Will the Minister make a statement on speed limit exemptions for volunteer emergency responders, like coastguard officers?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change | Answered on 10/05/2022
This is a reserved matter, however I understand that there are plans by the UK Government this year to commence Section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006, in relation to the statutory speed limit exemption for emergency vehicles.
The intention is to harmonise provisions for search and rescue vehicles (HM Coastguard, Lifeboat launch vehicles, mine, cave, lowland and mountain rescue) at the same time to allow blue lights and sirens to facilitate progress through traffic. However, these plans do not extend a speed exemption for secondary search and rescue volunteers.