A new video, called ‘Blue Light Aware’ has been launched today by the GEM Motoring Assist Road Safety Charity. The five-minute video seeks to offer advice to members of the public on how best to help an emergency service driver on a ‘blue light’ run.

The video at www.bluelightaware.org.uk  is based on the advice available in the Highway Code and addresses specific situations identified as causing confusion for motorists.

The video production follows a three-month consultation period in which emergency service representatives and road safety professionals were invited to provide their expert comment on how each situation should be illustrated and explained. The finished video now has the support of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Driving Standards Agency, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, RoadSafe, the Motor Schools Association and the Institute of Advanced Motorist.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service are fully committed to the video having been involved in the consultation over the production of the video.

Mark Toplass, Workforce Development Manager, who is responsible for Emergency Response Driver Training within Humberside Fire and Rescue service said: “Research showed that the vast majority of road users want to help an emergency service driver. The difficulties come because it is not always clear what they are expected to do in order to provide the best help. As a result, too many members of the public are putting themselves in danger, breaking the law or risking damage to their cars while trying to assist an emergency vehicle on a blue light run.

“The need for a new information video has been raised frequently in recent years. The Blue Light Aware resource, with the video at its core, has been developed to reduce confusion and doubt for motorists. We are pleased to be providing this information that we believe will act as a bridge of understanding between emergency service drivers and other motorists.

“Emergency service drivers make ‘blue light’ journeys because someone needs their urgent help. We in turn can help them by giving them the room they need. In so doing, we may well be helping to save a life.”

We plan to use the video as part of our road safety awareness initiatives and as part of our driver training programmes.

Funding for the project has been provided by GEM’s Road Safety Charity, with an additional contribution from Volvo. The research and production task was carried out by Drive Smarter.