I'm at a loss for words...

[coltle6920]

At least words that wont get me banned for Life.

Sitting at a traffic light yesterday. The temperature as 90+ so my A/C was on yet I could hear the siren from an EMT vehicle in the distance. Couldn't immediately tell what direction.

As the light changed for the turn lane the EMT vehicle had arrived at the intersection with lights flashing and siren blaring. A couple of cars had made the turn and the light for thru traffic was now green. All traffic had momentarily stopped until some idiot who was about four cars back started leaning on his horn. All of a sudden that lane of traffic took off seemingly oblivious to the emergency vehicle right in front of them.

With the exception of this one lane all traffic was at a standstill. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Were all of these drivers blind? Maybe unaware of the law regarding emergency vehicles?

Any time I hear sirens while I'm driving the first thing I do is try to ascertain where the sound is coming from and how close it is. Will I have to take action so as not to interfere? I can't comprehend how so many people on the road are unaware of what's going on around them as they drive.

I don't envy the job our public servants do on a daily basis. They have a stressful job to do and second guessing what those around them might do shouldn't be part of it.

 

[delcrossv]

Either oblivious or self centered.
Pulling out of my neighborhood this morning and the traffic to the right was stopped due to a red light down the road a block. Cars were backed up all the way to my intersection. So, I'm turning left and wave to the guy (in a Mercedes)coming up to let me out. Does he? NOPE. Pulls across the intersection so I have to snake the truck behind him ALTHOUGH HE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

Jerk.

 

[DixieRanger]

Little turn here...Common courtesy' disappeared bout time of common sense left. Married (again) two years now. NEVER heard wife's grandkids... twins 12 & 16yr old...say 'please or thank you'. Great kids tho. Wife didn't raise their moms that way but who knows. Guess am just an ole foggy huh? At 75 say 'yes and no ma'am' to ladies younger than me. Get quizzical looks a lot. Back in my day it was called raisin', but my day is done.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[jscheck]

Having run lights and siren many times I found most failure to move over was attributable to mostly these things: we were "out running" our siren and we arrived before you heard us, older people without great hearing, young people with a radio/speakers so loud they couldn't hear us, and people who seemingly figured I would find a way to go around them and screw me. I'm sure there may have been other reasons but these were the most common.

 

[steelslaver]

People should all act like it was their son, daughter or wife etc in the ambulance and act accordingly. Same with any emergency vehicle, the life or property they maybe rushing to save means a lot to one of your fellow human beings. Sadly, a good share of the population doesn't do that. A minute of THEIR self absorbed life is more important than everyone else.

 

[S42N8]

Never underestimate the self-centered idiocy of drivers. Defensive driving starts at the end of the driveway.

 

[fiasconva]

There are so many drivers out there that simply have no idea what to do when an emergency vehicle comes down the road, especially from behind them. Rather than trying to pull over and get out of the way they simply stop right in the middle of the whatever lane they are in making it even harder for the vehicles to get through. I see it all the time.

 

[Golddollar]

Having been the rear passenger in an ambulance 3 times, I will bend over backward to let an emergency vehicle get through.

 

[llowry61]

Selfishness, arrogance and ignorance seem to be common nowadays. The golden rule has somehow been lost and ironically people don't know how to react to simple common courtesy when extended to them.

 

[MRB1]

Some have the radio volume of their "music" so loud they couldn't hear a jet landing on top of them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I NEVER want to be the one in the intersection that is hit, or hits a Emergency Unit !!

Can you immagin what the Judge is going to hand down to you !!

You deserve twice the charge !!

 

[6518John]

This is a problem for Willy Pete. One small round of that smoky white devil through the back glass of the slow-pokes or road blockers, would get their attention.

 

[Alk8944]

This is an object lesson to do what you know is right when driving based on your own visual and aural observation. Do not allow yourself to be chivied into a dangerous situation just because the traffic beside you moves or because some moron behind you is honking his horn! If he is held up 2-3 seconds because you are unsure it is safe to go ahead it is his problem, not yours!

 

[coltle6920]

Having been the rear passenger in an ambulance 3 times, I will bend over backward to let an emergency vehicle get through.

Many years ago I was first in line at a 4way stoplight when I heard the sirens. I actually got out of my vehicle to warn traffic to hold up.

Would I do it again in today's toxic environment? You kidding!?

 

[Smoke]

It was on my way back to the office one morning in the company truck. An AMR ambulance blew a Red light and almost T-boned my company vehicle.

They didn't slow down, they didn't hit thehorn, they didn't do anything they just ran the light.

Yes they were running lights and sirens but they're still not supposed to just blow through a red light like that.

ETA This happened during Morning rush hour. And I think it's a City Ordinance that even ambulances are supposed to slow down and make sure the intersection is clear before they go through it and sound a warning horn.

 

[Krogen]

Another issue with oblivious drivers is they just stop when they hear/see emergency vehicles. This can cause gridlock and make things worse. If they'd use their noggins they'd see that sometimes getting out of the way and in turn allowing others to get out of the way is the best approach. A buddy was an EMT and said it very simply. "Just open up as big a path for us as you can." At times, that means not brainlessly stopping where you are.

 

[coltle6920]

Having run lights and siren many times I found most failure to move over was attributable to mostly these things: we were "out running" our siren and we arrived before you heard us, older people without great hearing, young people with a radio/speakers so loud they couldn't hear us, and people who seemingly figured I would find a way to go around them and screw me. I'm sure there may have been other reasons but these were the most common.

It isn't always possible to move over when traffic is heavy. Some people just freeze where they are. I usually hear the siren first then I start looking out for flashing lights. Those multiple mirrors on my truck serve a purpose and I use them.

 

[Old cop]

Some of the language used inside my cruiser, responding lights & siren to an emergency, could have gotten me in a lot of trouble if I'd had the windows down.

 

[coltle6920]

It was on my way back to the office one morning and the company truck AMR ambulance blew a Red light and almost T-boned my company vehicle.

They didn't slow down, they didn't hit the horn, they didn't do anything they just ran the light.

Yes they were running lights and sirens but they're still not supposed to just roll through a red light like that

I believe a lot of those ambulances are contracted out to serve an area. They park somewhere and wait for a call like those tow truck drivers. Unfortunately their driving skills are no better than yours or mine and more than likely are much worse.

I almost t-boned one doing 45mph. The ambulance stopped at an intersection where they had the red light. Totally ignorant that the cross traffic was still moving they pulled further out before realizing their mistake. Thank God for ABS brakes. I missed them but the guy behind me in a Super Duty towing a loaded trailed almost lost it swerving to avoid me. That would've completely ruined my day.

 

[Rudi]

So many blithering idiots driving these days. We risk our lives every time we get behind the wheel.