Is it ok to run a red light if ambulance is behind you.?

Question

Women ran red light because ambulance was behind her .SHe sped through intersection,no warning and struck another vehicle. Is she at fault? She claims there was no other choice,however she was at a 4 lane intersection could have pulled left or right in front of other cars.

Answer 1

It would be her responsibility to make sure that the road was clear first and then proceed through, the emergency vehicle cannot push its way through causing the injuries or death to another car or person......

Answer 2

Definitely at fault. As you stated, she could have pulled over to the side.

Answer 3

yes she is at fault people are not able to run redlights. It would be of courtesy to do so but technically no. I don't think a cop would pull you over for it. But the driver needs to make sure that there is no car coming.

Answer 4

She should have been more careful/slow/horn, but she did try to make way for an emergency vehicle. As we say, the law gives no driver undisputed right of way-for incidents like this.  Even ambulances don't enter intersections without due care.

Answer 5

no

if ambulance is behind you..  you need to move to the side,not to go faster in to a red light.

Answer 6

of course it is but only if they have their lights on

Answer 7

Yes if you need to get out of the way and it is safe.

Answer 8

This is not legal. She could have either pulled to the side of the road, or even turned right if possible.

Answer 9

No. You cannot do anything illegal if an emergency vehicle is behind you. They are trained to make the proper decisions, you are not.

Answer 10

nope, you can cross the line, to get out of the way, but blowing through is NOT an option...

Answer 11

She shouldn't have gone completely through the light. I think if she had the option to turn instead, it would be far safer, even if there was a sign prohibiting it.

This very same thing happened to me years ago in Chicago, before right turns on red were permitted. I was waiting in the curb lane for a red light and an ambulance came up behind me with its lights and siren going.

I looked, saw no traffic coming, and turned right so the ambulance could get through. To this day I feel I did the right thing. I have mentioned that to a few police officers I know and they all agreed with me. They all said they would not give out a ticket in that situation.

But going through the intersection completely is another matter, and I think that would be highly illegal.

Answer 12

She's definilty at fault, like you said she could have pulled to the side or stayed in place for them to go around her, they will run a curb or what ever it is to get around a car, she should not have put herself and other's doing something so stupid! lol

Answer 13

Of course she's at fault.  The Law says to pull over, not run the red.  She's an idiot.

Answer 14

it's her fault becasue she coudl have pulled over and that's what you're supposed to do when an ambulance is behind her.