Murgon Ambulance Station calls for motorists to stay aware and move over for emergency vehicles

South Burnett ambulance officers are calling for motorists to pay attention on the roads and give emergency services room to move after a string of interactions that were a serious and unnecessary risk to lives. Full report:

Even children know flashing lights and blaring sirens on an ambulance mean there’s an emergency but some drivers in the South Burnett are failing to notice or deliberately ignoring them, causing a serious danger on and off the roads.

Murgon Ambulance Station officer Andrew Grey said the issue was growing worse.

“It’s always a constant issue … but it has started getting a little more prevalent,” he said.

Murgon Ambulance Station’s newest officer Damien Sparks. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Mr Grey said in recent months a paramedic was diverted to a traffic crash and despite travelling under lights and sirens, or ‘Code 1’, was impeded by motorists in Murgon.

“No one pulled over. It caused a delay for him getting on scene,” Mr Grey said.

And it doesn’t just seem to be motorists not paying attention, with Mr Grey recounting an astonishing incident where he was in an ambulance stuck behind a driver for nearly two kilometres.

“We were given a code 1 to Cherbourg (from Kingaroy) and we were going through Wooroolin and this old guy decided to ignore the lights and sirens,” he said.

“He eventually pulled over and he gave us the finger.”

Mr Grey believes a lot of the issues came down to “ distraction and complacency”.

“It’s hard to miss emergency services,” he said.

“It’s one of those things that’s just got to be reminded to the public, because it not every day that they see emergency services vehicles with lights and sirens on.”

Murgon Ambulance Officer Damien Sparks. Picture: Dominic Elsome

The Queensland Ambulance Service said moving over for emergency services was vital.

“We ask drivers to protect those who protect us by slowing down & giving emergency vehicles the space they need to stay safe when responding lights and sirens,” a spokesman said.

“Every minute counts in a life-threatening emergency, so it is vital our paramedics manoeuvre quickly through traffic and get to the patient.”

The spokesman also gave motorists the following advice.

• If you hear sirens or notice flashing lights while driving, remain aware of your surroundings. Scan your mirrors regularly and move calmly and carefully out of our way if the emergency vehicle is approaching, usually to the left-hand lane.
• As an ambulance passes you, keep in mind that there are often multiple units or other emergency services responding to a scene, so stay aware of other emergency vehicles travelling through the area.
• Lastly, always indicate your intentions when pulling over or switching lanes - through the simple gesture of giving way to our responding crews, you could be saving a life.
• The law allows you to drive onto the wrong side of the road or drive through a red traffic light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. However giving way to emergency vehicles should always be done with the utmost care and with the safety of yourself and all other road users as a priority.
• Move left to give the emergency vehicle a clear path. If you can’t move left safely, stay where you are and let the emergency vehicle overtake you. Do not move your vehicle suddenly.