Special vehicles - Emergency vehicles

Some vehicles have more rights than others. These are, for example, emergency (priority) vehicles. In addition, trams, military convoys and funeral processions of motor vehicles have special rights.
There are also vehicles that do not immediately have extra rights, but which you to take extra into account, e.g. larger transports.

Emergency vehicle / priority vehicle

Motor vehicle that runs optical (flashing lights) and sound signals (sirens). These include blue flashing lights and a two-tone horn. You should always give way to these vehicles.

Ambulance

Motor vehicle equipped and intended to be used for the transportation of sick or injured people to and from the hospital.

Emergency medical services

Motor vehicle intended for the provision of emergency medical care. This does not have to be for the transport of a patient, such as with an ambulance. It could, for example, be a company car from a GP (general practitioner). This is mainly intended to get the GP to the patient urgently.

Animal ambulance

Motor vehicle equipped and intended to be used for the transport of sick or injured animals. These vehicles are never emergency vehicles. They do often have yellow flashing lights to make sure they are clearly visible. They are not allowed to run sirens, so they are not equipped with them.

Emergency vehicles

Emergency vehicles are motor vehicles that have an urgent task to complete. They show that they are in a hurry by means of blue optical signals (flashing lights) and sound signals in the form of a two-tone horn (siren). Without these signals, ore with just one of these signals, they are not emergency vehicles.

Emergency vehicles include ambulances, police vehicles and fire engines. But other vehicles can be authorised to use these signals. In this case, they then also fall under emergency vehicles. Think of vehicles of the Rijkswaterstaat, or vehicles for the transport of blood or organs.

Making space for an emergency vehicle

All road users must give way to drivers or emergency vehicles. Without exceptions. It is important that you do so safely. You are not allowed to cause hinder or danger when letting an emergency vehicle pass. You are also not allowed to break any rules.

If an emergency vehicle is approaching, stay calm. The driver of an emergency vehicle finds its own path and keeps to the normal rules as much as possible. The more predictable your driving is, the easier that is for them. Some tips:

• Only make space when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, keep riding at the allowed speed limit.
• If there is a free lane, then leave it free for the emergency vehicle. Always leave the hard shoulder free during a traffic jam!
• If you are riding on a roundabout, or if you are approaching one, with an emergency vehicle behind you, then keep riding on the roundabout until the emergency vehicle has exited the roundabout.
• Are you waiting at a red traffic light, then only make space if the emergency vehicle cannot get past you. Also, only make space when this is safe to do so. Never just ride through a red traffic light onto the intersection. In that case, waiting is safer.
• Does an emergency want to pass you, then stay on the carriageway and keep to the right as much as possible. Never suddenly enter the verge or pavement at high speeds.
• Always watch out for more emergency vehicles following.

If you do not see a vehicle (in time), then you cannot respond correctly. Make sure to check your mirrors regularly. You sometimes see an emergency vehicle before you can hear them. Besides that, maintain sufficient distance between the person in front of you, even when waiting at a traffic light. Then you still have enough space for when an emergency vehicle wants to pass.

Emergency vehicles and traffic rules

Emergency vehicles may, if they have a good reason to do so, ignore some traffic rules. For example, they are allowed to run a red light and drive faster than is allowed.
Police vehicles may even do this without running optical and sound signals. Even they are not allowed to just do that, but only when they have a valid reason to do so. But: they then do not fall under emergency vehicles!