WATCH | When the Hard Shoulder Becomes a Problem for an Emergency Ambulance
How poor motorway habits can delay emergency response — and why it matters
In this short dashcam clip, an emergency ambulance responding to an emergency call finds its route blocked — not by traffic in the main lanes, but by drivers misusing the hard shoulder.
As the ambulance approaches a stretch of congestion on a three-lane motorway, it shifts onto the hard shoulder to make progress, blue lights flashing and sirens sounding.
But almost immediately, four vehicles were already occupying the hard shoulder, with one driver caught awkwardly straddling the solid white line. Despite attempts to clear the way, including help from a lorry and some pointed hand gestures from other drivers, the ambulance remained stuck behind those who refused—or simply didn’t know—how to respond.
One driver even continues along the hard shoulder with hazard lights on, seemingly unaware of the delay. Eventually, with no route through, the ambulance is forced to switch off its emergency lights.
This kind of behaviour isn’t just frustrating to watch; it highlights a serious issue. The hard shoulder exists for emergencies. When drivers use it as a shortcut during heavy traffic, they’re potentially blocking access for ambulances, fire crews, and police vehicles trying to reach people in critical need.
Delays like this can add precious minutes to response times. In many cases, those minutes make all the difference!
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