evidence: Richard Bentley from UNISON’s Yorkshire Ambulance Service Branch said he can use bus lanes in Leeds but not in other cities. [...] UNISON North East Ambulance Service branch secretary Joel Byers said: "If ambulance services use taxis to transport patients, those vehicles can use bus lanes yet ambulances designed for that very purpose will be fined." [...] – In some cities, ambulances can only use bus lanes when their blue lights and sirens are on to signify a patient with a life-threatening condition is on board. These emergency signals give an exemption from normal traffic legislation. However, there can be serious consequences if an accident occurs and the decision to ‘blue light’ cannot later be justified.