In Europe, are you allowed to enter an intersection on red light in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass?

Question

I've seen a video where cars are stopped at a red light, when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with sirens on. Emergency vehicle picks the lane with the least traffic, which only has one car in it. Since the car is stopped at the stop line, they cannot move out of the way without entering the intersection (i.e. running the red light), and therefore doesn't move until the light turns green.

Are the driver's actions legal in this situation, or is the driver required by law to enter the intersection on red in order to make way for the emergency vehicle?

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So far, I've managed to find an answers for two countries:

In the UK, Rule 219 of the highway code states that you must comply with all traffic laws while making way for emergency vehicles, so driver's refusal to run the red in order to let the emergency vehicle pass would be legal in the UK.

In Slovenia, the relevant law (ZPrCP) requires drivers to make way for emergency vehicles with emergency lights on (section 101), but the section has no paragraph specifically allowing drivers to break other traffic laws while doing so. This suggests that driver's actions would be the thing you're legally required to do in such circumstances in Slovenia.

Finding information for other European countries is proving a bit harder for me due to language barrier.

Answer 1

switzerland

Yes.

While it's the last of all options to consider, it seems legal to cross the line when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind, but only as far as absolutely necessary (e.g move in front of another lane instead of just crossing the intersection), as this news report suggests.

The relevant law (Article 16) suggests that "Wenn es zur sofortigen Freigabe der Fahrbahn unerlässlich ist, müssen die Fahrzeugführer mit der gebotenen Vorsicht auf das Trottoir ausweichen" (If it is necessary, in order to immediately free the lane, the drivers must, with the recommended caution, draw onto the sidewalk). So this is the preferred solution, if possible.

When you get a ticket from e.g. an automatic red-light camera, you can object and usually get the fine revoked. The emergency vehicle will likely be visible in the image and/or also be flashed for crossing the red light.

Answer 2

germany

Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO):

§ 36 Zeichen und Weisungen der Polizeibeamten

(1) Die Zeichen und Weisungen der Polizeibeamten sind zu befolgen. Sie gehen allen anderen Anordnungen und sonstigen Regeln vor, entbinden den Verkehrsteilnehmer jedoch nicht von seiner Sorgfaltspflicht.

[...]

§ 38 Blaues Blinklicht und gelbes Blinklicht

(1) Blaues Blinklicht zusammen mit dem Einsatzhorn darf nur verwendet werden, wenn höchste Eile geboten ist, um Menschenleben zu retten oder schwere gesundheitliche Schäden abzuwenden, eine Gefahr für die öffentliche Sicherheit oder Ordnung abzuwenden, flüchtige Personen zu verfolgen oder bedeutende Sachwerte zu erhalten.

Es ordnet an:

„Alle übrigen Verkehrsteilnehmer haben sofort freie Bahn zu schaffen“.

Translation:

Road Traffic Regulations (StVO):

§ 36 Signs and instructions from police officers

(1) The signs and instructions of police officers must be obeyed. They take precedence over all other instructions and other rules, but do not release road users from their duty of care.

[...]

§ 38 Blue flashing light and yellow flashing light

(1) Blue flashing lights together with the emergency horn may only be used if extreme haste is required to save human life or prevent serious damage to health, to avert a danger to public safety or order, to pursue fleeing persons or to preserve important material assets.

It orders:

"All other road users must give way immediately".

That means that when "ordered" by emergency services via light and sirens, you are to make room, ignoring all other traffic laws, only making sure nobody else gets harmed.

So yes, running a red light is allowed, assuming you do it slowly, carefully and don't endanger anyone else. Normally, you creep into the intersection at walking speed and when the emergency vehicle has passed, you go back, just as slowly.

§ 35 clarifies who is allowed to use special privileges, but it is two pages long, I am not going to quote it. It contains what you would expect it to, police, rescue, fire fighter, military, customs, civilian services for important infrastructure, like fixing gas leaks or electrical problems etc. Quite frankly, nobody is questioning a siren and flashing lights. They will have a permit.

