Federal Council does not want to restrict night-time driving with sirens
Published: Thursday, Feb 15th 2024, 12:40
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The Federal Council does not want to restrict night-time journeys by emergency vehicles with blue lights and alternating horns. In its opinion, blue lights and sirens are necessary when driving through intersections so that police, fire and ambulance vehicles can give way and accidents do not occur.
This is what the Federal Council writes in its statement on a motion by the Geneva Council of States Mauro Poggia (MCG), which it recommends be rejected. Poggia argues that the sound of sirens at night disturbs people's sleep. This could endanger health, especially in cities and near hospitals.
At night, the emergency vehicles are also easy to notice if they are only on the road with blue lights. In its statement, the Federal Council points out that it is possible to drive at night with blue lights only. This applies if the drivers do not deviate significantly from the rules of right of way and do not claim their special right of way.
However, the Federal Council writes that blue lights and sirens are necessary at intersections so that emergency vehicles, which are often traveling very fast, are noticed in good time. A national regulation according to which blue lights alone would be sufficient for a special right of way at night would also be contrary to international law, it argues.
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