Emergency services need to arrive as soon as possible to the place where an accident has occurred. In scenarios where traffic is congested and cars impede the progress of emergency vehicles, each additional second of delay can endanger the lives of those involved. That is why the Madrid Firefighters recently praised the drivers on the A-3 highway on social media for enabling them with an emergency lane when they were on their way to help those injured in a multiple rear-end collision.
The firefighters highlighted the maneuver carried out by the motorists when they were going to help the people who were injured in a rear-end collision involving about 30 vehicles on the A-3 highway. Drivers banked their cars on both sides of the road to leave a clear aisle for emergency crews.
The accident took place on March 9 at kilometer 15 of the A-3 highway, in the center lanes heading into Madrid. At the time the multiple rear-end collision occurred, hail was falling over the capital, which could have been the trigger for the accident as the ground was slippery.
A total of 18 people were injured, none seriously, most of them with cervical and lumbar pain. According to Samur sources, thirteen of the injured were taken to hospital to receive specialized medical care and additional evaluations.
Through a message published on its official accident and evacuate the victims. The Madrid Firefighters who went to the scene of the accident were in charge of removing the affected vehicles from the road in collaboration with the Firefighters of the Community of Madrid.
The maneuver carried out by the motorists who were traveling on the A-3 at the time of the accident is very common in other countries, such as Germany, Austria or Luxembourg, where by law drivers must open an emergency lane when a traffic jam occurs. . There is no need for an emergency situation for motorists to move their cars to both sides of the road.
On the other hand, in Spain, it is not common for drivers to enable an emergency lane when traffic jams occur. However, they are required to do so when emergency vehicles are in service.
Article 67 of the General Traffic Regulations states that emergency vehicles have priority of passage over other vehicles and other road users when they are in service. Likewise, these vehicles may exceed speed limits and are exempt from complying with other regulations or signs whenever they are in service.
For its part, article 19 of the RGC indicates that every driver has the obligation to take appropriate measures when he perceives that an emergency vehicle is approaching, as long as it is on duty and has the priority lights or also the acoustic signals on. You should make it easier for them by moving to their right or stopping if necessary.
In the following video published by RACE you can see the appropriate protocol to continue on the road when an emergency vehicle is in service and approaching. In this procedure, drivers must give way to emergency vehicles by moving to the sides of the road to allow their passage without obstacles.