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And just from personal experience: you will regularly see cars creeping over red lights, onto sidewalks or laws, going over grass or bike lanes, to make room for emergency vehicles. If an emergency vehicle wants to go through, everything else becomes secondary and nobody will complain about you breaking any rules.

Other people accepting it as normal doesn't mean anything for the legality of it, but it is not only legal, it is widely known and accepted to be legal.

Answer 3

england-and-wales

West Yorkshire Police have offered this (ahem) helpful guide.

What should I do if I am at a red traffic light and there is an emergency vehicle behind me trying to get through?

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 Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. 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. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.'

Therefore, as outlined above, if there is an emergency vehicle behind you with its emergency warning signals on, it might be possible for you to manoeuvre out of the way to allow it through. Ideally this should be to the side of the road without encroaching into the main area of the junction (see below). It should only be done when it is safe to do so without putting yourself or other members of the public in danger and it should only be done slowly and carefully.

If you do cross the stop line at the junction whilst the lights are on red, you will commit the offence of contravening a red traffic light. It's important to remember that in committing the offence (crossing the stop line) the onus will be on you to provide evidence that you did so to allow an emergency vehicle through. That may be considered as mitigation, but there is no guarantee that it will be. If the police decide to prosecute you for the offence and you choose to challenge that decision, it will ultimately be a matter for a court to decide.

_{^{WYP: Ask The Police}}

A registered solicitor gives us an indication of what is likely to occur if you offer this as your sole defence. In short, you'll still be found guilty of an offence and unless you were specifically directed to move, the fact that an emergency service vehicle was behind you won't normally count in lessening the sentence you receive.

...running a red light is what is referred to as an absolute offence and mitigation rarely succeeds unless you were signalled by police to cross the white line when light is red; or if you had no[t] option but to move forward to avoid an accident or to give way to an ambulance.

_{^{Solicitor4All - Just Answer: Ask a Solicitor}}

Answer 4

israel

Depends

Regulation 93 states that when security (emergency) vehicle approaches, drivers must give right of way and stop to the right, afar from intersections.

As a practical matter however, it is not possible in most cases to let an ambulance through traffic without crossing the intersection boundaries and drivers can do that, as long as they do that carefully and without harming anyone else.

Not giving way to an emergency vehicle is a violation. Crossing on red to let an ambulance go is also a violation. A driver must chose which one they'd be able to defend themselves better against, and usually crossing the red light without causing any other harm would be the preferred option rather than letting someone die in an ambulance stuck in traffic.

For police (including military police, city police and road management companies), there's also regulation 23, which requires compliance. So if a police car demands the driver gives way by crossing into the intersection on red - the driver must comply.

Answer 5

netherlands

No. Article 50 of the traffic code only states that priority vehicles using sirens must be given priority (right of way). This does not include an exemption to violate other rules when giving way.

(As a practical matter, it appears common to not prosecute minor violations.)

Answer 6

finland

Tieliikennelaki 10 §:

Tienkäyttäjän on liikenteenohjauslaitteella osoitetusta velvollisuudesta riippumatta annettava hälytysääni- ja -valomerkkejä antavalle hälytysajoneuvolle ... esteetön kulku. Tällöin on tarvittaessa siirryttävä sivuun tai pysähdyttävä.

Rough translation: Road user must provide unimpeded path forward for an emergency vehicle giving sound and light signals regardless of what is indicated by traffic lights, traffic signs or road markings.

However, the moves have to be necessary for giving the emergency vehicles a way past you.

Answer 7

germany, as addition to nvoigt's answer

Answer for the video linked in a comment (snapshot below) and assuming the siren is actually on (which is plausible but the gif video doesn't have sound, and in Germany the Sonderrechte-magic requires blue flash light and siren)

Are the driver's actions [staying where they are until green, then starting] legal in this situation

NO - they need to immediately make way - unless the fire truck had their siren off. In that case they behaved as they should.

is the driver required by law to enter the intersection on red in order to make way for the emergency vehicle?

Also NO since there is no necessity: they have sufficient space before even violating the stopping line to move sideways and forward so that the fire truck can pass.

