Follow our tips when you see or hear an emergency vehicle on the road – stay safe and allow them to pass with the minimum of delay:

  • Don’t panic!
  • Stay alert to approaching emergency vehicles, keep music low enough to hear sirens
  • Don’t brake suddenly – this could put yourself and other road users in danger
  • Give yourself time to look for a safe place to stop and signal your intention
  • Make sure there is enough room for the emergency vehicle to pass
  • Keep going on the approach to a bend, hill crest or on a narrow section of road
  • Avoid mounting the kerb, pavements and verges
  • Don’t contravene road laws, or endanger yourself or other road users when pulling over
  • After the emergency vehicle has passed wait until it’s safe to proceed, there may be more than one vehicle responding

Considerate parking

Every second counts when firefighters are responding to a 999 call. Time spent trying to squeeze between parked cars can put lives at risk. Consider our advice when parking: 

  • Don’t park too close to bends/junctions – fire engines need more room than a car to turn
  • If you are parking opposite another vehicle leave at least two car widths
  • Make sure you straighten your wheels when you finish parking
  • If you can, fold your wing mirror in
  • Always follow the highway code: “you must not leave your vehicle in a dangerous position, or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.”

THINK it could by your family, your friends or your neighbours and colleagues that emergency vehicles cannot reach.

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