Emergency Vehicles and the law in New South Wales

Abstract

Every day, ambulance officers, police officers and fire fighters put their lives at risk when they drive on urgent duty to the scene of an accident or emergency. It is both accepted and expected, that emergency workers will drive contrary to the normal rules of the road in such cases. But under what authority do they do so and what are their responsibilities, at law? The use of motor vehicles in New South Wales is governed by the Traffic Act, 1909 and the Regulations under that Act. The Act, amongst other things, sets out procedural matters with respect to the rules of the road, it also contains offences such as Negligent Driving; Menacing Driving; Speeding; Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving with the Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA); and the requirements that drivers must be licensed and cars registered.