It is the horse behind the car... Ambulances and others should only be allowed to use their lights and sound for emergencies. However everywhere you can see them driving with lights only but no sirenes. Dame happens with escorts for busses or cars. The RTP use their lights to force everyone to give way to them.  This must be stopped. Emergency vehichles are only allowed to use lights and/or sounds by emergencies and in no other cases. Those who don't give way should be brought to court and face heavy fines, not 2k or so and suspend the driverslicense. If the drivers of the emergency vehicles are using unnecessary the lightsัthey should be fined too. once a dead body was transported to a temple by a rescue team. They used the lights and sirens and were driving like crazy. I could not follow them. I always wondered why as there was no reason. 

6 hours ago, smedly said:

yes they do it cautiously  - i get the impression that thai's just assume that because  they have lights and sirens everyone will stop .................no, that is not how it works, you need to slow or stop then when it is safe to proceed do so ........................ you are not indistructable and niether are other road users

 

I'm pretty sure (100%) that in the uk they are not trained to sail through red lights unless it is safe to do so

Correct.   Technically speaking, in UK emergency vehicles are required to obey signals and speed limits.

Their "infringement" of those laws is overlooked for pragmatic reasons. However, if there is a collision, the driver of said vehicle can be held liable just as you or I can.

 

Also, if a police car is  travelling over the limit and goes through a speed camera, an investigation may be carried out. IF the car was on a call-out, the offence may be quashed, If not the police driver is liable. This I know to be certain, I assume the same applies to ambulances.

In road educated countries, when you hear an ambulance behind you, everyone pulls over to let that ambulance pass safely. Nuff said.

9 hours ago, still kicking said:

But everybody else can.

THere is a common misperception about that - it is high but comparable to most countries.

9 hours ago, still kicking said:

You are correct, I am in the West now, and all ambulances or police cars go through the red light but slowly.

The rules vary from country to country – it is permitted "with caution" in the UK, and in some US states and Australia, they have a system on board that will change lights in their favour. But this incident does far more than that – it shows the serious inadequacies of the emergency services in Thailand - the bove is a stementment  from "A leading rescue foundation in Pattaya" not a government body

Can’t see this lasting long - so many traffic lights in Pattaya  it will cause no end of delays.

 

https://fb.watch/BKr7UDaqY3/?

 

 

9 hours ago, still kicking said:

You are correct, I am in the West now, and all ambulances or police cars go through the red light but slowly.

At there own risk, in the so called West U.K, accident then inquiry same as for Fire.

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Sounds wrong, go dead slow through lights yes, sensible, but stop and wait 5+ minutes no, will cost lives

 

and / insult to injury ..    how many drivers even bother to yield and get out of the way of ambulances ....

   the hub of  D.O.A.

Just a stupid knee jerk reaction from idiots.

just go slowly across the junction.

Half wits incharge again. 

9 hours ago, smedly said:

yes they do it cautiously  - i get the impression that thai's just assume that because  they have lights and sirens everyone will stop .................no, that is not how it works, you need to slow or stop then when it is safe to proceed do so ........................ you are not indistructable and niether are other road users

 

I'm pretty sure (100%) that in the uk they are not trained to sail through red lights unless it is safe to do so

In the UK it has been the rule for many many years. ALL emergency vehicles can cross a red light IF it is SAFE to do so. In most cases if drivers hear the siren, they will let the emergency vehicle through.

Wrong as always on national Thai TV, keep flashing warnings to give emergency vehicle right away or else.

Then emergency drivers need to know they can but with upmost caution horns and sirens maximum level. That means stop slow down and proceed with upmost caution through any intersection it is when in doubt stop or slow

 Right of way isn't a given even for emergencies I drove Ebus for a year!

That's pretty insane. 

Feel sorry for the block dying in the back while sitting at on of those 120 second red light.

 

Not smart. If they pause at an intersection and see if it is safe to pass, they should be allowed to do so, as is the case in all civilized nations. Lives are at stake. 

I saw an ambulance go through a red light in Pattaya today, slowly, so common sense has prevailed

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I saw an ambulance go through a red light in Pattaya today, slowly, so common sense has prevailed

I was chatting with a pal only yesterday who has done more ambulance trips than the drivers. He seems to go along with that, in that they are recently more careful but will still run a red. People are pulling over more too.