Do You REALLY Have To Give Way To Every Siren? What Experts Say About VIP Convoys vs. Emergencies

Every Malaysian driver has faced this high-stress moment: you are sitting in heavy traffic when a blaring siren approaches fast from behind. Is it an ambulance racing to save a life, or a VIP convoy cutting through rush-hour traffic?

While the natural reaction is to slam on your brakes or swerve into the next lane, road safety experts recently revealed in a report by the New Straits Times (NST) that the current lack of clear guidelines for escort movements is putting everyday drivers in danger.

The Legal Difference: Emergencies vs. VIP Convoys

Under Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, genuine emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, Fire and Rescue (Bomba) trucks, and active police patrol units, have explicit right-of-way when sirens and beacon lights are activated. Preventing an emergency vehicle from reaching its destination can result in prosecution for obstruction.

VIP convoys derive their priority from police authority rather than the vehicle itself. Under Section 21 of the Police Act 1967, police officers have the legal authority to direct traffic for escort duties. Disobeying a direct instruction from a police outrider can attract penalties of up to RM10,000 or a jail term of up to two years.

Read:  2 Years Jail And RM10,000 Fine For Obstructing Police Convoy

What Experts Say Needs to Change

1. Safety Over Speed: Sirens Are Not a License to Ignore Junction Rules

"Priority movements are especially dangerous at intersections, where ordinary drivers might not realise where the escort car is coming from."

— Dr. Law Teik Hua, Head of UPM Road Safety Research Centre

Dr. Law Teik Hua highlights that the biggest threat on the road isn't the siren itself, it's how escort movements are carried out. The lack of clear, predictable guidelines creates chaos at intersections where drivers cannot tell which direction an outrider is coming from or if other lanes have been halted.

Dr. Law Teik Hua, Head of UPM Road Safety Research Centre (Photo: NST)

The Proposed Fix: Instead of relying on instant reactions from confused drivers, Malaysia needs a dedicated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This SOP must enforce mandatory speed reductions at intersections, regulated overtaking procedures, and strict speed limits for escort teams.

2. End the Automatic Entitlement: Rank Alone Shouldn't Get You an Escort

"Rank alone should not create an automatic entitlement... protection does not necessarily require sirens and flashing lights on every journey."

— Datuk Dr. P. Sundramoorthy, Senior Criminologist

Senior criminologist Datuk Dr. P. Sundramoorthy calls for a strict 3-Tier Framework to govern when sirens and beacons can actually be activated:

• Tier 1: Security (Direct threat or high-risk movement)
• Tier 2: Operational Necessity (Urgent state matters)
• Tier 3: Ceremonial & Protocol (Official events—where sirens should be restricted)

Datuk Dr. P. Sundramoorthy, Senior Criminologist (Photo: MCPF Penang)

The Legal Catch: While RTD rules allow agencies like PDRM, Bomba, and JPJ to equip vehicles with sirens, Dr. Sundramoorthy points out a crucial legal difference: being authorized to own a siren is not the same as being justified to turn it on for a routine trip.

3. Status Symbols vs. Safety Tools: Stop Forcing Drivers into Dangerous Swerves

"A siren does not cancel traffic rules, and a flashing light does not make safety less important."

— Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Road Safety Council Member

Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye warns against treating sirens as a "free pass" to blow through red lights and ignore speed limits. Everyday motorists are often forced to slam on their brakes or dangerously swerve into crowded lanes with zero warning just to clear a path.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Road Safety Council Member (Photo: NST)

The Bottom Line: Escorts should be a rare exception reserved strictly for top dignitaries, like the Prime Minister, Royalty, and foreign state guests, not an automatic everyday perk for senior officials. Every driver, regardless of rank, deserves to use the road safely.

Read: Do Government Vehicles With Sirens Have The Right To Run Red Lights In Malaysia? Here's What Cops Say