Don’t drive too close to ambulances, ministerial convoys

The City Traffic Police (CTP) yesterday warned motorists to refrain from driving close behind ambulances and ministerial convoys since it could cause accidents. According to the CTP, some motorists and motor-cyclists were in the habit of driving their vehicles close behind ambulances and ministerial convoys thereby violating repeated police warnings.

CTP Senior Superintendent of Police, Chula de Silva told the Sunday Observer that only ambulances, presidential, ministerial convoys and vehicles belonging to diplomatic missions with back up police jeeps have been permitted to use alarm signals on highways.

A middle aged school teacher was killed on the spot recently when he was riding his motor-cycle close behind an ambulance carrying a patient to the Nagoda Hospital. According to an eye witness, the ambulance applied brakes abruptly to avoid an elderly persons being knocked down at a pedestrian crossing. Since the motorcyclist was riding at a high speed he crashed on to the ambulance. SSP de Silva called upon all motorists, especially bus and lorry drivers carrying heavy loads to refrain from driving close behind ambulances, presidential and ministerial convoys.