VIDEO: What to do when an emergency vehicle is behind you
Every second counts when emergency teams are called out to an incident, which is why it is vital for people to give way safely when an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, fire engine or a police patrol approaches.
However, some motorists in Qatar try to be "smart" by following the emergency vehicle to escape from traffic queues. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and will create further traffic chaos as it violates rights of other motorists.
This behaviour is subject to punishment by a QAR500 fine. Make sure you're more than 10 meters behind an emergency vehicle.
Here's what you should do when an emergency vehicle approaches:
- Do not panic, this is very important.
- Stay calm and check where the emergency vehicle is coming from.
- Then give way by merging right if it is safe to do so - emergency vehicles stick to the left lane.
- If you cannot move right safely you should slow down or stop and let the emergency vehicle overtake you.
- Do not speed up or try to outrun the vehicle as this is dangerous.
- Remember, you should not break the law to give way to an emergency vehicle, for example, driving through a red light unless you are instructed to do so by a recognized authority.
Here's a video that's being circulated by the Ministry of Interior.
Give way for Emergency Vehicles But Don’t follow themIt’s highly important that we give way for the emergency vehicles while in duty such as Ambulances, Police Vehicles, Civil Defence vehicles as they are rushing for emergency help and rescue services.But some are trying to be ‘over-smart’ by following the emergency vehicle to escape from traffic queues. It’s totally unacceptable behavior and it will further create traffic chaos while it violate rights of other road users.#Driving reflects your behaviour. #MoI_Qatar #Qatar #Doha #QatarPolice
Posted by Ministry of Interior - Qatar on Monday, May 4, 2015
Please follow the traffic rules to ensure safety, it is your duty.
Knor: Not sure what the official rule is, but I've crossed the stop line many times for emergency vehicles and been flashed, but they have never fined me. Even if they do, should be pretty easy to get off the hook with the video footage.
no.6 is confusing. I have witnessed so many times that while we are on stopped at the signal, an ambulance/police car needs to pass. so the drivers in front where forced to cross the stop line and swerve to clear the way and of course the camera flashes. Maybe next time.... I will take a note of the plate number to see if there is a violation or had been spared off.
"Do not follow the ambulance." Where is the Arabic version?