Get out of their way!!!!!!
OK, time to get something off my chest. I was driving through the village of Fairport yesterday when it became apparent that an emergency vehicle needed to get through. Behind the ambulance were two other vehicles, both volunteers, both had blue lights, working and in very visible places. Time and time again I watched as people on the road allowed the ambulance through but pulled out in front of the other two volunteers. It may not be the law and it may hold you up all the longer, however, I can’t help but think that if it were you or one of your loved ones waiting for help, you would not care what kind of vehicle help arrived in. It would not matter what color light was flashing in their windshield or if they were receiving a pay check to come and get you, you have a problem, possibly life threatening and they have the solution. Let them through!!! Nothing in your life can be so important that it may be worth risking someone else’ life, right??
April 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Thank you Terry. I’m a volly and have been for a number of years. I have not experienced a problem in the rural areas. Most all of them are staffed by vollys and folks respect them. The Monroe County towns and especially the city are another matter. The city is the worst even for an ambulance, people won’t let them through. My son, who is also a volly, has on many occasions, blocked the intersections with his own vehicle, even his work vehicle to permit an ambulance to get through. As the shortage of vollys continues and the town folks have to pay more for paid EMS services in their taxes, they might wake up and regret their previous actions.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Terry my family has been in the the fire dep. emt first responder fire police and I know what you are feeling . People dont think about well what if it was my family. would thay want people in the way so the fire dep or amblance crew dont get there to save the life of there family.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Terry,
I’m not originally from the Rochester area, but it seems that drivers here are a lot less courteous than in other parts of the state. In my hometown (Oneida, NY) it wouldn’t have mattered if they were an ambulance or not, you would know enough to pull over and let them through if they were an emergency vehicle of any kind. Perhaps people out here need to be better educated on manners and courtesy when driving.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Terry I completely agree! My fiance is a volunteer fireman and former EMT and people really do not pay attention when there is an emergency and those vehicles need to get through. We live in a more rural area, but people are still disrespectful because they think hurrying to their next destination is more important than another’s life. I wish people would just slow down and really consider what is at stake. God bless
April 29th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Terry,
Unbelievable isn’t it. Happens all the time. People don’t move out of their way but then again, they don’t always move right away for the ambulances or firetrucks, either. Take care.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
My husband and I have been volunteer firemen going on about 10 years. It still amazes me about people and their driving, they won’t even pull over for a fire truck that the lights and horns blowing. Not to long ago, I was on my to a call and had my blue light on, when the drive that was a head me, saw me and he put on his brakes and slowed down. What is up with that? I am glad that someone else knows about this, not just the volunteers….
May 1st, 2008 at 7:51 am
Terry,
I know what you mean! My mom and dad were both firefighters in the United States Air Force, my mom was one of the first women firefighters in Germany! When I was old enough to get my license, my dad had already passed away so my mom was the to teach me to drive. I was threatened with bodily harm if I didn’t get out of the way of ANY emergency vehicle. She told me if I caused an accident with an emergency vehicle she said if the crash didn’t kill she would! lol I knew from the very begining to GET OUT OF THEIR WAY!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Terry,
THANK YOU for bringing this very important subject to peoples attention. As a volunteer EMS responder this is a topic that I am quite familiar with.
If you see an emergency vehicle approaching you with it’s lights and siren operating you should pull over to the right and come to a stop as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We do not respond lights and sirens to all calls, so if we are in fact responding lights and sirens it is because there is information indicating that there is an immediate threat to life or property. How would you feel if your loved one didn’t survive a life threatening emergency because the ambulance was delayed by people refusing to yield the right of way?
There are a lot of responsibilities to operating an emergency vehicle, and though it might seem like it would be fun to do, there are a lot of risks and responsibilities involved. As soon as an emergency vehicle operator turns on his or her lights and sirens, they instantly take responsibility for the flow of traffic and the safety of all vehicles on the road around them.
While everyone knows that they are supposed to yield to emergency vehicles with red lights, I think too many people are confused by the blue and green lights that are used on personaly owned vehicles.
Blue and Green lights are considered under NY State Vehicle and Traffic law to be “Courtesy Lights”. Blue lights are authorized for use by volunteer firefighters, and Green lights are authorized for use by Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) volunteers.
Responders using either blue or green lights are required to follow ALL NYS Vehicle and Traffic regulations. We are required to obey speed limits, and to stop at all stop signs and trafic lights. We are not allowed to circumvent traffic control devices (unless we are being waved through by a law enforcement officer).
Keep in mind that in many cases if we are responding with these lights on that we are either responding to pick up the emergency vehicle or equipment necessary to respond to the call, or responding directly to a scene in order to provide necessary manpower. If you see a vehicle approaching with these lights operating, please yield the right of way by pulling over to the right and coming to a stop as soon as it is safe and prudent for you to do so.
Your cooperation will not only be appreciated by those who are experiencing an emergency, but it will help keep both the emergency responders and your fellow motorists safe.