Giving way to emergency vehicles

[The motor guy]

Maybe I'm wrong, but if an emergency vehicle is on the shoulder, you slow down and move over one lane to the left. Now this is the part I think some people don't understand is if you see an emergency vehicle actually responding, then move over to the RIGHT and stop so the emergency vehicle can utilize the left lanes and median if necessary to get by. Almost had a head on collision this morning by some idiot moving over to the left and stopping in the median while the rapid response vehicle was two inches behind him just being wreckless and not being under control of his own vehicle. I don't think any of these volunteer emergency responders get any kind of driver training, but thats beside the point im trying to make. I also see too many people panicking when an emergency response vehicle is coming up behind them. Chill out, you dont have to get over if you can't safely do so. My point is you're really creating dangerous situation if you're moving to the left because the rapid response vehicle is relying on that lane to be open.

 

[Hall]

I have had to pull into the turn lane when there was a lot of traffic and I would impede the ambulance more by either slowing in order to fall in behind somewhere or if I stayed where I was and sped up, they might think I wasn't getting out of their way. I pulled into the center turn lane, put my hazards on so they hopefully realized "I see you" and slowed to a stop. This was a 5-lane road (2 going in each direction + center turn lane).

 

[Fabulous50s]

People don't know how to drive period..... Emergency response vehicles need to get there, and you just need to fet out of the way in a safe and predictable way so they can move on.

That logic isn't very common....

 

[Variant_S]

I don't think any of these volunteer emergency responders get any kind of driver training,

I suspect that most, if not all, emergency responders who are driving have been trained in operating an emergency vehicle.

 

[SC Maintenance]

South Carolina law states you are to move over, slow down, or yield the right of way to emergency vehicle.

There is no specific direction. I have seen emergency vehicles in stopped traffic go to the right, to the left, or down the middle (parting the red sea) on the exact same road, where there is an accident every second day.

The key should be to do whatever is safest. What may be obvious to you may not be the same obvious to others.

 

[The motor guy]

I suspect that most, if not all, emergency responders who are driving have been trained in operating an emergency vehicle.

They don't drive like it.

 

[fantastic]

Rules will vary by state & it's usually wise to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. Someones life may depend on it. I'm not going to not get over if I have a chance to get over to the left. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding OP.

 

[ripcord]

I think TMG's point was to point out the "proper" way to yield to emergency vehicles when possible. He's right. There are circumstances where yielding to left is necessary if traffic is jammed. The main thing is safely giving away.

 

[skyactiv]

I've spotted firetrucks and emergency squads in my mirrors several times while on the freeway and have speed up to keep ahead of them.

 

[eljefino]

If you're stuck* at a traffic light and an ambulance comes up behind you, just hang out. They'll find a way around. Yeah you "could" turn right on red against your plan but will everyone else in line read your mind and do the same thing? Ambulance seems to just blast up the oncoming lane in this situation here.

* Obviously if you have an out like a parking lot you can pull into, you aren't stuck.

 

[ripcord]

I've spotted firetrucks and emergency squads in my mirrors several times while on the freeway and have speed up to keep ahead of them.

At least that's what I tried to explain to the patrolman.

 

[The motor guy]

If you're stuck* at a traffic light and an ambulance comes up behind you, just hang out. They'll find a way around. Yeah you "could" turn right on red against your plan but will everyone else in line read your mind and do the same thing? Ambulance seems to just blast up the oncoming lane in this situation here.

* Obviously if you have an out like a parking lot you can pull into, you aren't stuck.

I've had them come up behind me and went through the red when it was clear of course to allow them through. I call that a free red light run lol. obviously at a crowded intersection you have to move where you can, but I'm more talking about on the open road. Move to the shoulder so they can pass on left at 90mph or whatever. Don't pull to the left right in front them like some of these people do.

 

[The motor guy]

At least that's what I tried to explain to the patrolman.

Lmao! Have you gotten pulled over? They probably aren't going to stop a speeder on the way to a code 3 call. You better hope dispatch doesn't cancel the call one of these days. Lol

 

[oldhp]

Was going the speed limit of 25MPH. Was checking my rear view mirror. All clear. Went over a rise and BAM!!!! There was a ambulance 2 feet off my bumper siren screaming. I immediately moved over. Next up was a cop who pulled me over and preceded to chew my butt out. My response was "How can you expect me to pull over in time when I'm going 25MPH and the ambulance is going 85+MPH???" He calmed down, thought about it and said "Well watch a little closer." Was I wrong??? Are we expected to drive constantly in the rear view mirror??? With these newer cars that are sound proofed you can't hear exactly 100% either.

