Tag:service=emergency_access
 service = emergency_access
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| Description |
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A way that is an emergency access road  
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| Group: restrictions |
| Used on these elements |
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| Requires |
| Useful combination |
| Status: de facto |
| Tools for this tag |
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A way for emergency access, such as for firefighters to reach a building, for ambulances to shortcut through a roundabout, or for a police turnaround on a motorway.
When to use
The tag combination highway=service + service=emergency_access is used only for service roads that are an emergency access roads, for example:
- A police turnaround on a motorway.
- A shortcut through a roundabout for ambulances only.
- An access road to the back of a gated residential complex that is used only by emergency responders as a shortcut.
Do not use service=emergency_access if other tags are more descriptive, for example:
- If it could be better described as something other than a service road, such as a path or footway, use highway=path, highway=footway, etc.
- A driveway to a fire station or emergency ward should be tagged highway=service + service=driveway + emergency=designated.
- A driveway to a (private) residential complex which is also an emergency access should be tagged highway=service + service=driveway + access=private + emergency=designated.
In these cases, add emergency=designated to indicate that it is intended for use by emergency services. Also add access=no or access=private if other usage is prohibited. This information is especially important for routers. For example, routers have been known to suggest illegal U-turns at emergency crossovers along motorways in the absence of these access tags.
If the way is not built as a highway of any kind, consider fire_path=yes. See Fire Path for examples.
How to map
Add service=emergency_access to a way that already has the highway=service tag. Consider adding access permissions to the highway, such as access=no and emergency=designated, in case a data consumer understands access tags but not service=emergency_access.
Other highway-related keys such as surface=* may be useful as well.
Examples
Signs for an emergency crossover in the median of a motorway in Canada:
highway=service
service=emergency_access
access=no
emergency=designated
Emergency crossover in the median of a freeway in the United States:
highway=service
service=emergency_access
access=no
emergency=designated
In the United States, service=emergency_access roads are often signposted with this "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign. However, the same sign can appear on roads that are more appropriately tagged with other service=* values along with access=no emergency=designated.
Parking aisle for police cars at a police station in the United States:
highway=service
service=parking_aisle
access=no
emergency=designated
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