Dumbass driver and paramedics

[Sandman]

I actually witnessed an accident that involved an ambulance vs. a passenger car. Ambulance was pulled up at an intersection and had a red light. Turned on lights only and started to proceed through the intersection and hits a car turning right.

There were also large snowbanks blocking the passenger car's view from seeing the intersection.

Who was at fault.... the ambulance. They didn't turn on their siren before proceeding through the intersection.

[fireheart]

I actually witnessed an accident that involved an ambulance vs. a passenger car. Ambulance was pulled up at an intersection and had a red light. Turned on lights only and started to proceed through the intersection and hits a car turning right.

That sounds more like a case of the ambos abusing their power.

Yes I can understand that your patient may be critical. I can understand that your patient may suddenly develop a complication that necessitates you having to turn the lights on and sirens and speeding like crazy.

But turning the lights on just to go through an intersection kind of reminds me of the cops from Superbad, who stick lights and sirens on so they can run red lights.

[wolfie]

Yup, used to have people ignore the big vehicle with flashing lights, siren, and air horn all the time. One chick even flipped us off after we managed to get around her. Hubby has wanted to spray people/cars with the bumper turret on his fire truck at times.

In my case, the chick was on her cell phone in one hand and smoking with the other. She never did get over even when she had room, we had to take a turn lane to get past her.

I don't understand this - she had a phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Where did she find a third hand to use to flip you off?

[fireheart]

I don't understand this - she had a phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Where did she find a third hand to use to flip you off?

drop the phone.

[Jetfire]

i once stopped but not to be mean... the ambulance was behind me and i pulled to the left to make room for it, thinking it was just going straight.

then a second later i realized it was turning to the left too. and they did the change-the-lights thing to get the advanced green on instantly. so i zoomed off on the turn and then pulled aside to get out of their way.

I believe this is the correct thing to do regardless. Granted my information is coming from a blurb on Canada's Worst Driver, but I believe the general rule for emergency vehicles with lights and sirens is that you are to move over WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. So don't pull over on a bridge, or in a turning lane, or blocking an entrance, etc..., but maintain speed and move over as soon as you can. Since you were in a turning lane (which generally don't have as much pull over room as regular roads), you legally would have needed to complete the turn and then pull to the side.

[AccountingDrone]

OH, I'd pay to see that!

I was just thinking this ....

[kpzra]

I don't understand this - she had a phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Where did she find a third hand to use to flip you off?

Cig went into the mouth, finger went up.

[MiloMorai]

Teach the paramedics how to do a P.I.T.

[crazylegs]

My biggest pet peeve is the following - I currently see it every shift.

Line of traffic (about 3 or four cars long) on a single carriageway road

Front vehicle sees lights/hears sirens & works out what's going on and then pulls over.

Vehicle behind hasn't a clue what's going on, doesn't check their mirrors then overtakes vehicle above and in the process nearly wipes us out in our overtaking maneuver.

The air horn is normally used at this point...

[PepperElf]

As it should be, according to my Driver's Ed instructor. He taught my class that as long as you were driving with an unobstructed rearview mirror (the one on the windshield), you didn't merge back until you could see both headlights of the car you passed in the mirror.

I'm even stricter than that. I probably wait too long but... I have to see the entire car, and see that it's a couple of seconds behind me first. Especially if it's a truck cos they don't stop that fast


and wait... a school bus driver wearing headphones?

Teach the paramedics how to do a P.I.T.

looked it up
Although i have a feeling the insurance companies would have a fit over it.

[Seshat]

I'll play devil's advocate for just a moment. I'm deaf. I can't hear sirens or horns honking, so I wouldn't respond to either of those.

Ideally, you would have plenty of warning because all the cars in the direction the emergency vehicle was coming from, would be attempting to safely make room.

I've witnessed this more than once myself. When it happens correctly, it's an unmistakeable sight. Most of the times I've witnessed it, I've become part of it - the other times I was in a cross street and we just sat and waited until the emergency vehicle passed.

Of course, we don't live in an ideal world.... but ideally, you'd have that warning.
And if the traffic isn't heavy enough to give that warning, the emergency vehicle has room to get around you as long as you drive predictably.

but I believe the general rule for emergency vehicles with lights and sirens is that you are to move over WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

That is the law in Australia. The purpose of that is the same as the first aid principle of 'ensure that it is safe to assist the person in danger'.

There's no point in having to call out a second ambulance because you crashed trying to get out of the way of the first one!