 

[The motor guy]

Was going the speed limit of 25MPH. Was checking my rear view mirror. All clear. Went over a rise and BAM!!!! There was a ambulance 2 feet off my bumper siren screaming. I immediately moved over. Next up was a cop who pulled me over and preceded to chew my butt out. My response was "How can you expect me to pull over in time when I'm going 25MPH and the ambulance is going 85+MPH???" He calmed down, thought about it and said "Well watch a little closer." Was I wrong??? Are we expected to drive constantly in the rear view mirror??? With these newer cars that are sound proofed you can't hear exactly 100% either.

Both the police officer and the ambulance were in the wrong. Explain to me how 85 in a 25 is using with due regard for public safety? Or whatever the term is that they're taught. An ambulance is technically only allowed to do like 10 maybe 15 above the posted speed limit.

 

[ripcord]

Lmao! Have you gotten pulled over? They probably aren't going to stop a speeder on the way to a code 3 call. You better hope dispatch doesn't cancel the call one of these days. Lol

No I was just joking. It is specifically illegal in my state to "follow" emergency vehicles in route, though.

 

[The motor guy]

No I was just joking. It is specifically illegal in my state to "follow" emergency vehicles in route, though.

I did that once. Stopped and pulled to the shoulder like I was suppose to then gave him about 200ft of space while everyone else was on the shoulder too. I don't think it's following 200ft behind him. I didn't make it far before people started pulling back onto the road, but man did that save me a good 10 minutes lol

 

[The motor guy]

Was going the speed limit of 25MPH. Was checking my rear view mirror. All clear. Went over a rise and BAM!!!! There was a ambulance 2 feet off my bumper siren screaming. I immediately moved over. Next up was a cop who pulled me over and preceded to chew my butt out. My response was "How can you expect me to pull over in time when I'm going 25MPH and the ambulance is going 85+MPH???" He calmed down, thought about it and said "Well watch a little closer." Was I wrong??? Are we expected to drive constantly in the rear view mirror??? With these newer cars that are sound proofed you can't hear exactly 100% either.

There's also a technical term for this, but you can't hear them going that fast anyways until they're right behind you due to the wall of wind they're pushing or something like that. All the noise is behind them basically.

 

[wlk]

Was going the speed limit of 25MPH. Was checking my rear view mirror. All clear. Went over a rise and BAM!!!! There was a ambulance 2 feet off my bumper siren screaming. I immediately moved over. Next up was a cop who pulled me over and preceded to chew my butt out. My response was "How can you expect me to pull over in time when I'm going 25MPH and the ambulance is going 85+MPH???" He calmed down, thought about it and said "Well watch a little closer." Was I wrong??? Are we expected to drive constantly in the rear view mirror??? With these newer cars that are sound proofed you can't hear exactly 100% either.

In PA, an ambulance is not technically allowed to speed. So you were in the right. Only fire and pd get away with it by law. To a point.

Maybe I'm wrong, but if an emergency vehicle is on the shoulder, you slow down and move over one lane to the left. Now this is the part I think some people don't understand is if you see an emergency vehicle actually responding, then move over to the RIGHT and stop so the emergency vehicle can utilize the left lanes and median if necessary to get by. Almost had a head on collision this morning by some idiot moving over to the left and stopping in the median while the rapid response vehicle was two inches behind him just being wreckless and not being under control of his own vehicle. I don't think any of these volunteer emergency responders get any kind of driver training, but thats beside the point im trying to make. I also see too many people panicking when an emergency response vehicle is coming up behind them. Chill out, you dont have to get over if you can't safely do so. My point is you're really creating dangerous situation if you're moving to the left because the rapid response vehicle is relying on that lane to be open.

All first responders, well in PA anyways, have to have EVOC trainings but lights and sirens for some, think they are gods and drive like jerks. Although l & s has been shown to be detrimental to the driver by adding undue stress. Raises blood pressure, heart rates and definitely releases adrenaline. Some get tunnel vision.
Either way just pull over to the right or even just stop, they'll find a way around.

 

[The motor guy]

In PA, an ambulance is not technically allowed to speed. So you were in the right. Only fire and pd get away with it by law. To a point.

All first responders, well in PA anyways, have to have EVOC trainings but lights and sirens for some, think they are gods and drive like jerks. Although l & s has been shown to be detrimental to the driver by adding undue stress. Raises blood pressure, heart rates and definitely releases adrenaline. Some get tunnel vision.
Either way just pull over to the right or even just stop, they'll find a way around.

I agree. I think some get road rage because people don't always move over and that's why you see them 2ft behind when they themselves could just go around the driver not moving.