The recent incidents of ambulances being held up by VVIP convoys are not new, according to drivers of the emergency service who say they get stuck in traffic jams regularly. They blame it on the absence of a system to provide priority to ambulances.
Despite several suggestions and plans mooted by the authorities over the years, no concrete solution has materialised till date.
One of the solutions suggested to the police by NGOs is linking of ambulances to the traffic police radio network so that they could get updates on blocks or communicate their route to the traffic police. City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said they were doing all they could to ensure that ambulances were given a clear path. On the suggestion that ambulances have access to police radio network, he said, “This is a good idea for ambulances which are part of an umbrella network like the ‘108’ service. We are all for it.”
In 2015, the police decided to go ahead with a project that would involve installing sensors in ambulances. These sensors would trigger a signal and change the red traffic light to green to allow flow of traffic. This solution was eventually abandoned.
According to Abhinav K. Jayaram, State head, GVK EMRI which operates the ‘108’ ambulance service, the only assistance ambulance drivers receive currently is from the traffic control centre and officers on the ground who change traffic signals when an ambulance is spotted. Currently, ambulances in the city have to rely on their siren, lights, and a speaker attached to a microphone to help them navigate the city’s jammed streets during an emergency.
Of laws and violators
While the level of awareness among motorists to make way for ambulances has steadily increased, there are still many who choose to tailgate an ambulance or in some cases, even overtake it or refuse to let an ambulance pass as they get to skip the signal along with the emergency vehicle.
However, traffic police cannot fine them under the Motor Vehicles Act for specifically blocking an ambulance. Offenders get away by paying only a few hundred rupees as fine, if caught. In such cases, the traffic police fine them under other sections such as dangerous driving.
“There is a provision to fine those motorists who do not give way to ambulances in the Motor Vehicle Amendment (Bill) which was recently passed by the Lok Sabha. Once this rule comes into force, violators can be booked under this head. Currently, we charge them with other offences such as dangerous driving and other applicable sections,” said Additional Commissioner of Police R. Hithendra.
Under the Bill, which is yet to be passed by the Rajya Sabha, the fine for obstructing emergency vehicles will be ₹10,000
