I'm at a loss for words...

[LVSteve]

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.

I've been in the situation back when I was driving my old Firebird on a multi-lane surface street where I could hear the fire truck sirens, but I could not see because of all the oversize vehicles around me. Sound is a lousy way to locate something in the urban environment. On one occasion I was unaware that the fire trucks had jumped the center divider somewhere behind me, so when I decided to clear the light we were at to try and make space somewhere across the frozen five lanes, I'm sure I was "the idiot in the sports car".

 

[SMSgt]

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 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 roll through a red light like that

The tiki bar I frequent is right at a busy intersection. Hardly a visit goes by when the local fire truck and EMT truck don't roar by at least once. The fire truck must be equipped with the system to turn the light green because it never slows down. We're waiting for the time when some fool pulls out and gets t-boned by several tons of fire truck.

 

[coltle6920]

I've been in the situation back when I was driving my old Firebird on a multi-lane surface street where I could hear the fire truck sirens, but I could not see because of all the oversize vehicles around me. Sound is a lousy way to locate something in the urban environment. On one occasion I was unaware that the fire trucks had jumped the center divider somewhere behind me, so when I decided to clear the light we were at to try and make space somewhere across the frozen five lanes, I'm sure I was "the idiot in the sports car".

I've seen firetrucks go against traffic a couple of times. Amazing that the people that can't see you behind them will quickly get out of the way when you are coming right at them.

 

[Bald1]

Having drove 34 yrs for a living I believe people are just unaware of their surroundings. Zero situational awareness. They are only concerned about themselves and what's happening in their vehicle. Most are oblivious while a few are just plain inconsiderate

 

[johngalt]

yep - see it a lot. light turns green, somebody always goes, oblivious to the emergency vehicle about to cross in front of him.

But then the emergency vehicle drivers aren't immune to questionable behavior either.

A police car had someone pulled over at night. He had ALL of his lights on, which was completely unnecessary. The car was was so lit up, including the burn-your-retinas-out whites, that it was completely blinding. Couldn't see anything around him - people, parked cars, anything. Anything that might have been in the other lanes (people, cars, debris, etc.) was invisible. He created a hazard rather than prevented one.