Drivers face £1k fine for letting ambulances pass - how to avoid little-known error

Drivers face a fine of up to £1,000 if they break the Highway Code to let an ambulance pass.

However, advice is on hand to avoid being punished while doing the right thing.

The Highway Code states that motorists should give way to emergency service vehicles using flashing lights, including ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles.

But other regulations remain in place while letting emergency vehicles through and some illegal manoeuvres incur a hefty fine and penalty points on your license.

Moving into a bus lane, stopping in a yellow box junction and driving through a red light to make way for emergency vehicles are all likely to lead to a fixed penalty notice, with fines and points escalating for those that fail to provide the drivers details or take the case to court and lose.

It is important not to enter bus lanes or go through red lights even if letting emergency vehicles through (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Rule 219 of the Highway Code states: "You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens, or flashing headlights, or traffic officer and incident support vehicles using flashing amber lights."

Motorists are advised to pull over if appropriate, but ensure that it is safe to do so first.

"When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs.

"If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road.

"Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb."

Fines can run up to £1,000, while drivers can also end up with points on their licence (In Pictures via Getty Images)

The RAC also encouraged drivers not to stop ion the middle of the road to make way.

Emergency vehicles could be blocked by vehicles that have stopped in the road without pulling over.

The Sun reported RAC experts as adding: “Keep driving until there’s a suitable place to pull over and use your common sense to avoid coming into conflict with other road users.

“If people panic and do not obey traffic laws, this could result in an incident which could endanger more lives or further impede the emergency service from getting through.

“The issue of people taking the wrong action and then facing a fine is a common one and something our legal advice team regularly deal with.”