Sadashivanagar Traffic Police Intercept Ambulance Misusing Siren On New BEL Road

Sadashivanagar Traffic Police intercepted a private hospital ambulance driver on New BEL Road in Bengaluru in February 2026 after the driver allegedly activated sirens and emergency lights to bypass traffic congestion, only for officers to discover an empty vehicle being used for personal errands.

Traffic officers stopped the vehicle along New BEL Road after observing it using emergency signals to clear a route through heavy traffic. Upon inspecting the ambulance, police confirmed that there was no patient or medical staff inside and that no emergency existed. The driver subsequently admitted to using the siren strictly for personal convenience.

Local authorities noted that Bengaluru has seen multiple instances of ambulance misuse in recent years, where drivers exploited emergency privileges. In a previous incident on Nrupathunga Road, an ambulance driver caught driving recklessly with a blaring siren falsely claimed he was on his way to pick up a patient, but operator checks revealed he was allegedly travelling to meet a friend while under the influence of alcohol. In another case in Yelahanka, an ambulance linked to a real estate firm was used to ferry employees during peak hours, with the driver repeatedly sounding the siren to escape traffic jams.

Beyond personal errands and commuting shortcuts, police officials warned that ambulances face growing allegations of being misused to transport commercial goods, food items, weapons, and narcotics. Because emergency status allows ambulances to frequently bypass detailed routine checks, police noted that criminals and operators attempt to exploit this potential loophole.

Senior police officials reaffirmed that ambulances are permitted to operate strictly for emergency medical services. Any recorded misuse will attract strict penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act, including vehicle seizure, recommendations for driver licence cancellation, and criminal proceedings where illegal activities are involved.

With the number of ambulances increasing significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic—provided by various organisations, donors, corporates, and political leaders—monitoring has become a critical challenge. Police have urged citizens to report any suspicious ambulance activity or unnecessary siren usage, while civic activists have called for random checks on vehicles operating emergency signals without patients on board.