The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Civilian drivers or Confused Idiot's
What is it about civilian drivers. It seems that the minute we get our drivers license's we forget all the rules that keep traffic moving smoothly. Reacently while responding to a MVA( with lights and sieren) I came to a complete stop at an intersection verified that I had control of said intersection and began to proceed. Thank god I was paying attention as a driver dicieded to pass the vehicle to my left. The driver then proceeded to flip me the universal hello as I hit the Airhorn. I think that the OFPC needs to put together a public service anouncment aimed at reminding drivers that when bieng approched either from the front or the rear by an emergencey vehicle that you aree to move to the side and come to a complete STOP.
How often have we all watched a driver pull to the shoulder and slow down but keep on moving. A related incident reacently ocured to one of our paid firefighters while responding to a victim chocking. As he approched the driveway of the residence a driver pulled to the side and proceeded to move blocking the driveway. I just wish the confused idiots behind the wheel would simply obey the laws of the road.
Share
4 Comments
At 2:03am on October 31st, 2007, RescueEngine4 said…
I know in CT it is state law that upon the notification of an emergency vehicle, whether it be by sirens or lights, you are required to pull to the right and stop. And as we all know that never works.
However sometimes it can be a burden. We run on a limited access highway where we always have MVA's. It is a 2 lane each way "Parkway" and when responding to a call through traffic with no shoulder and no median it becomes tough. We prefer to "Part the sea" having cars in the left lane pull left and the cars in the right lane pull right, this allows the chauffer to know that the drivers have acknowledged the fact an Engine is coming and are yielding and he can proceed right down the center of the roadway. However many times people try to do the "right" thing and pull to the right from the left lane completely screwing up our path of travel. But what can you do. They are doing what they are supposed to do
Now if we could just get Cops to stop parking in front of hydrants at fire scenes I think we might be OKDelete Comment
At 12:24pm on October 31st, 2007, Peter Lupkowski said…
There's a safety video that the RCMP put out a year or two ago that could be used as a public service announcement. If I can find the info I'll get it to you.
In other words it's the same all over brother.Delete Comment
At 7:55pm on November 2nd, 2007, Mary Ellen Shea said…
As I read this, I got to thinking that I can't remember seeing or hearing any kind of public service reminder about pulling over for Fire or Ambulance, at least not in recent history. I was driving with a friend of mine last week and we heard the siren behind us so we moved over to the right lane and then over to the breakdown because the traffic was pretty heavy. The driver behind us threw a fit of epic proportions because we were "in her way" leaning on her horn and swearing like a sailor, completely oblivious to the BA fire truck trying to maneuver around her ---we were near the mall, must have been some important sale going at Macy's. Do you remember when you were a kid sitting in the back seat, and you'd hear the siren and ALL TRAFFIC would immediately clear the road for them? I haven't seen that in a long time.
I think it might be a good topic to discuss with one of our committees, thanksDelete Comment
At 7:14pm on November 3rd, 2007, Jasen Erick said…
Here is the New York State Traffic Law as it reads:
§ 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for all persons using the highway.
That basicly means pull over and STOP.
How often have we all watched a driver pull to the shoulder and slow down but keep on moving. A related incident reacently ocured to one of our paid firefighters while responding to a victim chocking. As he approched the driveway of the residence a driver pulled to the side and proceeded to move blocking the driveway. I just wish the confused idiots behind the wheel would simply obey the laws of the road.
Share
4 Comments
At 2:03am on October 31st, 2007, RescueEngine4 said…
I know in CT it is state law that upon the notification of an emergency vehicle, whether it be by sirens or lights, you are required to pull to the right and stop. And as we all know that never works.
However sometimes it can be a burden. We run on a limited access highway where we always have MVA's. It is a 2 lane each way "Parkway" and when responding to a call through traffic with no shoulder and no median it becomes tough. We prefer to "Part the sea" having cars in the left lane pull left and the cars in the right lane pull right, this allows the chauffer to know that the drivers have acknowledged the fact an Engine is coming and are yielding and he can proceed right down the center of the roadway. However many times people try to do the "right" thing and pull to the right from the left lane completely screwing up our path of travel. But what can you do. They are doing what they are supposed to do
Now if we could just get Cops to stop parking in front of hydrants at fire scenes I think we might be OKDelete Comment
At 12:24pm on October 31st, 2007, Peter Lupkowski said…
There's a safety video that the RCMP put out a year or two ago that could be used as a public service announcement. If I can find the info I'll get it to you.
