What’s Wrong With You Guys? Get Out Of The Way! Give Way To Emergency Vehicles…

There’s something SO IRRITATING about Singapore, no matter how many people praise the country…. Although the mosquitoes do my head in when they nip at my skin – but this other major irritation is like the icing on the cake!!! It beats any irritation by far!!!

When I’m travelling on the roads and I see people hogging the roads or not giving way to vehicles in general… that’s fine, if….. I mean, generally Singaporeans know themselves that they have a competitive streak and it’s a dog eat dog world here… But what is not fine when they won’t blinking give way to emergency vehicles… Oh boy, every time I see this – it’s SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO irritating…. I just want to knock the driver’s head on the dash board and shout, “Get out of the way!”

I just don’t understand why they are so unwilling to give way to emergency vehicles?! Where I come from – the UK, no matter if there is a jam or not – once there is an emergency vehicle and either its siren or flashing lights are on, motorists will pull over to the side and generate a clear path….

Some of you will say “Aiyah, I was in rush lah…”, “I didn’t hear nor see the emergency vehicle lah…”, “I was late for…”, “If I give way or swtich lanes, who will give way to me when the emergency vehicle has passed?” “It’s the culture.” To be honest, I don’t care!!! What’s 1 minute or even 5 minutes of your time, when every second counts for that dying person?

If you happen to be in a traffic jam, or bumper to bumper, or at a red light or just simply on a clear road – if you see an emergency vehicle with either its flashing lights or siren on – please have the courtesy to pull over, move into a slower lane or simply miss your turning…. If you happen to be in the middle lane of an already busy expressway and the emergency vehicle is heading in your lane direction, try to pull over safely… Horn to other vehicles on your left or right to give way so that you can squeeze in… We should all give way GLADLY!

I can assure you that if you had a family member or a friend in that ambulance – you would want people to give way… so pls don’t be selfish and give way!

I did a bit of research and did you know that the Singapore Civil Defence Force set up a campaign in 2006 with the message “Drive with a heart. Give way to emergency vehicles.” Ummmm, I wonder if it made an impact?!?!?! Maybe, fines should be in place! C’mon, there’s fines for practically most things here – so, why not add this VERY impt one?!??!

Here is the response I found on the net from the Traffic Police Department: (info was taken from nlb.gov.sg)

“Under the Road Traffic Rules, any emergency vehicle shall have the right of way over all other traffic when on urgent duty call, and all traffic should give way to such vehicles.

We would like to clarify that emergency vehicles have to observe traffic rules as far as possible. Where time is of the essence and only when it is absolutely safe to do would emergency drivers consider travelling above the speed limit, going through a red light junction, crossing double-white lines, etc. Safety of all road users is of paramount importance, even during an emergency call.”