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Driving in Emergency

The document discusses road safety regulations for emergency vehicles. It notes that emergency vehicles are exempt from speed limits, traffic signs, and traffic lights when responding to incidents, but drivers must still operate with due regard for safety. Only trained drivers may take advantage of these exemptions, and they must be able to justify their actions. Fire services must ensure personnel understand relevant laws and exemptions, and that only licensed and competent staff drive emergency vehicles.

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Pravesh Ashwin Kanhye
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29 views4 pages

Driving in Emergency

The document discusses road safety regulations for emergency vehicles. It notes that emergency vehicles are exempt from speed limits, traffic signs, and traffic lights when responding to incidents, but drivers must still operate with due regard for safety. Only trained drivers may take advantage of these exemptions, and they must be able to justify their actions. Fire services must ensure personnel understand relevant laws and exemptions, and that only licensed and competent staff drive emergency vehicles.

Uploaded by

Pravesh Ashwin Kanhye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Control measure

Comply with road safety regulations

Developed and maintained by the NFCC


Contents
Control measure - Comply with road safety regulations ................................................................ 3

This content is only valid at the time of download - 5-02-2022 19:19 2 of 4


Control measure - Comply with road safety
regulations

Control measure knowledge

The Road Traffic Act (for England, Scotland and Wales) and the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland)
Order, prohibit dangerous and careless driving. This applies to fire and rescue service personnel as
well as to the public.

However, statutory services and other organisations are afforded specific exemptions law to
undertake their duties. The Road Traffic Regulation Act (for England, Scotland and Wales), the Road
Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order, the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions
(for England, Scotland and Wales), and the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland), exempt
emergency vehicles from:

Observing speed limits


Observing keep left or keep right signs
Complying with traffic lights, including pedestrian controlled crossings

Emergency vehicle drivers may find themselves considering the contravention of signs and
regulations where no exemption exists. In each case, decisions on such matters rely on the
professional judgement of the personnel involved. Their decisions and actions must be justified,
based on operational necessity and the practical options available.

Even where exemption exists, personnel must always give due regard to the way they drive, which
should not put other road users or members of the public at a risk that cannot be justified.

When exercising the exemption to pass a red traffic light, drivers of emergency vehicles should
avoid causing a member of the public to contravene the red light. The public do not have an
exemption in law to contravene red traffic lights.

Only drivers who are trained to the appropriate standard are entitled to make use of exemptions. It
is essential that the exemptions used are appropriate and their use in specific circumstances can
be justified.

The exemptions for emergency vehicles do not apply to personnel driving to a fire station in order
to mobilise from there. This particularly applies to retained duty system (on-call) personnel.

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Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services must:

Ensure personnel understand the laws and regulations relating to driving, and the
exemptions for emergency vehicles

Regularly check the validity of driving licences for all personnel who may carry out work-
related driving

Ensure that all personnel who may carry out work-related driving are competent and
medically fit to do so

Tactical actions

All personnel should:

Ensure that emergency vehicles are driven in accordance with current legislation, regulations
and exemptions

Immediately report road traffic collisions in accordance with fire and rescue service policies
and relevant legislation

This content is only valid at the time of download - 5-02-2022 19:19 4 of 4

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