In
my travels this week I was overtaken by a marked police vehicle
traveling at 110 km/h in the posted 90 km/h zone. No emergency equipment
was being operated. Instances like this are often complained about by
the public as they see the police failing to
follow the same traffic rules that they force everyone else to obey.
So, lets examine the rules that allow the police, fire and ambulance
drivers to disobey some traffic rules and what they must do the exercise
these privileges.
These privileges are granted in section 122 of the Motor Vehicle Act. It allows the driver to:
- Exceed the speed limit
- Not stop for red lights or stop signs
- Disregard rules and traffic control devices governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions
- Stop or park
This must be done with due regard for safety, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including:
- The nature, condition and use of the highway
- The amount of traffic that is on, or might reasonably be expected to be on the highway
- The nature of the use being made of the emergency vehicle at the time
The Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation places additional conditions on
the driver depending on whether or not is is a pursuit, an emergency
response by a police officer or emergency response by fire or emergency
medical services.
Police may respond without using emergency lights and siren to an
incident where the risk of harm to the public through using emergency
equipment outweighs the risk of responding without it.
In the general execution of their duties police must have reasonable and
probable ground to believe it is safe to operate without emergency
equipment. This exemption does not apply in school and playground zones.
Fire apparatus and ambulances may not disobey traffic rules unless
emergency lights and siren are activated with the exception of stopping,
standing or parking. In that case only emergency lights are required to
be used.
There is another group of road users that may disregard the rules for
traffic movement. They do not apply to persons, vehicles and other
equipment while actually engaged in highway or public utility,
construction or maintenance work on, under or over the surface
of a highway while at the site of the work.
Of course, they must execise the same care and are governed by the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation for traffic control while
doing so.
I hope that the police vehicle that passed me was really involved in a situation that required both speed and stealth.
Story URL:
https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/police/emergency-vehicles-and-traffic-rules
—
Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
DriveSmartBC: Where better than average drivers satisfy their curiosity.