Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joey "BigShow" De Piano on June 23, 2008 at 9:53pm

Hey Jessika , its a problem every where for any vollie, sadly even though we have a law on the books to help us unless you have it on video or direct proof other way it can be a your word against theirs..naturally if you have the plate make of car so on and time and road they are kinda screwed.
But at the same time depending on the road 10 miles over is or can be a bit much, you have enough on your mind as you listen to the call and get info to start worrying about a kid or car or animal doing something foolish and causing a wreck, remember if you crash and don't get there who will help them?

Permalink Reply by Matthew Brough on June 24, 2008 at 4:02pm

Jessika,

Let me start of by telling you a story about a run that happened roughly 10 years ago. BTW I am on Bicknell Fire Department, In Bicknell INDIANA.

During the time frame of this story Bicknell ran Rescue for the entire Northern Knox County area. BFD got paged to a 10-50 PI Head on Collision on Carries Curve on SR 67, about 7 miles south of the station. While on this run, a fellow fireman who is still part of the department, responded in Rescue 5 to this. He left town and proceeded down the highway. He came upon a motorcycle turning left onto Scepter Road, he proceeded to pass the bike on the right, while running lights and siren. For what ever reason, the motorcyclist did not turn left, but moved to the right to give his right of way to the Rescue. Now we have a 10-50 FATALITY at 67 and Scepter Road, involving a Rescue truck. Our department got sued, the firefighter in the drivers seat got sued and is still battling in civil courts over this.

Now, my point is this:

According to Indiana State Statute, a blue light or any other warning device located in a POV are courtesy lights ONLY. They don't get you any right of way. In all honesty the red and white lights on that fire truck don't give you the right of way either. You can proceed through an intersection, and traffic signals only if using DUE REGARD. Speeding is not using due regard. Yes you can go against the flow of traffic, yes you can pass people, but you must use DUE REGARD. 50mph in a 30 through a residential neighborhood is not due regard. I know you say, "well can't we just go 10 over???" Then that will turn into 15 over, then 20, etc...

I have been on our department for 6 years, I live 13 blocks from our station. I stop at every stop sign, and probably don't hit any more than 30 mph going to the station. Safety first, It'll still be burning when you get there. And trust me, no matter what bleeding always stops whether you stop it, or they run out of blood. You can't do them any good by crashing on the way to the scene.

Permalink Reply by MaryAnn Rodgers on June 24, 2008 at 5:35pm

I agree that getting to calls can be a problem at times but it's more important to get there safely. I'm lucky in that I live less than a mile from the firehouse and that it's a rural area but I've also experienced the other point where I was on my way home and my pager goes off. It's not worth the chance of having an accident by going over the speed limit. My daughter is also in the fire company now as a jr. firefighter and since she doesn't have her driver's license yet I've seen her jump on her bike or even run to the station for a call. Maybe this is something that you can bring up at a meeting and, if enough members are having this issue, it can be brought to the attention of the town board or town supervisor. Of course if you live in a "city" where the traffic may be an issue, I suggest you just obey the law .

Permalink Reply by Jessika on June 26, 2008 at 12:26am

See that would be nice to have here

Permalink Reply by Tim Weyand on June 26, 2008 at 2:05am

You say your not trying to "break any laws" but you want to drive over the speed limit and pass people. I'm not trying to piss anyone off here. Here in NJ we can run blue and blue/clear. The used to be "courtesy lights" now people are required to pull over..not everyone knows this. We still have to obey the speed limit and all traffic laws..including stop signs and red lights. I would rather see a felow firefighter get to the station safely in one piece a few miutes later than have to respond to a mvc and cut one out of a car.. be safe, use your head. follow the rules, they are rules for a reason.

Permalink Reply by ERCVFD 842 C. Warren on June 26, 2008 at 2:28am

Hey Jess I'm a vollie in Tennessee and our leo's normally allow us 10mph over and its up to officer alot of the time but it does only save seconds, we also are allowed to run red lights on our POV's but it has to be appoved by your dept and the county sheriff, and we also have the Vanessa K. Free law that requires any unit running emergency traffic, regradless if its personally owned or dept owned it must have an operating serin as while as lights and that both pieces of equipment must be in use while responding.

Permalink Reply by Jessika on July 12, 2008 at 12:46am

I live in washington state

Permalink Reply by Jessika on July 12, 2008 at 12:47am

I have always gone the speed limit it would just be nice if people would pull over

Permalink Reply by Byron on July 16, 2008 at 1:10am

Jessika I too am a volunteer and have proudly served our community for 23 yrs working my way up the ranks. I understand what your saying I live 5 miles from the station and have for 18 yrs. Our dept is short staffed during the day as well with maybe 3-4 available to respond. Here in Indiana we are suppose to obey all traffic law, we are allowed to run a blue light , flashing headlights ex. However it don't always mean that traffic will give you the right of way. Even though it seems like you just cant get there fast enough the bottom line is safety for you and whom ever is on the road while personnel is responding. Just remember why you volunteered in the first place to help the citizens of your community I hope not to break the law. I'm sure the person that called for help will be very glad you made it to the scene and didn't put your own life on the line trying to get there,and please remember your family would really like to see you come home from that call safe and sound. Take care and thanks for volunteering.

Permalink Reply by Jessika on July 25, 2008 at 6:02pm

thank you all for your feed back it is actually very helpful

Permalink Reply by Derek on August 12, 2008 at 12:40am

i agree with shannon because where i'm at the station is in town but we do get to speed cause there is no cops for 20 mins. but if you guys could swing your city council to alow certified drivers that have taken a course to be able to get light and possibly a siren on there POV. i would like to be able to do that for when some of us are in town 20 mins away and we get a call for assistance and we can't go fast on the highway so its delayed

Permalink Reply by Classair on August 13, 2008 at 3:59pm

I see you complaining about wanting to go 10 MPH over the limit to get to the station for a call, at least your county allows you to have lights our county says NO to lights in POV. So I suggest just be thankful for the opportunity to have them! Oh I live in Indian River County in Florida lots of elderly. You sure can get worked up being held back by a blue hair doing 15 in a 30.

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