Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Firefighter30 on August 15, 2008 at 3:28pm

We just had an incident up here in Canada, in a small town in Saskatchewan, a volunteer firefighter was responding to the fire hall to a vehicle fire where they were told there was a possible person trapped inside, and while on the way to the call he apparently blew through two red lights...the cops didn't stop him at the time, but after he got home, the cops decided to give him a ticket for $220, he went to court and fought the ticket and was dropped to $70, because he was observed stopping at the lights and the proceeding when it was safe to do so...the Premier of Saskatchewan caught wind of this and is now trying to pass legislation that volunteer firefighters will be allowed to, as Ontario does now, run green lights when on the way to a call. And with the depeatment I am on in Alberta, our department lets us run red lights in our vehicles, no sirens, they work at times, and we have been told that going to a call, use your decression when driving down to the fire hall, so what i am trying to get at here is guys you are the ones driving to the call, you are responsible for your own actions whatever the outcome may be....Be safe and take it easy....

Permalink Reply by travis howell on August 17, 2008 at 8:54pm

here in MS we can go over 10 mi speed

Permalink Reply by LT. EMS on August 26, 2008 at 7:14am

in the state of NJ we had a blue light law and it stats that if you dont let us go bye and a cop see it you will be pulled over . oo and our cop will help us out if they see us going up the pike with the blue light on they get in front of us and well it like a running back following a blocker

Permalink Reply by anne potter on August 26, 2008 at 11:00pm

What would happen is that some people would need to go ten over that then 10 more than that... Most people are kind enough to move over and let you go by.. You can't help any body if you run up on someone and cause them to go in the ditch.. Drive like you should and before you know it you will be the house pulling out the truck...

Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on August 26, 2008 at 11:28pm

Here in Texas the transportation code allows vol. firefighters to use temporary/removable red rotating lights on our personal vehicles when responding to a fire emergency. However we can't technically break any traffic laws. With a little common safety sense, exceeding to speed limit in certain parts of the roads where traffic is light and visibility is good, is acceptable by law enforcement.

A few weeks ago I was responding when lights flashing and a sheriff deputy pulled over to the right for me to pass and I was speeding just a little. He waved and I waved back. I didn't know him either.

We have a small county and know each other so cooperation and understanding the situation is known by most/all emergency workers.

Gotta love Texas, Billy South Franklin County Volunteer FD

Permalink Reply by Ashleigh on September 9, 2008 at 1:43am

You're lucky that the cops just let you do your job. The cops around here adhere to the law which actually states that we in emergency fire/medical apparatus have to yield to police vehicles. I was reading their manual and legally the only things the cops have to yield to is federal vehicles. Funny they don't have to stop for us, but they have to stop for the darn mail trucks!! Yes, the mail trucks! Tell me that's not stupid.

Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on September 10, 2008 at 2:40pm

There's more. I researched the Texas Transportation Codes and VFD personnel driving their personal vehicles while responding to a fire emergency are exempt from speed limits and stop signs/lights as long as they don't "endanger life or property". It's a state law and no municipality can restrict us while following it. With that said, common sense should still prevail. I printed the code and keep it in my truck. You gotta love Texas.

Permalink Reply by Avery Dale on October 25, 2008 at 11:51am

Where I am from it is not the problem with law enforcment as it is with insurance companies. We work close with our officers and everyone is mostly on a first name basis. Many of our officers are volunteer firemen themselves so they know how things work and scan the fire frequency so they know when we are out. The problem is if we have an accident while running lights in POV's no insurance will touch us. We are only allowed to run emergency flashers and stay within the speed limit. My department does have a policy though that an officer can run lights in POV's if it is a serious call and the department will cover them if anything happens. Other than that the only POV's allowed to have lights are one's that are stationary on the scene. Personally I wish we could do like the northern states and run full size lightbars and sirens after a member has had proper EVOC training and so much time on the department.

Permalink Reply by Darin Curtis F330 on November 3, 2008 at 11:43am

Here in tennessee we can go 10 mpr over the posted speed limit.At intercetions we ahve to stop and make sure that all traffic has stoped before we proceed while useing our lights and sirens.

Permalink Reply by Jake on January 31, 2009 at 9:53pm

I think that going 10 mph would help out alot! Especially where i live. we got bunches of old people who frive 18 in a thirty. The blue lights help but it doesnt get me there any faster. Im thinkin we should atleast be able to go 10 over, as long as your heads in the right place and your not driving like a friggin idiot all parties concerned should reap benefits

Permalink Reply by Mary Kenny on February 1, 2009 at 1:54pm

We all have to remember that if we have an accident we can't respond to the call. Helping others is the reason we are in the EMS/FIRE SERVICE. But we need to think of ourselves and then others. It's a danger just driving, with the loud radios and cell phones no one is hearing us or seeing our lights. If they don't see the hugh truck or the ambulance with the lights going and the siren behind them they won't see our little light on the dash or whereever it is placed. I am so glad I can walk to the ambulance, that is if there is no train. Be safe, remember you are one of a kind.

Permalink Reply by Blake on February 1, 2009 at 7:42pm

At my station we can run red and clear and amber lights as well as sirens which allows us to run code 3 just as if we where inside a fire truck, but we are also a rural FD who has alot of space to cover and many times we don't get the luxurie (sp) of being able to take our time

I do agree that complete and total caution and safety should be completly and totally obsurived because it dosent do you any good to go gung ho and crash your car on the way there, which will cause your Station to split its man power to come help you out and also respond to the orginal call

I think that we should be required in my county to go to a combative and defensive drivers course specificilly designed for the fire service to insure a safe but speedy use of our POVs

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