
All UK drivers issued £1,000 warning over simple mistake
Not only does this minimise the risk of accidents, but incorrectly letting an ambulance pass could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
The Highway Code instructs motorists to give way to vehicles with flashing lights, including police cars, fire engines, ambulances and emergency doctors.
But if you break the law while doing so, for example by entering a yellow box junction or bus lane, or by driving through a red light, penalties may be severe. Not only can you be fined, but some offences can also add three penalty points to your licence.
The Highway Codes 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."
Recommended reading:
It advises motorists to stop ahead of a hill's brow, to never mount the kerb, ensure others aren't put in jeopardy, and to avoid abrupt braking.
Further guidance found on the Blue Light Aware website reads: 'Of course, there will be times when there simply is no room for an emergency service vehicle to get past, or perhaps its crew are activated by their control room to respond to an emergency while they are waiting with everyone else at the traffic lights.
'On these occasions, they know that other motorists are not allowed to 'jump' the red light, and the emergency vehicle would ideally not activate its sirens and lights until it was safe for the vehicle in front to cross the solid white line at the junction."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Scotsman
The bizarre reason a Twix advert has been banned from TV
A Twix ad has been banned for 'condoning dangerous driving' 😬 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Twix has had an advert banned for 'condoning dangerous driving'. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued the ruling. But why has the advert been controversial? An advert for the chocolate bar Twix has been banned for 'condoning dangerous driving'. The rule was handed down by the Advertising Standards Authority after multiple complaints were made. The ad - called 'Two is More Than One' - was broadcast on TV and VOD in March of this year, according to the ASA. It depicted a man driving off an empty road and falling down a rocky hill before landing upside down on top of an identical car. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mars Wrigley, owners of Twix, claimed the advert was 'set in a separate world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality'. However it has now been banned. Why has the Twix advert been banned? A television advert for Twix biscuits has been banned by the ASA for promoting "dangerous" and "irresponsible" driving | Twix/YouTube After it was broadcast on TV - and online - the ASA received multiple complaints about it. Viewers felt that it 'encouraged dangerous driving' and was 'irresponsible'. The ASA's findings ruled: 'Because we considered the driving depicted in the ads condoned unsafe driving, that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code, we concluded the ads were irresponsible.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It did agree that the ad 'contained some clearly fantastical elements' but found that 'the scenes were depicted as a chase with the emphasis on speed'. Responding to the ruling, Mars told ITV News : 'We always take pride in maintaining high standards across all our communications and every advert we produce is submitted for approval through the appropriate review channels. "In our view, this particular advert adopts a fantastical tone that is neither realistic nor intended to be imitated. "Nonetheless, we take our responsibility as an advertiser seriously and never intended to cause any offence or concern, so we are reviewing the ruling carefully in order to work collaboratively towards a resolution." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at . It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.


BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Twix ad banned for encouraging unsafe driving
But the watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled the ad "must not appear again" in its current form because it "condoned unsafe driving". While the ASA acknowledged that the stunt performed highlighted the fantastical nature of the advert, it took issue with the first half of the video that showed driving "that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code". It said there was an "emphasis on speed" including with "fast paced beat and music" in the car chase, noting the "visible skid marks" left on the road. Mars defended the advert, saying "the cars were shot driving at lawful speeds and any emulation would only reflect the legal and safe driving presented". The sweet giant, who also own M&Ms, Celebrations and Maltesers, added that Twix is known for its absurd and playful humour, which was reflected in the advert. The final scene shows a Twix bar falling through the sunroofs of the two cars, before they drive off - still attached - and with the tagline "two is more than one". For its part, Clearcast told the ASA that the style of the video made it clear it wasn't meant to be emulated nor did it suggest "safe driving was boring." In the ASA's ruling, it said it told Mars "not to condone or encourage irresponsible driving that was likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code in their ads."


Scotsman
14 hours ago
- Scotsman
The bizarre reason a Twix advert has been banned from TV
A Twix ad has been banned for 'condoning dangerous driving' 😬 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Twix has had an advert banned for 'condoning dangerous driving'. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued the ruling. But why has the advert been controversial? An advert for the chocolate bar Twix has been banned for 'condoning dangerous driving'. The rule was handed down by the Advertising Standards Authority after multiple complaints were made. The ad - called 'Two is More Than One' - was broadcast on TV and VOD in March of this year, according to the ASA. It depicted a man driving off an empty road and falling down a rocky hill before landing upside down on top of an identical car. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mars Wrigley, owners of Twix, claimed the advert was 'set in a separate world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality'. However it has now been banned. Why has the Twix advert been banned? A television advert for Twix biscuits has been banned by the ASA for promoting "dangerous" and "irresponsible" driving | Twix/YouTube After it was broadcast on TV - and online - the ASA received multiple complaints about it. Viewers felt that it 'encouraged dangerous driving' and was 'irresponsible'. The ASA's findings ruled: 'Because we considered the driving depicted in the ads condoned unsafe driving, that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code, we concluded the ads were irresponsible.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It did agree that the ad 'contained some clearly fantastical elements' but found that 'the scenes were depicted as a chase with the emphasis on speed'. Responding to the ruling, Mars told ITV News : 'We always take pride in maintaining high standards across all our communications and every advert we produce is submitted for approval through the appropriate review channels. "In our view, this particular advert adopts a fantastical tone that is neither realistic nor intended to be imitated. "Nonetheless, we take our responsibility as an advertiser seriously and never intended to cause any offence or concern, so we are reviewing the ruling carefully in order to work collaboratively towards a resolution." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad