How do we give way to ambulance?

Last week, while driving along the CTE, I saw an SCDF ambulance ahead of me with its siren on, trying to make its way through very heavy traffic. It is not hard to imagine a patient in need of emergency care inside the ambulance, whose life could depend on how fast he/ she would arrive at the nearest hospital.

The behavior of motorists in response or lack of it to the ambulance's siren was disappointing. There were at least 3 types of behavior that I noticed that are either reckless or insensitive:

Type 1: The ambulance tailgaters - these are the motorists who would switch lanes and tailgate the ambulance with the anticipation that the path ahead will be opened and they could speed up in their journey. This behavior is reckless because it will put the ambulance at risk should the need arise to suddenly slow down and switch lanes.

Type 2: The "What Can I do" behavior - This applies to motorists ahead of the ambulance who do not know how to give way because the traffic is so heavy. They feel that they can't speed up and also can't switch to another lane because others won't allow them to.

Type 3: The "If I let others switch to my lane, I will slow down" behavior. These motorist refused to let other motorists switch lanes to give way to the ambulance and over time reinforce their behavior as Type 2.

My general conclusion is that Singapore motorists are not trained to give way properly to emergency vehicles. In the US where I lived for 3 years, the behavior is very different. When the siren from an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance is sounded, it will be obvious that cars ahead of the ambulance will move to the side and come to a halt. The other vehicles on the adjacent lanes will all move to the side and also stop. In doing do, they open up a "new" lane for the ambulance to move speedily through. It is only only after the ambulance has made significant progress ahead that vehicles will continue on their journey. I am sure we can do it too, just some public education and motorists will soon be accustomed how to properly give way to ambulances. This way, we help save lives!