Ambulance cameras will catch drivers blocking emergency vehicles, Shenzhen warns

Drivers in Shenzhen have been warned that new cameras mounted on ambulances will record any cars blocking emergency vehicles.

Later this year, all ambulances managed by the 120 network will have cameras fitted. Staff at the Shenzhen Emergency Centre told the Shenzhen Evening News yesterday that the cameras will be able to capture images of cars blocking their path.

The evidence will be used to issue penalties.

Cameras inside ambulances will record the crew’s emergency treatment in case there is a dispute between the hospital and the patient’s family.

The paper reported that last year, there were several cases of paramedics being attacked in ambulances, but a lack of evidence prevented the authorities from prosecuting offenders.

According to Li Guangqun, director of the legal department at the Shenzhen traffic police bureau, drivers in the city who block emergency vehicles, including ambulances, face fines of 300 yuan (HK$377).

However, many motorists got away with it as there was no evidence. Li said that drivers can check evidence when there is a dispute.

Shenzhen Evening News reported that last year, Shenzhen’s 120 received more than 860,000 calls, accepted more than 620,000 cases, sent ambulances more than 160,000 times, and carried out emergency treatment on more than 120,000 people. Ambulances were sent to major accidents more than 1,500 times, and treated more than 4,000 people.

On online forums, netizens posted photos of Shenzhen traffic police on Monday starting to to clear and penalise vehicles blocking ambulances. Five teams of traffic police were patrolling near the city’s major hospitals.

Drivers who were caught were fined 300 yuan and deducted three points.