Ambulance blocker should be punished

An ambulance is seen in a traffic jam during the morning rush hour in Beijing on Monday. [Photo by Yang Yi / FOR CHINA DAILY]

After the video of an off-road vehicle deliberately and repeatedly blocking an ambulance in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang province, Northeast China, was posted on the Internet, the driver was detained by local police. He later apologized to the patient and relatives. The Peninsula Metropolis Daily offered this comment on Nov 22:

It is not only common sense, but also an obligation to give way to an ambulance on duty.

The driver of the off-road vehicle, instead of doing so, impeded the ambulance's right of way, which might pose a threat to the safety of both the patient, other passengers in the vehicle, and the ambulance driver.

Although the driver apologized through the media, saying he realized his mistake, such a mistake was in fact morally reprehensible, and hence should not simply be brushed aside with an apology.

According to the Law on Road Traffic Safety, other vehicles and pedestrians should give way to an ambulance showing its flashing lights. Also, it is stipulated in the Criminal Law that a person who engages in chases with other automobiles when driving on the road should be sentenced to prison and receive a fine.

The video of this driver's behavior and the descriptions of it given by witnesses both proved the driver's wrongdoing. Hopefully, the local police, after a thorough investigation, can bring the driver to justice.