Encouraging decrease in number of motorists obstructing emergency vehicles

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http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/efforts-get-motorists-give-way-emergency-vehicles-20140719

We thank Mrs Pam Vas ("How to make way for ambulances"; July 10) for highlighting the need for motorists to give way to emergency vehicles.

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While road design, traffic conditions and motorists' behaviour may differ from country to country, we agree with Mrs Vas' underlying proposition that an unimpeded pathway is important for emergency vehicles.

Under the Road Traffic Act, motorists found guilty of obstructing emergency vehicles that are responding to an emergency can be fined up to $160 and receive four demerit points.

All Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) front-line emergency vehicles, such as fire engines and ambulances, are fitted with blinker lights, sirens and video cameras that capture footage of vehicles that do not give way.

During an emergency, these lights and sirens are switched on to alert road users of an oncoming emergency vehicle, and motorists should give way by filtering safely to the left.

Based on camera footage, there has been an encouraging decrease in the number of motorists obstructing our responding emergency ambulances, from 33 cases in 2009 to three cases last year.

The SCDF has also embarked on a series of public education drives to generate greater awareness of giving way to emergency vehicles. This included the collaboration with the Land Transport Authority for the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System electronic signboards to feature the message "Give way to emergency vehicles". The SCDF has also been distributing "Drive with a heart" car decals at petrol kiosks islandwide, to remind motorists to give way to emergency vehicles.

As every second counts in an emergency, motorists who do not give way to emergency vehicles are putting at risk the lives of those who are in critical need of emergency care.

The SCDF will continue with its outreach programmes to engage motorists, so that the act of giving way to emergency vehicles becomes second nature to all road users in Singapore.

Leslie Williams (Lieutenant-Colonel)
Assistant Director (Public Affairs Department)
Singapore Civil Defence Force