Driver fined for failing to give way to ambulance

Driver fined for failing to give way to ambulance

Nam Oi reports to Bang Phli police on Monday to hear charges of failing to give a lane to an ambulance on Sunday night. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chaiyutworakan)
Nam Oi reports to Bang Phli police on Monday to hear charges of failing to give a lane to an ambulance on Sunday night. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chaiyutworakan)

SAMUT PRAKAN: A driver has been fined 500 baht for obstructing an ambulance taking a woman in labour to a hospital.

The driver, identified only as Nam Oi, 37, reported to Bang Phli police on Monday to hear charges of violating the Land Traffic Act after a video clip showed her car did not give way to the ambulance in Bang Phli district on Sunday night.

Pol Lt Col Pramuan Thongphu, a deputy superintendent of the Bang Phli police station, said a maximum fine of 500 baht was imposed on the female driver.

The clip, posted by a rescue volunteer, went viral on social media and drew criticism against the driver.

The rescue official, who requested anonymity, said the incident took place around 8pm on Theparak Road as he was driving an ambulance with sirens and emergency lights on to take the woman to Bang Phli hospital.

About two kilometres to the hospital, the ambulance was behind the car. The driver stayed on the lane even as his assistant asked her to give way on loudspeakers, he said. The car finally moved aside when the ambulance almost reached the hospital, he added.

"I had no intention of blaming the driver when I decided to post my clip on social media. I just want to send a message that you will be a hero if you give way to ambulances and rescue vehicles with sirens on," the driver explained.

Nam Oi said she panicked and did not know what to do after seeing the ambulance coming very close to her car. She gave way after she regained composure, she added.

"I would like to apologise to the rescue volunteers and the woman in the ambulance," she said. "I didn't mean to block them. I froze at that time."


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