What you should do if an ambulance is stuck

BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, 08/10/2013: A view of traffic at Allasandra Railway Gate, a bypass to Yelahanka which is a traffic bottleneck for both sides. Around 30 trains passes this manualy operated gate and traffic piles to Yelahanka Police Station in one side and University of Agricultural Science on the other side in Bangalore on October 08, 2013. Ambulance getting cought in the traffic jam is regular feature here. Photo: K. Gopinathan

An ambulance wailing in the middle of a traffic-choked road is a far too common sight in the city.

The onus to ensure free passage to ambulances rests with vehicle users, to ensure the patient receives treatment within the vital first hour, known as ‘golden hour’.

“Motorists should keep to the left of the road and slow down to let ambulances pass on their right,” said B. Dayanand, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic). Priority should always be given to ambulances and fire and emergency vehicles, he added.

The traffic police have organised programmes to create awareness among motorists on the importance of ‘golden hour’. Personnel at the Traffic Management Centre have been instructed to coordinate with staff on the ground to facilitate easy movement for ambulances whenever necessary, Mr. Dayanand said.

(Reporting by Imran Gowhar)

Motorists should keep to the left of the road and slow down to let ambulances pass on their right