(If there is really no other possibility to let the emergency vehicle pass, then yes they may have moved into the crossing)

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Details:

Since the car is stopped at the stop line, they cannot move out of the way without entering the intersection

For most cars at most traffic lights this is not true. (Fully-grown trucks and cars with trailer may have more difficulties, though. Also, e.g. construction sites may restrict the space where one can put the car. But yes, you'd be supposed to fold in your mirror and e.g. move up a tunnel's safety strip "pavement" if that's what is needed)

First, one is supposed to stop well before the holding line and subsequent cars are supposed to leave adequate distance as well. One of the reasons for this is to have maneuvering space to move the car sideways (really squeeze to the side of the lane or go on the sidewalk or embankment) in order to give way for emergency vehicles.

Consider the video: The green car on the 1st lane has (in an exemplary manner) left plenty of space even before the stopping line. They could thus have used it to move far to the right, which would have given the fire truck sufficient space to pass. Yes, the red car on the 2nd lane may have helped as well by moving further to the left.
(BTW, note that the fire truck is labelled in German: Feuerwehr)

Second, intersections with traffic light are on purpose designed with space between the stop line and the actual traffic light which in turn is placed well before the actual intersection begins:

source

Also, the general ban on stopping and parking near crossings means that there are no parked cars keeping you from entering the sidewalk or embankment.

Thus, in case one nevertheless finds oneself without sufficient space before the stop line, there is the additional safety zone even before the actual traffic light.

In Germany, violating the stop line alone is a really minor thing (as long as noone is endangered). Violating the red traffic light happens when crossing the actual post with the signal. And that is still well before entering the crossing. (Side note: automatic traffic light violation cameras usually record several levels of violation, and distinguish stopping line violation from red light violation/actually entering the crossing. In the situation discussed here, the timestamps would also show that the violation did not happen at speed but by a very slow car, plus possibly the position of vehicles indicating that they form a passing lane)

Since fines need to be proportionate to the offense, the catalogue of traffic fines at the KBA may be used as convenient surrogate to compare the seriousness of different violations.

Not giving way for an emergency vehicle with flashing blue light + siren on is above red traffic light violations that did not actually endanger someone.

• 138600 Sie unterließen es, einem Einsatzfahrzeug mit eingeschaltetem blauen Blinklicht und Einsatzhorn sofort freie Bahn zu schaffen.
  You failed to immediately give way to an emergency vehicle with its blue flashing lights and siren switched on.
  § 38 Abs. 1, § 49 StVO; § 24 Abs. 1, 3 Nr. 5, § 25 StVG; 135 BKat; § 4 Abs. 1 BKatV
  category A; 2 points + 240,00 € fine + 1 month without driver's license

• 141211 Sie hielten nicht an der Haltlinie (Zeichen 294).
  You did not stop at the stopping line (sign 294)
  § 41 Abs. 1 iVm Anlage 2, § 49 StVO; § 24 Abs. 1, 3 Nr. 5 StVG; 154 BKat
  10,00 € fine

• 137600 Sie missachteten das Rotlicht der Lichtzeichenanlage.
  You disregarded the red light at the traffic lights.
  § 37 Abs. 2, § 49 StVO; § 24 Abs. 1, 3 Nr. 5 StVG; 132 BKat
  category A; 1 point + 90,00 € fine

• 137618 Sie missachteten das Rotlicht der Lichtzeichenanlage. Die Rotphase dauerte bereits länger als 1 Sekunde an.
  You disregarded the red light at the traffic lights. The red phase lasted longer than 1 second.
  § 37 Abs. 2, § 49 StVO; § 24 Abs. 1, 3 Nr. 5, § 25 StVG; 132.3 BKat; § 4 Abs. 1 BKatV
  category A; 2 points + 200,00 € fine + 1 month without driver's license

• for comparison, this one is triggered even without any emergency vehicle being around, as soon as the traffic slows down to walking speed (but this happens far from a traffic light):
  111600 Sie bildeten auf einer Autobahn oder Außerortsstraße keine vorschriftsmäßige *) Gasse zur Durchfahrt von Polizei- oder Hilfsfahrzeugen, obwohl der Verkehr stockte.
  You did not form a lane on a highway or out-of-town road lane for the passage of police or emergency vehicles, even though traffic was at a stagnated.
  § 11 Abs. 2, § 49 StVO; § 24 Abs. 1, 3 Nr. 5, § 25 StVG; 50 BKat; § 4 Abs. 1 BKatV
  category A; 2 points + 200,00 € fine + 1 month without driver's license

• There are additional violations with increasing severity in case someone was endangered or the violation actually having caused an accident (for all of them).

