Dispute committee assigns 60% fault to vehicle in ambulance collision

The Dispute Mediation Committee determined the dashcam vehicle bore 60% of the fault in a collision involving an ambulance that drove against traffic to transport a patient, despite the driver claiming they took sufficient action to avoid the emergency vehicle.

When an ambulance breaks road rules to transport a patient in an emergency and leads to an accident, who bears the responsibility? Episode 192 of JTBC's Han Moonchul's Dashcam Review sparked a heated debate over fault ratios regarding an accident between an ambulance that drove against traffic to transport a patient and a vehicle that was unable to avoid it.

"Wrong-way driving for life" vs "unavoidable danger"

The accident situation presented a complex aspect where the special nature of emergency vehicles collided with the permitted scope of the Road Traffic Act. In the video, the ambulance crossed the center line to drive against traffic to transport a patient. Under the Road Traffic Act, emergency vehicles are permitted to cross the center line or drive on the left side of the road when necessary, but this accident occurred when the ambulance suddenly swerved toward a vehicle making a right turn while attempting to avoid a truck.

Opinions among the cast members were sharply divided. Arguments clashed between those who believed the urgency of the ambulance should be considered and those who argued that even emergency vehicles should avoid dangerous driving that threatens other lives. One participant expressed regret, stating, "An emergency vehicle intended to save lives should not threaten other lives on the road," suggesting the ambulance should have secured safety by driving slowly. Conversely, some sympathized with the ambulance, reacting with urgency by asking, "How should an ambulance drive in an emergency?"

Viewer vote split evenly in unexpected confrontation

The reaction from viewers during the process of determining fault was even more surprising. The results of a viewer poll conducted during the broadcast showed opinions almost evenly split regarding the fault ratio between the ambulance and the dashcam vehicle. In particular, the fact that 45% of viewers believed the fault of the dashcam vehicle was greater caused significant shock to the cast on set.

The driver of the dashcam vehicle claimed they took sufficient action to recognize the presence of the ambulance and avoid it. However, some viewers pointed out that upon hearing the ambulance siren and having a clear view, the driver should have stopped briefly or paid more attention, suggesting the vehicle's response was insufficient.

Dispute Mediation Committee rules 60:40, dashcam vehicle claims unfairness

The result from the Dispute Mediation Committee following the accident differed greatly from the expectations of the dashcam vehicle driver. While the dashcam vehicle side appealed the decision, claiming zero fault, the Dispute Mediation Committee actually determined the fault of the dashcam vehicle to be 60%. This means the fault assigned to the dashcam vehicle was higher than that of the ambulance.

This is interpreted as a reflection of the fact that wrong-way driving by emergency vehicles can be legally permitted and the judgment that the vehicle at the time of the accident failed to secure sufficient stopping space despite recognizing the ambulance. Even if the ambulance's wrong-way driving was an unavoidable situation, the responsibility to minimize the possibility of collision with other vehicles on the road appears to have influenced the calculation of fault.

Source: JTBC Entertainment (YouTube)