In the daily r/Australia thread /u/jaward193 has asked If you're at a set of lights (on red) and an ambulance pulls up behind you, what do you do? Pull out onto the intersection or wait? I've done a bit of light googling and have responded as such The Queensland Government say You may drive onto the wrong side of the road or drive through a red traffic light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. The Western Australian Government say Remember, you cannot break the law to give way to an emergency vehicle, for example, driving through a red light There was a thread on Whirlpool discussing it which cited Adelaide man fined for running red light in which "Traffic Support Superintendent Mark Fairney said ...."Motorists have an obligation to give way to emergency vehicles but they also have an obligation to drive with due care and abide by the traffic laws, ....Disobeying the red traffic light is fraught with danger... A better option would be to wait until the traffic light changes to green and then provide a safe passage for the ambulance by moving out of its path in the safest way possible." So I suppose all I've clarified is that there is no one blanket rule for Australia and it changes state to state. I was wondering if anyone here might be able to shed some more light on the topic? If you're at a red light and you have an ambulance trying to get past behind you, what do you do?
 Do you know what to do when an emergency vehicle is behind you? From time to time, as a motorist, you may find yourself in a situation where an emergency vehicle is approaching with their lights and sirens activated. The Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and Queensland Ambulance Service all have emergency vehicles and are required to use lights and sirens when responding to emergencies. As a motorist you are urged to pay attention to your surroundings and ensure you have a clear understanding of your responsibilities when an emergency service vehicle is approaching with activated lights and sirens. By not knowing your responsibilities as a motorist, you are potentially placing lives at risk by delaying emergency services response times. It is important that you do not panic or ignore the approaching emergency vehicle if you don’t know what to do. This is what you need to know:
Failure to give-way to emergency services can incur the following penalties:
If you have ever had to call Triple Zero (000) for an emergency, you know how important it is to get that help as soon as possible. 6. Do not obstruct traffic Obstructing vehicles can cause harm! Ensure you move your vehicle out of the pathway, safely. 7. Move to the left If it is safe to do so, move as far to the left as possible to make room for the emergency vehicle aiming to get past.8. Never run a red light If you are waiting at a red light when you hear a siren behind you, you must not go through a red light, as it might put other road users in danger. Move to the left if you are able to. If not, it is the emergency vehicle’s responsibility to find another route through, or wait until safe to do so.
Ensuring you are able to hear sounds clearly around you is paramount to how quick your reactions are. Playing loud music can obstruct you from hearing a siren timeously, so ensure your music isn’t too loud and avoid the use of headphones. 10. Never ignore a flashing light or siren The consequences of moving into the path of police or an emergency vehicle will incur a $439 fine, under the Road Rules 2014 Rule 78 (1). Not moving out of the path of police or an emergency vehicle will also incur a $439 fine, under the Road Rules 2014 Rule 78 (2). IN EVERY Australian state drivers are required to move out of the way of emergency vehicles driving with their flashing lights on. But what happens when this coincides with other important road rules? Not moving out of the way of an emergency vehicle can result in hefty fines and demerit points and many motorists may believe that it takes precedence over all other road rules, including stopping at red lights. Unfortunately it is not this simple and there is no blanket rule saying whether drivers can or cannot disobey a red light in order to clear a path for an emergency vehicle. This results in a lot of confusion about what drivers should do when they find themselves stopped at a red light with an emergency vehicle with its siren on coming up behind them. The correct response varies from state to state and in some cases a lot of it can be left up to interpretation. NEW SOUTH WALES Under NSW law, drivers are required to get out of the way of the police, fire brigade or ambulances if they hear a siren or see they are displaying flashing blue and red lights. A lot of the time this will mean pulling over to the left until the vehicle has passed. The NSW Road Users Handbook warns not following this rule will make you liable for an on-the-spot fine. Not moving out of the path of an emergency vehicle and not stopping at a red light both carry $448 fines and three demerit points. Transport for NSW told news.com.au that motorists should only make way for these vehicles “if it is safe to do so”. “A driver should move out of the way of an approaching emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light or sounding an alarm, only if it is safe to do,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said. “In some circumstances it may not be safe for the driver to move out of the path of an emergency vehicle, for example when they are stopped at a red light.” VICTORIA In Victoria, legislation also states that motorists should move out of the path of emergency vehicles as soon as the driver can safely do so. Failing to keep clear or give way to an emergency vehicle can leave drivers open to a $282 fine and three demerit points. Disobeying a red traffic light can be incredibly dangerous and could result in an accident, creating even more hazards for emergency vehicles. Motorists run the risk of copping a $403 fine and three demerits points if they disobey a red light. QUEENSLAND For Queensland drivers the rule is slightly different. Motorists are still required to move out of the way for ambulances, the police and the fire brigade but driving through a red light is also permitted under certain circumstances. “The law allows you to drive onto the wrong side of the road or drive through a red traffic light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so,” the Queensland Government website states. “However giving way to emergency vehicles should always be done with the utmost care and with the safety of yourself and all other road users as a priority.” Under other circumstances failing to stop at a red light could result in a $391 fine and three demerit points. Drivers can cop a $304 fine and three demerit points for not moving out of the way of emergency vehicles. WESTERN AUSTRALIA Western Australia has quite a different approach to Queensland when dealing with moving out of the way of emergency vehicles. The rules state that, while drivers are required to move out of the way, it specifically states drivers are not permitted to break the law in order to make way for emergency vehicles. This means that both driving through a red light or speeding to move out of the way are illegal, with the former risking a $300 fine and three demerit points. However if a motorists makes no attempt to legally and safely move out of the way they could be slapped with a $400 fine and three demerit points. TASMANIA Tasmanian motorists follow similar rules to Western Australia, with the law stating drivers shouldn’t go through red lights in order to make way for emergency vehicles. If they do, they risk a $163 fine and three demerit points. SOUTH AUSTRALIA South Australia also follows the rule that motorists must move safely out of the way of emergency vehicles and not doing so could result in a hefty $428 fine and three demerit points. NORTHERN TERRITORY Drivers in the Northern Territory are also required to pull over to the left in order to let emergency vehicles pass when they hear a siren or see blue or red flashing lights. It does not explicitly state whether drivers are permitted to run a red light in order to comply with this rule, but doing so under normal circumstances could lead to three demerit points and a $240 fine.
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What to do when an ambulance is behind you at a red light
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