Come Dec. 1, 2017, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulance drivers will be allowed to run red lights and make "illegal U-turns" in emergency situations.

Apparently, before this, the law never explicitly said if ambulance drivers could do so in life-or-death situations.

Change in the law

Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin explained in Parliament on Nov. 7 how SCDF ambulance drivers will be exempted from Section 120(3) of the Road Traffic Act.

He was responding to a question from Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC. Said Amrin:

"MHA is working towards exempting SCDF ambulances from legislative provision that prohibits red light running and unauthorised U-turns."

In an emergency every second counts, and amending the rules to save lives is understandable.

Precautions must be taken

But SCDF ambulance drivers also have to take certain precautions before doing so, like sounding the siren and turning on the blinkers to warn other drivers.

Drivers also must slow down at the junction and come to a complete stop before deciding whether or not to run the red light. This will give them time to assess the situation.

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According to the SCDF press release, here's what other motorists can do to make their lives easier:

• Stay calm and check the direction of the oncoming ambulance.
• Give way to the ambulance by signaling early and filter towards the left if it is safe to do so. Do not wait until the last minute to do so.
• If unable to filter to the left, let the ambulance overtake you from the left. Do not speed up to block an overtaking ambulance.
• Do not try to outrun or tailgate the ambulance as this can endanger yourself and other road users.
• At traffic light junctions/intersections, slow down and give way to an ambulance even when the lights are in your favour.
• Do not drive through a red traffic light in order to give way to an ambulance.

What about private ambulance drivers?

However according the press release, only SCDF ambulance drivers are given this exemption. It's not mentioned whether private ambulance drivers will also be covered by the new law.

If you happen to drive a private ambulance, please don't run the red lights without double-checking first.

Top image from Home Team SG.