Was I in the wrong?

[Ricky_M]

Was following an Ambulance with blue lights on, NSL road. Ambulance was doing doing approx 50-55 MPH, I was more or less keeping up pace, but at a sensible distance.

Car in front of the Ambulance pulls in to a T-junction to let it past and pulls straight back out without looking, cue me slamming on and taking evasive action.

In hindsight I probably should have anticipated his movements, but then again I could have been another Ambulance or a Police car following, he obviously didn't check his mirrors, a Ford Transit with its headlights on isn't hard to miss surely?

Where would I have stood legally if I hit him?

[Neil.D]

I think one can safely assume that he has pulled in to allow the ambulance to pass + has stopped in the first available space rather than just stopping in the road, which is not ideal.

Im guessing you were intending to overtake him as the ambulance did taking advantage of his 'parked' position?

From an insurance claim point of view, and a layman in this field - I would say you were both equally at fault. As you say, you lacked judgement and anticipation on that occassion, but, so did he.

Probably 50/50 from a law point of view also.

Dont be offended, this is not meant to be inflammatory in any way, but how long have you been driving? This type of scenario is quite basic, as is the error.

[bluetone]

Also think about how this scenario would play out in court if there was a collision - you could be accused of ambulance-chasing and you would have little defence to this IMO. Had you overtaken many vehicles that had stopped to let the ambulance pass before this incident? Personally I think you were taking the piss and I suspect you know you were too! (no offence intended)

Were you in a hurry that day, by any chance??

[barker22]

i dont agree, although you say you did see the car pull over, you had no idea he was going to pull back out, if the ambulance wasnt there and he would have turned into a t-junction then back out it would have been his fault. he obviousli crossed the dashed line in the road to turn into this junction so surely there would have been a 'give way' sign pointing towards him. his fault.

[LandingSpot]

What do you class as "a sensible distance"? Also a) you should have expected him to pull back out and been covering the brake if needed and b) look at the way his wheels are pointing/moving. As much as anything they indicate his intent.

[crisisjez]

Any vehicle that pulls in ahead of you to allow an emergency vehicle past has the right to reclaim their position in traffic afterward IMO.
Thats a hole that needs to be closed in the HC.

[Neil.D]

crisisjez said:

Any vehicle that pulls in ahead of you to allow an emergency vehicle past has the right to reclaim their position in traffic afterward IMO.
Thats a hole that needs to be closed in the HC.

I understand your point of view but I wouldnt say they have the 'right' to pull back out again.

Allowing them to do so is just common bl00dy sense and good driving skills with regard to anticipation. You know they are going to do it. Basics.

Getting in the cheeky overtake is the risk you run and should anything have happened I would say that insurance companies would take a dim view. The individual pulling in has been courteous, the OP has been aggressive.

Ipso facto.

[Ricky_M]

I wasn't ambulance chasing, it was an twisty NSL road and it wasn't making a great deal of progress, I'd stopped to let it out of a T - Junction and caught back up with it without trying.

The car had pulled fully off the main road into a T - Junction, I was mimicking the speed of the Ambulance, which didn't exceed 55 MPH.

Kicking myself a bit now, I know I should have slowed down a bit more, I was in a rush (although not driving recklessly) and should have realised people panic when they see blue lights!

Thanks for your input, lesson learnt!

Edited by Ricky_M on Sunday 2nd May 20:00

[crisisjez]

Ricky_M said:

I wasn't ambulance chasing, it was an twisty NSL road and it wasn't making a great deal of progress, I'd stopped to let it out of a T - Junction and caught back up with it without trying.

The car had pulled fully off the main road into a T - Junction, I was mimicking the speed of the Ambulance, which didn't exceed 55 MPH.

Kicking myself a bit now, I know I should have slowed down a bit more, I was in a rush (although not driving recklessly) and should have realised people panic when they see blue lights!

Thanks for your input, lesson learnt!

Edited by Ricky_M on Sunday 2nd May 20:00

Fair play to you fella
What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger

[jaf01uk]

Neil.D said:

crisisjez said:

Any vehicle that pulls in ahead of you to allow an emergency vehicle past has the right to reclaim their position in traffic afterward IMO.
Thats a hole that needs to be closed in the HC.

I understand your point of view but I wouldnt say they have the 'right' to pull back out again.

Allowing them to do so is just common bl00dy sense and good driving skills with regard to anticipation. You know they are going to do it. Basics.

