Overview
- Drivers are urged not to go through red lights to make way for an ambulance, as crews will pull back and may turn off sirens to prevent panic.
- Motorists should not move into oncoming traffic or enter bus lanes when trying to create space for emergency vehicles.
- Highway Code Rule 219 advises drivers to stay calm, consider the vehicle’s route, avoid stopping on hill brows or bends, and not brake harshly near junctions.
- NHS London Ambulance Service guidance says to pull left only if it is safe, otherwise continue at a safe speed until a safe pull‑in is available or the ambulance can overtake.
- People parking near ambulances are told not to block them or stop close to the rear doors, as this can delay patient loading and subsequent responses.