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Ambulance vehicles


Legal aspects of ambulance operation

  • The Traffic Safety Act states that a siren on an emergency vehicle shall be operated only when the vehicle is being used in response to an emergency, an emergency call or an alarm. 

  • When operating an emergency vehicle, the law states: 

(1) Where, considering the circumstances, it is reasonable and safe to do so, a person driving an emergency vehicle may while the vehicle's siren is operating do one or more of the following: 

(a) drive the vehicle in excess of the speed limit; 

(b) proceed past a traffic control signal indicating stop or a stop sign without stopping; 

(c) contravene any provision that is prescribed by the Act, this or other regulations or a municipal bylaw governing the use of the highways. 

(2) An emergency vehicle, while its siren is operating, has the right of way over all other vehicles. 

  • Use of the red flashing lights alone does not exempt the driver from the Traffic Safety Act.

 

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