An ambulance with its siren approaching the car carrying His Majesty the Emperor... What happened in front of me at that time
What happened at the intersection in front of Hanzomon
When the convoy of His Majesty approaches Hanzomon, the Imperial Palace, emergency vehicles, and ambulances approach Hanzomon with sirens sounding. I came. I would like to write about the transportation situation of the members of the Imperial Family, including the situation. The train of His Majesty the Emperor came from Kudan on Uchibori-Dori. When I was about to pick them up at Hanzomon, I first saw a police motorcycle that was ahead of them to check the safety of the convoy and felt that the convoy would soon arrive at the gate. At that time, I heard a siren from the direction of Yotsuya on Shinjuku-Dori and knew that an ambulance was approaching. If this continues, there is a possibility that the ambulance and the train will enter the intersection in front of Hanzomon at about the same time. Immediately, a Kojimachi police station staff member went out onto the road and began directing an ambulance into the intersection, saying, "I'll let the emergency vehicle go." When I looked closely at His Majesty's motorcade, it seemed that the motorbike, including the police motorbikes in front, was still there and stopped at Uchibori-Dori. Then, the ambulance entered the intersection and turned right while slowing down as if slightly bewildered by the police's guidance. I ran away in the direction of Hibiya. After that, the train started running and turned left into Hanzomon as if nothing had happened. His Majesty also waved to people along the road from inside the car and left inside the gate. It is believed that the police also contacted the security personnel in the convoy to let the ambulance go first, and guided them smoothly. It was a scene that clearly shows that the idea of giving priority to emergency vehicles over convoys is well shared with security personnel such as the police.
If a royal convoy and an emergency vehicle collide...
In this way, the scene where the convoy and the emergency vehicle collide is occasionally seen. In June 2019, Their Majesties the Emperor, and Empress visited Aichi Prefecture for the National Tree Planting Festival. When an ambulance with its siren sounded approached from behind the train of Their Majesties heading to the venue, the train moved to the left and stopped temporarily to allow the ambulance to pass. I have heard that such actions were taken during the Emperor's reign. It is said that the convoy that was about to leave Sakuradamon for the opening ceremony of the Diet heard the siren of an emergency vehicle, stopped going out on the public road, and let the emergency vehicle go ahead. In the first place, Article 40 of the Road Traffic Act stipulates that "emergency vehicles have priority", and when an emergency vehicle approaches at or near an intersection, streetcars avoid the intersection and vehicles (excluding emergency vehicles) (hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article) should avoid intersections and stay on the left side of the road (on a one-way road, if moving to the left side of the road will impede the passage of emergency vehicles, stay on the road). on the right side.The same shall apply in the next paragraph.) It has been with. In other words, it is safe to assume that both Their Majesties and the Emperor and Empress put priority on emergency vehicles, not only because they prioritized human life, but also because they want to protect the law.
The imperial convoy also obeys traffic laws
Convoys obey the law. This idea is the same for traffic lights. The convoy of His Majesties will pass through as the traffic light at the intersection is green. Of course, the traffic lights are green because the police operate them. On the other hand, the vehicles of the other Miyake stop at the red light. There is no signal manipulation. It seems obvious, but there are people who don't know. There is usually no leading car, and in most cases, two cars are used, one for the royal family and one for the security guard behind it.
Happenings like this...
This is a story I encountered before, but when the ceremony was over and I got into the car from the building and left the premises, I said goodbye and bowed, and the royal family also bowed from inside the car. The car carrying the royal family entered the public road as it was and started running. After finishing my interview, I was walking on the sidewalk to the station when I overtook a car carrying members of the imperial family that had stopped at a red light. Red cars, red sidewalks. I once again bowed to the royal family from the sidewalk. The royal family also bowed. "I want you to turn green quickly and run to your car," I remember having a somewhat uncomfortable time. On a different note, the Emperor and Empress, as well as members of the imperial family, obey the Road Traffic Law and travel by car.