Give way to emergency vehicles or face prosecution – Police warn drivers

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department on Monday reminded all motorists that it is both unlawful and dangerous to obstruct emergency vehicles such as those operated by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Police, and Ambulance Services. This warning comes amid growing concerns over drivers failing to yield to emergency responders actively responding to incidents.
Citing Section 4 (1)–(3) of the Road Traffic (Guyana Fire Service) Order, made under Section 49 of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act 51:02, the Traffic Department reiterated that drivers must pull over and stop as near as possible to the left side of the road and remain stationary—especially at night when headlights should be dimmed—until the emergency vehicle has passed; on dual carriageways, vehicles on both sides of the roadway must stop and remain stationary when an emergency vehicle is approaching and following or trailing an emergency vehicle after it has passed is strictly prohibited and constitutes a direct violation of the law.
The Traffic Department has said that it has observed a troubling trend of drivers deliberately trailing emergency vehicles to avoid traffic congestion. Officials warn that such reckless behaviour poses a serious threat to road safety; disrupts critical emergency response operations; violates established traffic regulations and exposes offenders to arrest, prosecution, and even licence suspension for failing to give right of way. Despite previous warnings, the Department continues to urge all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic laws by staying alert and immediately yielding to emergency vehicles; pulling to the left or near side of the road and stopping safely; avoiding tailing emergency vehicles after they pass and refraining from making lane changes or maneuvers that could obstruct emergency access.
The GPF also said that it is calling for full cooperation from the motoring public to ensure emergency responders can operate efficiently and safely, potentially saving lives in critical situations.