Drivers must make roadside safety their mission

[bushmaster1313]

We just lost our third NJ State Trooper in the last year to a road accident. He exited his vehicle to assist with a car fire on the highway and got hit by a driver who stopped and as of this morning was not being charged.

However, it made me think that we need some type of community wide program to educate drivers that when they see a vehicle, worker or pedestrian on the side of the highway they must make staying clear their primary "mission".

 

[Iggy]

Wyoming law says slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit and move to far left lane for stopped emergency vehicles, service vehicles or construction vehicles and personnel if safe to do so.

I only got hit twice in 10 years on the road.

 

[snubbyfan]

People gotta pull their faces out of those gosh darned cell phones while they're driving.

 

[Frank237]

There's one solution to this issue.

States that have "Yield to Emergency vehicle" laws need to bomb the media and EDUCATE motorists about the law. Why it's in place, the death and injuries to emergency personnel, road workers, etc.

Then when practicable, LE WORKS an emergency scene...Ticketing every vehicle they can in violation. Hopefully with a fine of $500 or so.

I was hit once while PARKED in my patrol car, with top lights activated. My partner suffered a debilitating injury that ended her career.

I jumped out of the way of vehicles THREE times over the years. Every of those situations would have been tough to survive had I been hit.

Can't even recall the DOZENS of times oncoming/passing cars skidded out of control at accident scenes on snowy/icy roads.

It's sad when you have to avert your attention from the Driver on a stop, or from a Victim at an emergency call....So You or other assisting personnel don't get hit by a driver who's too lazy or too self important to slow down for what....Ten or fifteen seconds?

Yeah I have a bad attitude about this issue.

FN in MT

 

[bushmaster1313]

News report for Trooper Sean Cullen here:

Friends, Family Mourn NJ State Trooper Struck, Killed by Car on I-295 | NBC 10 Philadelphia

Trooper Anthony Raspa, son of a neighbor, was killed in June when his Crown Vic hit a deer and he lost control