Drivers queuing to buy takeaway food and drink have been blocking junctions and leaving emergency vehicles unable to pass.
South Western Ambulance Service, which covers Bristol and the wider region, has urged people to leave space to ensure their crews can dodge the queues.
It has told people to come back later if drive-thru outlets look too busy, warning: "What could cost you a fiver may cost someone their life."
In a post shared on Facebook on Tuesday, June 2, the ambulance service added: "We’ve already seen a few incidents of crews struggling to get past traffic on emergencies due to roads being blocked and traffic being built up.
"If it’s too busy and it’s unsafe to queue because of traffic, please go back later. It could be your family we are trying to get to or are critically ill in the back of an ambulance.
"And at the end of the day please remember. Your takeaway can wait. Our patients cannot."
It said the message was prompted by the reopening of drive-thrus around the country.
Drivers have been reminded to:
- Keep junctions clear
- Stay alert in case vehicles are trying to get through
- Leave space in front of the stop line at traffic lights
- Leave space in front for an emergency vehicle to pull in when overtaking if there is traffic on the other side of the road
Huge queues have been seen at various drive-thru cafes and fast-food restaurants, including in Bristol.
McDonald's opened all of its Bristol drive-thrus today (Wednesday, June 3), and large queues have already been pictured outside.
There were also long trails of cars waiting to get into KFC when their branches resumed drive-thru takeaways last month.
One person on Twitter, who did not specify her location, said police had to control traffic outside one McDonald's drive-thru yesterday.
She tweeted: "An ambulance took eight minutes to get through, it all is an absolute joke."
The ambulance service did not specify where exactly their vehicles had been blocked, but said it was "important" for people to remember the guidance above.
