"Siren Private Ambulance Generously Yielded, Then Bought Snacks at Rest Area"

The Story Behind Suddenly Yielding in a Highway Tunnel
"Stopped at a Rest Area and Came Out with Snacks"

Netizens are outraged over a story about a private ambulance that sounded its siren on the highway and was given way, but was later seen by a driver buying snacks at a rest area.

On the 21st, an online community, BobaeDream, posted a story titled "I gave way to a private ambulance." The author, presumed to be the driver who yielded to the ambulance, Mr. A, began by saying, "While passing through a tunnel on the highway, an ambulance with flashing lights and sirens closely followed behind my car."

Netizens are outraged by a story about yielding the way to a private ambulance sounding its siren on the highway, only to see the ambulance driver buying snacks at a rest area shortly afterward.
[Photo by Online Community 'BobaeDream']

He wrote, "I thought there must be an emergency patient, so I moved aside, but the ambulance eventually went to a rest area." According to Mr. A, the ambulance driver stopped at the rest area to buy snacks and came out carrying them.

Mr. A also shared a black box video showing the ambulance overtaking his vehicle. In the video, Mr. A’s car, driving in the first lane of the tunnel, changes lanes to yield to the ambulance with flashing lights and sirens. The ambulance quickly overtakes in the first lane.

Mr. A also released a black box video showing an ambulance overtaking his vehicle. In the video, Mr. A's car, which was driving in the first lane of the tunnel, changed lanes to yield to the ambulance with its emergency lights on and siren sounding. The ambulance quickly passed by in the first lane. [Video source=Online community 'BobaeDream']

Later, when the author entered the rest area, there was an ambulance parked in the parking lot. Netizens who watched the video criticized the ambulance driver, saying, "Isn't it illegal to sound the siren without a patient?" and "The driver’s license should be revoked."

Some netizens emphasized the need to yield for safety, saying, "Still, you should always move aside just in case," and "You should report it, but yielding to ambulances should become a habit."

Using an Ambulance for Private Purposes Can Lead to Punishment

Last November, a video showing a private ambulance driver sounding the siren to avoid traffic congestion on a road in Nam-gu, Busan, was released, sparking controversy.
[Photo by Han Moon-cheol TV, YouTube channel]

Private ambulances are usually used to transfer critically ill patients who cannot be treated at a hospital to another hospital. In a similar case last November, a video showing a private ambulance sounding its siren to avoid traffic congestion on a road in Nam-gu, Busan, sparked controversy.

At that time, drivers moved aside to let the ambulance pass, but the ambulance driver stopped at a nearby cafe to buy coffee before getting back into the ambulance.

As the controversy grew, the ambulance company apologized through 'Han Moon-cheol TV,' stating, "After checking the ambulance’s internal CCTV, it seems the driver bought coffee and then went to the hospital to pick up an outpatient. We have no excuses, feel ashamed, and will conduct more thorough staff training," promising to prevent recurrence.

Meanwhile, sounding sirens falsely or using ambulances for private purposes can lead to punishment. According to Article 45, Paragraph 1 of the Emergency Medical Service Act, if an ambulance driver operates the vehicle for purposes other than transporting emergency patients, they may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 20 million won.

The Road Traffic Act also states that "emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, and blood supply vehicles cannot operate sirens and flashing lights unless used for their original emergency purposes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.