Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jason Gibbs on January 11, 2010 at 7:11pm

I agree!!!

Permalink Reply by Charles Weldon on January 11, 2010 at 8:14pm

This is a argument that could go on forever. People here are rquired to give right of way to emergency vehicles and emergency lights. The main problem with some people here is they don't know how to give proper access to these vehciles in a safe manner for them or the emergency personel involved. I will say that most people around our town do a good job of trying to get off the road when they do see emergency lights (marked vehicles or plain). As a former full time Deputy Sheriff with years of experience on the road in a marked patrol car, I would have to say they treat a non marked vehicle with the same respect here running emergency lights. The main problem I have came across is some people don't know how to grant access ie: I was running lights and siren in a patrol car down a major highway here. A vehicle stopped dead in its tracks in the lane of traffic and another vehicle stopped in the turn lane I was going to use to get around. If I had not been paying attention this would have been a crash and possibly injuries sustained as well. The one thing we try to impose on all our Volunteer Firefighters (Like Myself Included) is not to drive faster than 10 MPH over the posted speed limit. By doing this it does help keep your speed in control in case you have to stop suddenly. The main thing to remember is your not going to be any help to your fellow fire fighters/EMR'S if your in a wreck trying to get there as fast as you can passing cars. This will only cause some of your own EMR'S to have to leave the original scene to treat you and the other person involved in the wreck with you if were to happen. If people don't pull over to your emergency lights, go with the flow of traffic until you can safely get around them. Remember its better to be late to the scene than to never arrive at all.

Permalink Reply by Holly on January 13, 2010 at 1:48am

If there were stipulations added to the use of blue lights I think that a civilian should yield. Some of the stipulations I think should be included would be what kind of call the use of a blue light is needed, ie structure fire YES lift assist NO. Also the blue light needs to be registered, and the driver should have to have some kind of class before he/she is ok'd to use the blue light.
In Pa drivers know they do not have to give the right of way to a blue light and many times they don't. It is quite frustrating and sometimes it is the difference between the truck leaving with a full crew or the minimum.

Permalink Reply by Kevin on January 23, 2010 at 7:18pm

I support 100%, regardless im an explorer, i have no say in much, but how are volunteer's suppose to get the the hall to get the apperatus quickly, if your stuck behind someone doing 30 in a 55.

Permalink Reply by Danielle Demchak on January 25, 2010 at 9:23am

doesn't matter either way. in my area the state police actually have fun with people that think that their blue light gives them the right to speed. So, to me, I like the idea of the courtesy light, but to mandate people to move? That would just put the first responder in the same danger we're trying to save someone else from.

Permalink Reply by Ben "Batman" Barry on January 29, 2010 at 10:14pm

Im an explorer so I say everyones opinion is their own. And I agree entirely with you

Permalink Reply by Robert Grove on January 30, 2010 at 11:40pm

I agree but with everyone. ive been a firefighter fire over 12 years... ive came along lots of different things.. my main response miles to my station from my home is 5miles. my response time used to be 1/4 of a mile to my old station.. i could argue a quicker response time to the station if people had to yield the right of way to my blue lights but its way to risky so i just respond to the scene... what makes me up set is responding to the scene and being slowed up by a driver purposly driving 15 to 20 mph under the speed limit which happens alot.. i have had a near miss of a head on when i had to swerve around a florida grandmother when she stopped dead infront of me. Heres what i say. something needs done and state and federal elected law makers and officals need to sit down and work on a solution to the problems.. my suggestion is write your local congressman, state rep, senator.. blogs are a nice way to vent but blogs dont get problems identified, and worked on and changed.. thankyou, god bless... have a happy and safe 2010

Permalink Reply by Kari on May 25, 2010 at 9:06pm

I am from Michigan and it is law that a person is to pull over for emergency lights. We can go through a stop sign as long as there is nothing coming. Our lights are just asking to be able to go first.

Permalink Reply by todaresqSL2 on June 15, 2010 at 8:41pm

I have created a petition for NY State residents to sign if they agree a change in blue light & green light laws is needed.

NJ recently changed their law to make it illegal to not pull over to POV's with blue lights... NY should follow in a similar fashion. When 95% of departments in a state are volunteer (1,522 of the 1,608 departments are volunteer in NY), it is something that should be focused on.

The petition can be found here.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/NYLights/petition.html

I understand not everybody is in agreement, but hope after reading the description, I may shed some light on the pros of the change. Also, this is for NY state residents to sign only... please pass it on to your NY state friends & family.

Thank you,

Dave A.

Permalink Reply by Bekks on July 11, 2010 at 2:05am

If you "require" people to pull over... it's not a "courtesy" light anymore - it becomes an "emergency" light.

Ontario (Canada) has had green lights legally restricted to FF POV for somewhere around 20 years or so now... and has added SOME specific EMS POV in recient years.

It is a true "courtesy" light. Nobody is required to pull over, though many do (in RURAL areas). FF responding to calls in their POV must obay all traffic laws. Sirens are forbidden in POV.

The Firefighters Association of Ontario has made excellent PSAs for TV that inform people about the green lights (I uploaded it to this discussion, see the link below) and some towns have signs telling people that firefighters in that town use the green light.

Yah, we can wrap ourselves up in adrenaline and road-rage our way through traffic but what will that get us?
We are no good to anyone if we crash our POV and don't make it to the call, or worse, divide our team by making them respond to TWO calls, the original and the one you helped create on the way.

Stay Safe!

Attachments:

• Greenlight.wmv, 9.1 MB

Permalink Reply by todaresqSL2 on July 11, 2010 at 2:47am

Exactly...

I don't believe they should be a courtesy light in the truest sense. The vehicle would still not be considered an emergency vehicle. It would still be a POV.

As it is now, there is a possibility of road rage because the general public may not know any better, or know they don't have to pull over and actually slow down in front of the responder on purpose.

I love the picture and video you posted. Great education material.

Permalink Reply by Jim Driscoll on July 23, 2010 at 3:27am

The public should pull over. I cannot tell you how many times I have been enroute to the station for a call and get behind someone that not only does not pull over but is also not even doing the speed limit. Talk about frustrating because here I am trying to help someone in need and there I am behind someone who could care less that someone is in trouble.

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