Getting in the cheeky overtake is the risk you run and should anything have happened I would say that insurance companies would take a dim view. The individual pulling in has been courteous, the OP has been aggressive.

Ipso facto.

The driver had left the road completely at a junction, not pulled in, he would then have found himself looking at a "give way" therefore should not have blindly rejoined, there is no suggestion of anyone pulling any kind of overtake cheeky or otherwise? if the ambulance was travelling at 55mph then it would be reasonable to be following at a normal distance, although a transit should be doing 50 tsk tsk,
Gary

[crisisjez]

jaf01uk said:

The driver had left the road completely at a junction, not pulled in,

Ricky_M said:

Car in front of the Ambulance pulls in to a T-junction to let it past and pulls straight back out without looking

I think I'm more inclined to accept the OP's version of events as he was the only one of us there

[jaf01uk]

crisisjez said:

jaf01uk said:

The driver had left the road completely at a junction, not pulled in,

Ricky_M said:

Car in front of the Ambulance pulls in to a T-junction to let it past and pulls straight back out without looking

I think I'm more inclined to accept the OP's version of events as he was the only one of us there

I think what you have confirmed is that you haven't read the post properly? The OP posted at 1958 which you actually quoted yourself at 2126 yesterday that the car had pulled completely off the road at the junction Sorry but I fail to see the need to "point score"?
In my opinion the car which pulled out had given up his position by turning off the road and should have complied with the give way he subsequently found himself at, we see all manner of ridiculous moves when joe public are trying to "help" so I don't tend to get too worried about it TBH, no need "to be there"
Gary

[crisisjez]

I doubt very much that the car that yielded actually turned left 90 degrees then right 180 degrees at that junction. Had that been the case then you would be correct.

[jaf01uk]

crisisjez said:

I think I'm more inclined to accept the OP's version of events as he was the only one of us there

[crisisjez]

jaf01uk said:

crisisjez said:

I think I'm more inclined to accept the OP's version of events as he was the only one of us there

Yeah my bad, I take that back

Edited by crisisjez on Tuesday 4th May 11:08

[Tiggsy]

They have their lights on...the guy pulled over because he regarded their journey as being a bit more important than his at that moment - to then try and overtake him is out of order in my opinion.

If someone opens a door for a lady in front of you do you try and dive through after her....the doors open anyway, is that the thinking???

[John MacK]

Ricky_M said:

Was following an Ambulance with blue lights on, NSL road. Ambulance was doing doing approx 50-55 MPH, I was more or less keeping up pace, but at a sensible distance.

Car in front of the Ambulance pulls in to a T-junction to let it past and pulls straight back out without looking, cue me slamming on and taking evasive action.

In hindsight I probably should have anticipated his movements, but then again I could have been another Ambulance or a Police car following, he obviously didn't check his mirrors, a Ford Transit with its headlights on isn't hard to miss surely?

Where would I have stood legally if I hit him?

So you were speeding then?

[WhoseGeneration]

Ricky_M said:

In hindsight I probably should have anticipated his movements

Simply this, many assume the unwritten rule in this circumstance, "Back out in order".
Irrespective of where they had to go.
The AD though, would always execute a complete mirrors and shoulder check, then signal, before pulling out.
Yielding to others if necessary.

[Ricky_M]

Tiggsy said:

They have their lights on...the guy pulled over because he regarded their journey as being a bit more important than his at that moment - to then try and overtake him is out of order in my opinion.

If someone opens a door for a lady in front of you do you try and dive through after her....the doors open anyway, is that the thinking???

No not at all, he left the road and came to a complete stop, I was travelling at 50-55 MPH. I had a choice to make and I made the wrong one! I know now I should have slowed down and let him enter the main road, which I would do in the future if I was faced with the same situation.

Even though I could have approached the situation with more care, I'm still uncomfortable with the fact that he entered the road without checking if the route was clear, as I said earlier, I may not have been a halfwit in a Transit, but another emergency vehicle!

To answer a handful of other questions asked. I have been driving 4 and a bit years, so still a baby in the world of driving and yes I was exceeding the speed limit for the type of vehicle I was driving, but I don't consider my speed to have been excessive for that stretch of road.

Thanks for all of your advice, Its always nice to hear other peoples POV. Have to make mistakes to learn by them!

[waremark]

Ricky_M said:

Thanks for all of your advice, Its always nice to hear other peoples POV. Have to make mistakes to learn by them!

Congrats for your open-mindedness.