21/08/2026
It’s the law: If there’s a vehicle with a flashing green light behind you, you must pull over to let them pass you.
Doctors, nurses, or midwives on urgent business can use a flashing green light to help them get to their destination more quickly. You need to safely make way for them – in most cases this'll mean you letting them through by signalling, pulling over, and stopping.
Here’s what to do if it’s not safe to stop: Slow down, make way as best you can, and continue until it’s safe to stop – such as on a wider piece of road, or a break in traffic.
To state the obvious, don’t stop where it isn’t safe – such as on a footpath, or in the middle of an intersection.
You might’ve seen the news that Health NZ is setting up medical practitioners in Lower Hutt with these lights to help them get around more easily when someone’s life or health is at immediate risk – so keep an eye out for them, particularly if you’re travelling around the city centre and the surrounding suburbs.
This rule only allows doctors, nurses, or midwives to require people on the road to make way for them. They’re not allowed to do things emergency vehicle drivers are, such as exceed the speed limit or travel through red lights.
In other words, don’t expect vehicles with a flashing green light to zoom by you – and don’t be surprised if you see them waiting at a red light like everyone else – because this rule is just about removing traffic as a barrier to them getting to the urgent thing requiring their attention.
Just as with ambulances, Police, and Fire and Emergency vehicles, making way could make the difference in responding to callouts. Do it safely, as quickly as you can.
