Emergency Vehicles – Be on the lookout!
Most people know that when they see or hear lights and sirens, we should get out of the way. More often than not it’s an ambulance, fire engine or police officer trying to get where they are going in a hurry. Unfortunately knowing and doing are two different things. Sometimes there is nothing we can do, other times people think that where they need to go is just as important.
The law says that upon hearing or seeing an emergency vehicle, you should move as close to the right curb as possible, and stay parallel to the curb. Sometimes there isn’t much you can do because of traffic, but even moving as much as you can might help an ambulance get past you on the shoulder and on to help someone.
Oftentimes you will see people move to the right, but not slow down or stop. This seems like it would be ok, but it can make it more difficult for other cars that are tying to merge over.
There are many times you will see people in the opposite lane, not doing anything at all, after all, the emergency isn’t in their lane. Just because they aren’t in the way of police or EMT’s yet, doesn’t mean they won’t be. Opposite driving cars should slow down and prepare to stop in case the emergency vehicle must use one of their lanes to get to where they are going.
More often than not, the sirens are going to come from an ambulance, and most of the time when their sirens are on, they are on their way to the scene of an accident. They don’t know what state the patient is in and their first goal is to get him stabilized. Sometimes seconds count, and is being on time more important than a person’s life? If it were your mother, father, child, wife or husband in need, wouldn’t you want someone to get out of the way so help can get there?
What the public doesn’t always realize is that there are a number of police, paramedics and firemen that get injured by cars driving by the scene of the accident where these emergency vehicles have stopped. Because of this, many states have adopted a move over law. It’s a good rule of thumb to follow even if your state doesn’t have it yet.
If you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, move one lane to your left before you pass giving them some space. If you can’t move over, then slow down to 20mph as you pass.
Even when you’re safe, accidents can occur. Lets all make sure that the people whose job it is to help us, can get to where they are going.