Ambulance worker keeps licence after emergency response crash

Ambulance paramedic Rasmus Frøsig has been allowed to keep his driving licence after a court dropped a conditional disqualification following a crash during an emergency response, DR reports. He must pay a fine of 2,000 kroner but will not have to take a new driving test.

The case concerned an incident on 12 March this year, when Frøsig drove an ambulance through a red light during an emergency response in Esbjerg and was involved in a collision.

The crash happened at low speed and caused only material damage. The initial ruling imposed both a fine and a conditional disqualification, but Frøsig appealed the decision.

“I am enormously relieved not to have to take a driving test and have this hanging over me for three years,” Frøsig said.

Although he will pay the fine, Frøsig said the case highlighted a problem with the current legislation.

“I think it is rather harsh that it should cost me money to go to work,” he said.

Calls for rules to change

Ambulance workers can still receive penalty points on their driving licences, fines or conditional disqualifications if they are involved in crashes during emergency responses.

Frøsig is a co-sponsor of a citizens’ proposal calling for the Road Traffic Act to be amended so that emergency vehicle drivers are not automatically punished after collisions at traffic lights when they have driven responsibly and only material damage has occurred.

“I cannot think of any other profession where you can both lose your driving licence or receive a fine for doing your job,” he said.

Transport Minister Signe Munk of the Socialist People’s Party has previously said she would look into the matter.