Medical emergency or not, a Shuswap man thought an ambulance should have to follow the rules of the road.
At 6:20 p.m. on July 31, a man called the RCMP to report an ambulance with lights and siren on was driving into oncoming traffic on Highway 1 near Tappen, heading towards Salmon Arm.
Moments later, an officer saw an ambulance with lights and siren on pull off the highway and turn towards Shuswap Lake General Hospital. Police spoke with the complainant who believed the ambulance was "in the wrong" despite it obviously making a high priority trip to the hospital.
"Police explained to the man that emergency vehicles with lights and siren on may disregard rules and traffic control devices under section 122 of the Motor Vehicle Act," Const. Andrew Hodges said in a media release. "The man was still of the belief the ambulance was driving erratically and was referred to make a complaint to BC Ambulance if he wished to do so."
According to ICBC, emergency vehicles with lights and sirens always have the right-of-way and all traffic in either direction have to pull over and stop to provide a clear path.
