Pay no attention to the flasky red lights and blaring siren

[firegirl1514]

My husband and I were on our way to the funeral home this afternoon. One of the firefighters on our department lost his wife last week and the viewing was today. Since this guy was also a member of the neighboring department, not only were many of our firefighters at the funeral home, but so were members from the other department.

About halfway there, the other department gets paged to a field fire that has gotten out of control and is getting close to some woods, as well as possibly a residence. My husband turns around to head back to their station, since he is also a member of that department. As I've mentioned before, my vehicle is equipped with lights and a siren. He turns these on, and the first couple of cars slow down and move towards the edge of the road. They can't completely pull over, since there is no shoulder, but they at least make it possible to pass safely.

However, a little farther up the road, we get behind a pickup truck pulling a small trailer, similar to what you would use to haul an ATV or riding lawn mower. The guy is driving about 10 miles under the speed limit, and never bothers to yield the right of way. It is my understanding that at least in this state, you do not have to yield to red lights, but it is recommended that you do so, for obvious reasons. My husband does end up passing him as soon as it's safe, and we get to the fire station around the same time that the chief from that department gets there.

The thing that really irks me is it seems that the people who don't want to let us pass are the same ones that will be complaining that we don't respond quick enough if they have an emergency.

[Jangles the Moon Monkey]

Where I live, there's a set of traffic lights just down the road and it's amazing the amount of idiots who try to get through them before pulling over slightly to let the emergency services through. I say slightly because the road is much narrower after the lights than before them and it's pretty obvious, even from a distance.

[draggar]

Because you're not going to their emergency, it's not important to them. (Yet I'm sure they'll be the first one demanding everyone get out of the firefighter's way if their house is on fire!). Many people just don't care, I've seen cars refuse to get out of the way of ambulances (with lights and sirens on).

[Hawaiian Eskimo]

What state do you live in? I thought it was a pretty standard thing where you had to pull over if emergency vehicles were flashing lights and sirens, or else you get a nice ticket.

I'm curious now

[Aut]

I have been noticing more and more that people do not want to stop for emergency vehicles. I was watching a bunch videos on YouTube the other day of police chases and whatnot and not pulling over seems pretty standard. I guess they figure that the emergency vehicle will just go around them, but I've personally seen that that's not always the case. Sometimes the cops will ride your tail, lights and sirens going until you move, even if they could easily go around. I'm sure it depends on what they are responding to to allow them to do that or not.

[Andara Bledin]

Had some emergency vehicles pass while I was on the way home, tonight.

Both I and the person behind me pulled to the side, even though it was almost guaranteed that they would be turning at the intersection we hadn't reached, yet.

^-.-^

[firegirl1514]

What state do you live in? I thought it was a pretty standard thing where you had to pull over if emergency vehicles were flashing lights and sirens, or else you get a nice ticket.

I'm curious now

I'm in KY. That's what they've told us in any of our state training. I don't understand it, either. But then they also tell us that if someone fails to yield and that results in someone dying because we couldn't get there in time, then that person can be charged.