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Is it me?...
It seems like there are a lot of people on the road today who do not know what to do when a vehicle with red lights and siren approaches.
Not long ago I was responding to a MVA (lights, siren) on a four-lane highway, passing a car on the left (who did NOT pull over) when a car coming the other way did the same thing and just about hit me head on!
Also this summer, I was driving an ambulance with CPR going on in the back, long trip to the ER, etc. Two morons in pickups towing trailers thought it was OK to slow down and pull halfway off the road. Now, on a two lane highway with blind curves and hills, this was just about the same as not pulling over at all.
How about it - is it just me or is there an epidemic out there?
Not long ago I was responding to a MVA (lights, siren) on a four-lane highway, passing a car on the left (who did NOT pull over) when a car coming the other way did the same thing and just about hit me head on!
Also this summer, I was driving an ambulance with CPR going on in the back, long trip to the ER, etc. Two morons in pickups towing trailers thought it was OK to slow down and pull halfway off the road. Now, on a two lane highway with blind curves and hills, this was just about the same as not pulling over at all.
How about it - is it just me or is there an epidemic out there?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Davis on
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In Texas it is a 1000 dollar fine and or up to 30 days in jail for failure to yield to an Emergency vehicle.
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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
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Nope, it's definitely not just you. We happen upon this a lot. It's not as bad downtown or in areas where the trucks will run quite often, but heading outside the city, it's horrible. It also seems to depend on the vehicle. I know the paramedic cars here (supervisors, usually) are very rarely ever respected. I watched one sit at a red light, lights and sirens, responding and 13 cars passed by him with the green light, he had to wait until the light changed. I was pretty surprised. Also people to not know what to do when we come up behind them with the water rescue truck. Lights and sirens, but they still don't seem to respect that and pull over. It can get interesting, for sure.
I think this should definitely be a bigger part of Driver's Ed and the driving test, both written and driven (you can't replicate it with the driven test, but you could have the driver show what they would do if the vehicle was coming behind them or towards them... and it better be the same thing.. lol).
It might also be interesting to see an officer/paramedic/firefighter do a chat at local Driver's Ed courses to impress upon people the importance of pulling over.
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Permalink Reply by Scuba Jay 1153 on
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I'm going to offer a little different reply to this thread. I offer you all this. Not one of the things mentioned above should have been a huge surprise to anyone driving an emergency vehicle using it's audible and visual warning devices. When any of us begins to operate a vehicle making an emergency response we should be EXPECTING these things to happen. Whether you jump into your Neon with a dashmounted Kojak light heading to your vollie barn or slide the pole and hop into a Seagrave with a Q2B and every light known to Whelen YOU are supposed to be the BEST driver on the road. If you want the responsibility of using those devices you should be responsible for using them. Once you flip the switch and engage the transmission you are now responsible for everyone riding with you and every one on the road. This means following state laws, departmental policies and just plain common sense. If you can't see slow down or stop. If the light is red or a stop sign is there STOP and then proceed. Assume that the old lady in front of you who hasn't pulled over since Haggerty's Dairy Farm 3 miles back will all of a sudden jack on her brakes when she realizes you're there. Give her MORE space and assume the worst reaction is coming. We can blame THEM as much as we want (and boy do I get screaming mad as well!) but remember YOU need to be the better motorist. ANd no, I am not a perfect driver, just one who does my best. Please wear your seat balts, slow down and get to the scene shiny side up and in one piece!
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Permalink Reply by Kevin King on
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This is one of the best replies I've seen in a while.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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I couldn't agree more. It starts and ends with the emergency vehicle operator keeping a cool and level head, expecting the other drivers to do the unexpected, coming to a full stop at controlled intersections, and the rest of it. As in the case mentioned above, you can do everything right and still have an accident. I guess I just needed to vent...
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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Great post!!!!! Perhaps the states should have more emergency vehical operations courses offered to the departments, and follow through yearly on drivers training to keep the edge and know the truck or engine better
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Permalink Reply by Mick Mayers on
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My chauffeur has been driving that big red truck for me for the last seven years or so and luckily, he doesn't trust the drivers on our roads any more than I do. Give them a wide berth, don't run up behind them where they will REALLY panic, and don't get carried away with the speed limit. When your truck has two steering wheels like ours, it makes the guy with the steering wheel in the rear with no brake pedals a little nervous if you do anything crazy. Like the old Philly SOP used to say; "The tillerman shall follow the cab at all times". Like, where the hell else is he going to go?
My wife says that I am too cynical (about all things, idiot drivers most of all); I tell her that actually, while she is an optimist and is disappointed when someone does something wrong, I think they're all morons, so I'm pleasantly surprised when one of them gets it right. "Pull to the right- your other right- you idiot."
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Tomorrow night is Class 2 (of 3) of a VFIS Emergency driving course my department is hosting. All department members have been urged to attend and so far, a very high percentage have.
Others have highly recommended this course, and I'd like to add my own recommendation.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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It's not just you. Here in Chicagoland, we've got people who don't notice you behind them and when they do they simply STOP in the middle of the road and you have to go around them. My favorite are the ones who pull to the LEFT and stop! For several years we've had a campaign of "Pull to the right for sirens and lights." But sometimes I feel we need to rent billboard space and television spots to get the message out. My son just took driver's education and that's one of the first things they teach them. It's funny how people forget. The people who don't pull over are probably the same people who yell that it took you "forever" to get there when they called 911, even though your response time was only 3 minutes! Stay safe!
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Joe, I took this class. It is a great tool, and just like everything else when used properly with additional and reoccurring training is effective. Driver selection is the first step. :)
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Permalink Reply by Bobby King on
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Red Lights and Siren is the Universal Signal for Morons to jump in their Vehicles and Pull out in front of You and also for them to get right in Your way and not pull over
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