SINGAPORE — From Saturday (June 1), fire engines, red rhinos and fire-medical vehicles will be allowed to beat red lights and make U-turns at non-designated junctions when responding to emergencies.

Similar exemptions from traffic rules were given to Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulances in 2017, and these are being extended to fire-fighting vehicles.

In a press release on Friday (May 31), SCDF said the exemptions give “legislative clarity”, allowing drivers of such vehicles to respond more quickly to medical emergencies and fire and rescue incidents.

“Every minute saved can improve health outcomes for the patient”, said SCDF.

SCDF added that its personnel operating exempted emergency vehicles must comply with procedures “to ensure the safety of road users and SCDF personnel”.

For example, a driver of an emergency vehicle who intends to proceed past a red light or make a U-turn at a non-designated junction is required to sound the siren and activate blinker lights to alert road users, SCDF said.

When approaching a traffic junction, the driver must also slow down and come to a complete stop so that an assessment of the traffic situation can be made before proceeding further.

SCDF added that other road users must also continue to play their part by exercising civic responsibility and giving way to emergency vehicles.

“This can make a real difference in saving lives,” said SCDF.

Here’s what drivers should do when an emergency vehicle goes against traffic rules:

• Give way by signalling early and safely filtering towards the left.

• If unable to filter left safely, slow down to let the emergency vehicle overtake from the left.

• At a traffic junction, slow down and safely give way, even if the lights are in your favour.

• Do not break traffic rules (for example, drive through a red light) to give way to an emergency vehicle.