When emergency vehicles can ignore traffic rules

(a) The provisions of this traffic code regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles, as previously defined except as follows: a driver, when operating any such vehicle in an emergency, except when otherwise directed by a police officer may: (1) Park or stand notwithstanding this traffic code; (2) Proceed past a red light or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; (3) Exceed the speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property; and (4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions, so long as the driver does not endanger life or property. (b) The exemptions provided for in this section with reference to the movement of an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the driver of such vehicle sounds a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp, or in the case of the Honolulu police department only, a lighted blue lamp, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle as a warning to others. (c) The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of the driver’s ordinary negligence or reckless disregard of the safety and property rights of others. )