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Some legal opinions saying that red light may be violated in order to allow the emergency vehicle to pass as long as noone is endangered. Nevertheless, one should not go further than absolutely necessary (All in German):

• https://www.gansel-rechtsanwaelte.de/schlagzeile/was-darf-man-um-dem-rettungswagen-platz-zu-machen, translation:

  If an ambulance is approaching from behind and you have no possibility of driving to the side due to a narrow road or roadworks, you may even drive through a red light. Please note that you are not allowed to cross the entire intersection, but only the stop line. This must also be done in such a way that no other road users are endangered. So drive slowly up to the red light, watch out for crossing traffic and position your vehicle at the junction so that the ambulance can pass.

  If a camera was installed in the traffic light system that was triggered by your maneuver, you are usually off the hook. As soon as you hear a blue flashing light in combination with a siren, all vehicles must make way! If you receive a fine notice some time later, you can state that you swerved to avoid an ambulance. Ideally, you should be able to provide the registration number of the emergency vehicle, organization, time and date so that the fining authority can check what happened. However, the proceedings against you should generally be discontinued - nor can you be required to pay a fine.

• https://www.anwalt.de/rechtstipps/rettungswagen-im-einsatz-ueberholen-davonrasen-und-andere-verkehrsverstoesse-erlaubt_159835.html, translation:

  What happens if you are at a traffic light, an ambulance comes up behind you and you have no room to pull over? Can you just drive through the red light? The most important basic rule in this situation is that you must not endanger other road users!

  In principle, you are allowed to drive through the traffic lights in this case. However, it is advisable to only drive as far as necessary over the stop line and not necessarily into the intersection. Once you have let the emergency vehicle through, it is best to wait behind the traffic lights for the next green phase or, if possible, drive back behind the stop line.

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All translations by deepl with some manual help by me

Answer 8

hungary

The question comes up relatively often in the press and both the police and the paramedics always stress that yes, you are supposed to do so, with the proper caution and attention to others around you, of course. The Highway Code (KRESZ) says:

"42. § (1) [...] minden helyzetben elsőbbséget kell adni, és akadálytalan továbbhaladását – félrehúzódással és a szükséghez képest megállással – lehetővé kell tenni."

"[...] shall be given priority in all situations and shall be allowed to proceed unhindered by pulling over and stopping as necessary."

This is the main instruction and seems to trump everything else. The rest is anecdotal, but during all the decades of driving mostly in the capital, Budapest, where such situations can happen relatively frequently, it never occurred to me to do otherwise. This is just so obvious. I would also expect a driver failing to do so to be chastised immediately by a fierce use of the horn or the PA system of the emergency vehicle.

Answer 9

france

Yes. You must run the red light, if no other choice.

According to the article R415-12 of the Traffic Code (translation and emphasised text is mine):

En toutes circonstances, tout conducteur est tenu de céder le passage aux véhicules d'intérêt général prioritaires annonçant leur approche par l'emploi des avertisseurs spéciaux prévus pour leur catégorie.

In all circumstances, every driver must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles announcing their approach by using the special warning signals provided for their category

Every possible doubt in the interpretation by the general population is removed by this entry in an official FAQ:

Suis-je sanctionné si je grille un feu pour laisser passer un véhicule prioritaire ?
Non. […]

Am I penalized if I run a red light to let an emergency vehicles pass?
No. […]

Answer 10

denmark

Yes.

The Danish police has published the following guide:

DET SKAL DU GØRE NÅR DU HØRER EN UDRYKNING

Når et køretøj kører udrykningskørsel, fx fordi det skal frem til en alvorlig trafikulykke, eller skal overflytte en kritisk patient fra et sygehus til et andet, handler det om at få hjælpen frem så hurtigt som muligt. Hvert minut er dyrebart og kan betyde forskellen mellem liv eller død.

