home on an empty 3 lane motorway at probably 11pm. When I say empty, no other vehicles travelling in my direction within view. An ambulance with blues on (but no siren) joined the motorway in front of me and proceeded to do about 65mph.

I was doing approx 70mph on cruise control, so moved out and passed him like I would anyone else, there was no-one around and I wasn't hampering his progress in any way.

As I was overtaking him, he put his siren on, then once I had moved back into the inside lane in front of him, he sped up and came alongside, then drove alongside me with his siren on for a few miles before I came off at the next junction. At no point did I change my speed through the whole thing, but I felt like I didn't do anything wrong? I never hampered him, but I can only assume that he wasn't impressed by me overtaking him and switched his siren on to try and prove a point.

I have wondered ever since if I was in the wrong for overtaking an emergency vehicle with it's lights on, or whether I was allowed to do what I did.

[RoadToad84]

I was in a related position a few years back. Rural A road single carriage. Me on my bike at NSL, came up behind blues and twos ambulance at 50mph. Day behind for a few miles before overtaking. It felt wrong, but there was no drama.

[Evanivitch]

If you go ahead of an emergency vehicle and then you hit a junction and/or traffic then you are now an obstruction to that emergency vehicle. Best stay behind IMO.

[ScoobyChris]

Norbury90 said:

I have wondered ever since if I was in the wrong for overtaking an emergency vehicle with it's lights on, or whether I was allowed to do what I did.

Only time I would say it's wrong is if you impede (or are likely to impede) their progress. On quiet motorways, I have done similar with ambulances and fire engines before, and neither changed course or direction (or put the wah-wah's on ) following the overtakes so I assume they were happy it didn't impact them.

Chris

[SmoothCriminal]

Can't see what you did wrong there.

I'd understand if it was single carriageway and you would impead further on but an empty motorway let them get on with sitting at 60 and I'd be going past

[Dohnut]

Reminds me of a holiday in Greece in the 90's with my mates.

5 up in a cab, cabbie driving like Carlos Fandango. Came up behind a police car with lights falshing and siren whailing. Cabbie proceeded to honk his horn and gesticulate to the rozzers to move out of the way.

They did!

[SamR380]

If it was as you described, I'd have done the same and considered the ambulance driver to be less intelligent than me.

I often think this way while driving on the motorway and have to remind myself of the time Homer Simpson proclaims "everyone is stupid except me" before burning his house down.

[Pica-Pica]

I would have overtaken, as long as I didn’t or was not likely to impede the ambulance.
I imagine it was a fit of pique by the ambulance driver - his medic colleague in the back would not appreciate unnecessary sirens.

[liner33]

I have driven ambulances with blues on whilst driving at about 40mph, the patient had a back injury so smooth driving was far more importance than haste.

Depending on what's happening in the back treatment wise the ambulance may even stop the blues would stay on

If its safe to overtake its safe to overtake

[Pixelpeep 135]

Just doesn't feel right, i've often slowed down to avoid overtaking.

[otolith]

It does raise the question of what the function of blues is on an empty motorway at 65mph - what signal is it meant to be conveying, and to whom?

[Olivergt]

otolith said:

It does raise the question of what the function of blues is on an empty motorway at 65mph - what signal is it meant to be conveying, and to whom?

I would have thought that the signal it is conveying is that it is an Ambulance actively responding to an emergency situation which means that other vehicles need to proceed with caution as it might need to stop or change direction in a hurry.

As opposed to an Ambulance driving along a road.

[Ruskie]

You aren't doing anything wrong, but as others have touched on they may be heading to an RTC further up the motorway. The 65mph may be because they are looking for a car on the hard shoulder for example so don't want to fly past. IMO just drive at 60mph till they are clear of you and speed back up. It's a minor inconvenience to you in the grand scheme.

[otolith]

Olivergt said:

otolith said:

It does raise the question of what the function of blues is on an empty motorway at 65mph - what signal is it meant to be conveying, and to whom?

I would have thought that the signal it is conveying is that it is an Ambulance actively responding to an emergency situation which means that other vehicles need to proceed with caution as it might need to stop or change direction in a hurry.

As opposed to an Ambulance driving along a road.

On a motorway? Yes, might need to dive onto the hard shoulder and stop suddenly. If it's in Lane 1 on an empty motorway that doesn't sound like a risky move.

Change direction?

[Pica-Pica]

liner33 said:

… Depending on what's happening in the back treatment wise the ambulance may even stop the blues would stay on…

Only a few weeks ago, we saw an ambulance stopped in a bus stop lay-by with blues on (60mph s/c).
I think you can then assume it’s all hands to the pump(ing) in the back - poor sod.

[Draxindustries1]

You did nothing wrong, just an ambulance driver being a cock that's all..

[Ruskie]

Draxindustries1 said:

You did nothing wrong, just an ambulance driver being a cock that's all..

How can you possible say that without knowing the full story? Weird take.

[PolarBearsLuv2DrinkOil]

You should never pass an ambulance with its lights on ever. They don't know you, they could have people going hands-on in the rear, they need as much space as possible to account for rare events even when it seems safe. Normally, you are just fine doing what you did, you know that and so you did what you did and it wasn't stupid but it doesn't matter.

They are not concerned with YOU in THAT spot. They know that throughout their careers there may be a small handful of times where it does make a big difference, who knows when, not often, a few times in a lifetime, maybe when a deer runs out or a road hazard you did not see presents itself, maybe you get a flat and a slight swerve on deflation...it happens. Stay away from them. In some places Im certain its the law... often by default. Passing an ambulance is illegal on a regular road, and they simple dont make a carve out for dual lanes.

That being said... I definitely have passed a few but only on 6+ lane highways I think.

[Stupot123]

PolarBearsLuv2DrinkOil said:

You should never pass an ambulance with its lights on ever. They don't know you, they could have people going hands-on in the rear, they need as much space as possible to account for rare events even when it seems safe. Normally, you are just fine doing what you did, you know that and so you did what you did and it wasn't stupid but it doesn't matter.

They are not concerned with YOU in THAT spot. They know that throughout their careers there may be a small handful of times where it does make a big difference, who knows when, not often, a few times in a lifetime, maybe when a deer runs out or a road hazard you did not see presents itself, maybe you get a flat and a slight swerve on deflation...it happens. Stay away from them. In some places Im certain its the law... often by default. Passing an ambulance is illegal on a regular road, and they simple dont make a carve out for dual lanes.

That being said... I definitely have passed a few but only on 6+ lane highways I think.

So just to clarify, it’s not something you should ever do, that you have done?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Self righteousness at it's best.