In other words it's the same all over brother.Delete Comment
At 7:55pm on November 2nd, 2007, Mary Ellen Shea said…
As I read this, I got to thinking that I can't remember seeing or hearing any kind of public service reminder about pulling over for Fire or Ambulance, at least not in recent history. I was driving with a friend of mine last week and we heard the siren behind us so we moved over to the right lane and then over to the breakdown because the traffic was pretty heavy. The driver behind us threw a fit of epic proportions because we were "in her way" leaning on her horn and swearing like a sailor, completely oblivious to the BA fire truck trying to maneuver around her ---we were near the mall, must have been some important sale going at Macy's. Do you remember when you were a kid sitting in the back seat, and you'd hear the siren and ALL TRAFFIC would immediately clear the road for them? I haven't seen that in a long time.
I think it might be a good topic to discuss with one of our committees, thanksDelete Comment
At 7:14pm on November 3rd, 2007, Jasen Erick said…
Here is the New York State Traffic Law as it reads:
§ 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for all persons using the highway.
That basicly means pull over and STOP.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Andrew Zebolsky on
-
I think we're all agreed, running with a light and siren does NOT in any way guarantee "Johnny Roadrage" will notice you, and gtfo of the way. Most of the time, it encourages him to speed up on the highway so as not to be overtaken by a "big slow red truck"(in my experience). PSA's are great, and slightly effective, but I like the idea of the bumper cams and really stiffening the fines doled out to these marvels of observation.
-
Permalink Reply by Tony P on
-
The fines here are OK, $500 minimum, but they are rarely imposed. The idiot has to be seen doing the wrong thing by the police or nothing happens. Our organisation has a policy of 'not wanting to agravate the general public' - so even if we report a vehicle it's highly unlikely anything will bee done. We have to just put up with it and arrive late to a persons trapped MVA or a going house fire...
One of our biggest problems? Getting off the concrete apron onto the road! We can be forced to sit at the kerb, lights and sirens and air horns going, watching motorists sail past looking at us!
-
Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
-
Lets not forget that there's just as many emergency service members who can't drive for s**t! And what's worse is they video themselves and post them on YouTube!!!!
We're just as guilty with "red light fever" and adrenalin....
-
-
One of my now-retired chiefs used to give me this advice. "When you hear the tones, stop, and think about the last piece of "action" you had." It's helped me to calm down quite often thinking about something else, and helps to clear the head from the "red light fever".
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
-
We need dash mounted cameras like the Police have in their vehicles. We wouldn't need audio, but the video could be reviewed after a shift and passed along to the P.D., and tickets would be issued in the mail to the registered owner of the offending vehicles. The video would record the whole time the rig is running, so you could get some good video at the scenes of incidents that could be used for training later. What do you think...good idea or not? Stay safe!
-
Permalink Reply by Greenman on
-
This is a great idea! My only thought is the camera should be in a sealed box, perhaps mounted on the bumper, and ONLY Law Enforcement would have access to it; all we would do is drive the rig to the scene like normal. That way only LEOs are invovled in the law-enforcment process, not us (we have our job, they have theirs...). The camera could be programmed to turn-on when the tones dropped...or anytime the lights and siren are turned-on...and remain on and filming for 20 mintues, or when the both the siren and lights are turned-off (whichever comes first).
With a wireless LAN in the station and some tech support the system can be programmed to upload the video to the police when the unit returns to the station. The Police can then review the tape (i'm dating myself...I meant to say, "review the video file.") and issue citations via mail to the offenders, without ever having to come to the firehouse.
GM
-
-
Hooah! I like your idea about the sealed box so that only Law Enforcement can access the tape, (or digital video), thus rendering it "fireman-proof"! But I'd like a way to review the tape at the station. For example, if their were no traffic offenses on the way to the incident but the camera captured some great footage of the scene, I'd like to be able to review it for training and or legal issues that may arise from the call. Stay safe!
-
-
I think that would be easy to do with the automatic upload I talked about. A copy of the video could just as easily be saved in a folder on the FD LAN as well as in the PD LAN.
-
Permalink Reply by Firefighter Nation WebChief on
-
Here's a video that relates to this topic. A driver was arrested at an Illinois fire scene after driving through.
-
Permalink Reply by Doug on
-
The cops in my area are starting to crack down on it....I like it! Still, back to the original point. It is time for a Public Service Announcement addressing this topic, dang nabbit!!! I have seen a few videos addressing the topic, but only by certain FDs, no nationwide Public Service Announcement.
-
-
And there in lies a lot of the problems- we as FF's can sit here and criticise these people till we're blue in the face, but if they don't know any different, then that's an issue we need address...
-
-
That's right! We don't mess around in Illinois. Luckily our Police are usually there when we need them. Stay safe!
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