Så snart du bliver opmærksom på et udrykningskøretøj, skal du give plads. [...]

[...]Det er tilladt at køre frem mod rødt lys, hvis det gøres for at give plads til udrykningskøretøjet. Dog skal du først sikre dig, at du ikke er til fare for andre.

Translation:

What to Do When You Hear an Emergency Vehicle

When a vehicle is responding to an emergency, such as heading to a serious traffic accident or transferring a critical patient from one hospital to another, it's crucial to get help to the scene as quickly as possible. Every minute is precious and can mean the difference between life and death. [...]

[...] It is permitted to move forward against a red light if it is done to make room for the emergency vehicle. However, you must first ensure that you are not endangering others.

There is no direct allowance for this in the Danish Traffic Act ("Færdselsloven") or the relevant ministerial order, but it falls under the Penal Code ("Straffeloven") §14:

En handling, der ellers ville være strafbar, straffes ikke, når den var nødvendig til afværgelse af truende skade på person eller gods, og lovovertrædelsen måtte anses for at være af forholdsvis underordnet betydning.

Translation:

An act that would otherwise be punishable is not subject to punishment if it was necessary to avert an imminent danger to person or property, and the offense must be considered of relatively minor significance.

Or perhaps, given the published instructions from the Danish police, one could argue that it falls under the Traffic Act's §4 section 2:

Trafikanter skal efterkomme de anvisninger for færdslen, som gives af politiet eller andre, som transportministeren har bemyndiget til at regulere færdslen [...]

Translation:

Road users must comply with the traffic instructions given by the police or other persons authorized by the Minister of Transport to regulate traffic [...]

Answer 11

austria

Yes

https://ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/1960/159/P26/NOR40245676

(5) Alle Straßenbenützer haben einem herannahenden Einsatzfahrzeug Platz zu machen. Kein Lenker eines anderen Fahrzeuges darf unmittelbar hinter einem Einsatzfahrzeug nachfahren oder, außer um ihm Platz zu machen, vor ihm in eine Kreuzung einfahren.

In English:

(5) All road users must give way to an approaching emergency vehicle. No driver of another vehicle may drive directly behind an emergency vehicle or enter an intersection in front of it, except to make way for it.

Answer 12

The other day I witnessed a police car with lights on (no sirens) stop behind a motorcyclist staying on red. The police car used the horn to attract the attention of the motorcyclist and have him move away (by crossing the white line).

This in Bulgaria. Not sure about the letter of the law but I've seen many times people give way by entering the intersection and I've done that once to give way to an ambulance.

The relevant part of the law "Закон за Движение по Пътищата (ЗДвП)" /Law for moving on the roads/ is:

Чл. 104. (1) При приближаване на моторно превозно средство със специален режим на движение водачите на останалите пътни превозни средства са длъжни да освободят достатъчно място на пътното платно, а при необходимост и да спрат, за да осигурят безпрепятствено преминаване както на сигнализиращото, така и на съпровожданите от него превозни средства.

It only states that one is required to make way but no really specific.

But there is a court case I found about speeding. My reading of it is that in general speeding can be excused when absolutely necessary. Although in that specific case it was decided that the decision to speed was not correct.

автомобилът, за който касаторът твърди, че е линейка с включени звуков и светлинен сигнали, е в такава близост до неговия автомобил, която показва несвоевременно изпълнение на задължението по чл.104, ал.1 от ЗДвП. Именно защото е избрал неправилен начин да даде предимство на автомобила със специален режим на движение, С. не може да бъде освободен от отговорност за управление на собственото си МПС с превишена скорост.

Basically court decided that the driver had plenty of opportunity to go to the right lane as everybody else instead of speeding forward. There is nothing in the decision that states speeding (or other) rules take precedence over the requirement to give way.

This makes me think that overall the general interpretation of the law would be that you should give way but in a reasonable way and you may be fined for taking a wrong decision. Although I think it is unlikely to be fined for staying on the crossroad in practice and might be easier to defend such a decision.

For more I guess you need to speak with a lawyer.