Running a red light to get out of the way of an ambulance

United States
March 1, 2013 4:16pm CST
Today while I was driving around doing errands, an ambulance came down the road. There was a line of cars sitting at a red light when the ambulance came rushing up. Two cars ran the red light and pulled over to give the ambulance room to get by. This got me thinking. If a light has a red light camera on it and an ambulance comes along and cars run the red light to get out of the way, will they still get a ticket for running the red light? It is an interesting scenario, especially if a person gets a ticket for getting out of the way of an ambulance. That may make people reluctant to move, then the person runs the risk of getting a ticket for not letting an emergency vehicle have the right of way. Do you think these red light camera manufactures take that into account or would the person who gets a ticket for running a red light to get out of the way of an ambulance would have to go to court and prove they did it to get out of the way? I don't know about other states but here my state has started to charge people for wanting a court date to defend themselves against traffic tickets. So even if you are found not guilty you still have to pay something to the courts.
4 responses
• Indonesia
1 Mar 13
Wow such a complicated scenario. But, here in my country, the police will let you go for such circumstances. But nowadays, even without such camera, people started loose their heart by not giving the way for the ambulance. How shame..
• United States
3 Mar 13
my country is the US and I still see people moving out of the way for an ambulance. But I have also seen others who do not move out of the way. According to our laws if an ambulance has it's emergency lights on then the cars in front of it need to move aside or move out of the way. Just not sure if the laws of running a red light with a camera on will take priority in light of an emergency vehicle needing to get by.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
2 Mar 13
I am not sure how it goes here in our country. But i think that it is not the motorist's fault if he has to go pass a red light if there was an ambulance. The only thing to do was move to give way for the ambulance.
@sona22 (1430)
• India
2 Mar 13
In our country Ambulance has no priority in practical life, all are in Books. But if the car carrying a VVIP it will get all attention.
• India
2 Mar 13
well here in my country they wont get charged a ticket for breaking the law. because if a person runs a redlight for an ambulance to move aside and then he is doing it for good. and besided if he is getting charged then why shoud people care to move. so there are some laws which people can break for a very good reason. and if he saved a life for violating that law then he is blessed :)