He did not let the doctor who was coming to help pass by. He was fined 59,000 zł.
The incident occurred on the German B17 road near Augsburg. The ambulance was heading to a call with its blue lights and siren on, and other drivers pulled over to let it pass.
One driver, however, acted completely differently. The 36-year-old not only failed to yield but also stayed directly in front of the ambulance and, according to findings presented in court, deliberately used the space created by other road users.
He wouldn’t let it pass for 6 kilometers
The situation lasted for about six kilometers. The driver ignored the signals and did not allow the doctor’s car to pass, even though it was clear the vehicle was heading to an emergency call. As a result, the doctor arrived at the patient’s location about five minutes later. It was not specified what kind of emergency call the intervention was for or whether the delay affected the patient’s condition.
It should be clarified that this was not a traditional ambulance transporting a patient. Germany’s Notarztwagen is a vehicle driven by an emergency doctor to the scene of an incident. With its sirens on, it is considered a privileged vehicle, and other drivers are required to give way.
It Wasn’t Just About Blocking the Car with Sirens
The charges didn’t end at simply refusing to yield the road. According to court findings, the 36-year-old was also significantly exceeding the allowed speed limit throughout the incident.
The Augsburg District Court found him guilty of forcing another road user to behave in a certain way and participating in an illegal vehicle race. Under German law, this second offense does not necessarily involve a classic race between two cars — the regulations can also apply to a driver who is driving alone with the intention of reaching the highest possible speed.
The court imposed 180 daily fines of 75 euros each. One fine is currently equivalent to about 328 zł, resulting in a total fine of 13,500 euros, or roughly 59,000 zł.
At least two years without a driver’s license
The punishment did not stop at fines. The court revoked the 36-year-old man’s driver’s license and imposed a two-year period during which he cannot apply to have it reinstated.
This does not mean he will automatically get his document back after two years. Only then can he begin the process to retrieve his driver’s license, and the relevant authorities will decide whether he meets all requirements. The judgment is not yet final, so the driver can appeal it.
He tried to take a shortcut and ended up with a fine of 59,000 zł.
This was not a situation where the driver noticed a car at a traffic light too late or temporarily lacked the ability to move. That’s why the punishment had to be very severe—at least that’s what the court in Germany decided.
In Poland, simply failing to give way to a vehicle with priority can result in a fine and 8 demerit points for the driver. However, if such behavior is combined with a severe speed violation and poses an immediate threat to others, it could be classified as a crime of reckless driving starting in 2026, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a ban on driving.
Piotr Sobczyk