Is it illegal to run a red light to give way to an ambulance?

Recently, people sent questions to the Ministry of Public Security through the Ministry of Public Security's Electronic Information Portal about the issue of running red lights to give way to ambulances.

"Ministry of Public Security, I would like to ask, when seeing an ambulance signaling for vehicles to give way, if the vehicle in front is stopped at a red light and is forced to run a red light to give way to the ambulance, will it be fined for running a red light?" , a citizen asked.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Public Security said that according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 22 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, an ambulance performing emergency duties is one of five types of vehicles that have priority when participating in traffic.

Clause 3 of this Article also stipulates that when there is a signal from a priority vehicle on the route, traffic participants must quickly reduce speed, avoid or stop close to the right curb to give way, and must not obstruct the priority vehicle.

Clause 1, Article 11 of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations 2012 (amended and supplemented in 2020) stipulates that administrative violations committed in urgent situations will not be subject to administrative sanctions (urgent situations are situations in which individuals and organizations, in order to avoid a real risk that threatens the interests of the State, of organizations, their legitimate rights and interests or those of others, have no other choice but to cause a damage smaller than the damage that needs to be prevented).

In addition, Point d, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations 2012 (amended and supplemented in 2020) also stipulates that individuals and organizations sanctioned for administrative violations have the right to prove, by themselves or through their legal representatives, that they have not committed an administrative violation.

"Thus, in the case that the reader asked about, based on the above regulations, the driver who violates the "failure to comply with traffic light signals" will not be subject to administrative sanctions," the Ministry of Public Security informed.

Also according to the Ministry of Public Security, however, the driver of the violating vehicle or the legal representative of that driver must prove that the failure to comply with the traffic light signal was in an emergency to give way to an ambulance on duty to rescue a patient and the process of giving way must ensure the safety of vehicles on the road.

Fine for running a red light

Pursuant to Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP and effective from January 1, 2022), depending on the type of vehicle being driven, the act of not complying with traffic light signals will be punished as follows:

For drivers of cars and similar vehicles, the fine ranges from 4 million to 6 million VND. In addition to the fine, the driver's license will be revoked for 1 to 3 months.

For drivers of motorbikes, mopeds (including electric motorbikes), motorbike-like vehicles and moped-like vehicles, the fine is from 800,000 VND to 1 million VND. In addition to the fine, the driver's license will be revoked for 1 to 3 months.

For drivers of tractors and specialized motorbikes, the fine is from 2 million to 3 million VND. In addition to the fine, the driver's license (when driving a tractor) and the certificate of training in road traffic law (when driving a specialized motorbike) will be revoked for 1 to 3 months.

For drivers of bicycles, motorbikes (including electric bicycles), and drivers of other rudimentary vehicles, fines range from 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND.

Wisdom

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