I know, I harp on this occasionally, but I guess it is time to do so again. Slow down, people!
Slow. Down.
Mrs. Medic 914 and I were out and about the other day and we came within close proximity of an emergency call. The first emergency vehicle we saw was the fire truck entering the intersection ahead of us. They had both sirens and their air horns operating. The crew in the front was looking both ways as they eased into the intersection. And until they were sure everyone had stopped they did not proceed through. And they had the green light.
Then the ambulance came. Wow. Just…wow.
They came up from behind us. There was a line of cars and we were about fourth in line at the stop light. My wife was looking for them and started to do what the law says to do upon the approach of an emergency vehicle-pull to the right and stop.
Not stop in the middle of the road.
Not pull to the left and stop.
No, GS 20-157 states “ Upon the approach of any law enforcement or fire department vehicle or public or private ambulance or rescue squad emergency service vehicle giving warning signal by appropriate light and by audible bell, siren or exhaust whistle, audible under normal conditions from a distance not less than 1000 feet, the driver of every other vehicle shall immediately drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right‑hand edge or curb, clear of any intersection of streets or highways, and shall stop and remain in such position unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement or traffic officer until law enforcement or fire department vehicle or public or private ambulance or rescue squad emergency service vehicle shall have passed.”
So there you have it.
Anyway, as Mrs. 9-ECHO-1 was looking for this approaching emergency vehicle, she began to do what she was required by loaw to do. Pull to the right. Well, it is a good thing I happened to look in the mirror when I did. She had just looked in the right side mirror, saw that it was clear, and was checking the left side mirror, when I saw it and said “stop!”. Actually, I said “SHIT! STOP!”
Because there it was, coming up on the right- an ambulance coming up on the right at a pretty good clip. They went passed us on the right and then blew through the intersection. Actually, they passed us fast enough that the turbulence caused in the air shook our Tahoe.
There was at least one other car in our line that also almost pulled to the right and stop, as prescribed by law.
After Mario Andretti passed us we went forward with the rest of traffic, all the while making sure that another emergency vehicle was not coming from any direction. As we went through the intersection I looked at the front vehicle in line on the right as she pulled in front of us without looking, against the red light- late model Honda Odyssey with the driver (what we called a ‘soccer mom’ a few years ago) chatting away on the cell phone and what looked to be at least five young children (apparently unrestrained) in the front and back seats of the vehicle.
That would have been nice.
So why the big deal?
A lot of us just assume that everyone will hear our sirens and see the flashing lights. In this case we did not actually see ambulance until they were about two car lengths behind us and I barely heard the siren until they were just about on us (we had our radio on with all of the windows down and the sunroof open; they had their siren on ‘yelp’). If we had pulled over, as the law requires us to do, would two car lengths been enough room to stop a Chevrolet G4500 type II ambulance? Not hardly.
And who would have been cited in that instance? I am not sure who would have gotten the ticket, but I am pretty sure even a mediocre lawyer would have gotten me and the missus a good settlement. Maybe a new 2011 Dodge Challenger…
And what if that minivan had pulled out? Sure, she would have been at fault, but how would you like knowing you just plowed into a minivan full of kids? Especially if you could have prevented it by slowing your ass down a little bit! That would be a helluva picture to keep in your mind- your ambulance smacking that minivan and those kids flying out the other side…
Based on all of the research I see out there these days suggests that we don’t save lives by driving real fast. And we only save a very minute amount of time by using lights and sirens. And nowhere in our protocols (or anyone else’s, for that matter, do I see “drive real fast” as a treatment option.
When we are responding to emergency calls we need to keep in mind that the other people may or may not do what they are supposed to do. They may pull to the right. They may pull to the left. They may just stop. I have even seen them try and outrun us to the next intersection so they can pull over there (and block the intersection as prohibited by GS20-157!).
They may hear your siren. They may see your flashing lights. But I wouldn’t count on it. You see, with all of the so-called advances in our emergency warning systems, the sound insulation, sound systems, and tinted glass advances on today’s cars have made more advances, as well.
If you are driving ‘hot’ to a call, slow down. Those few seconds you are going to save probably are not clinically significant. Your ability to go home at the end of your shift should be your main priority. My ability (and my partner’s) to go home at the end of my (our) shift is mine- all other concerns are secondary.
And that means slowing down.
Anytime you are coming up behind traffic, slow down. You never know what they will do.
Anytime you are coming up on a controlled intersection, slow down. Just because you have the green light does not mean that the other people will not do something, well, stupid.
Anytime you are driving through an area with a lot of driveways, slow down. You never know who will back out of a drive way. And a lot of driveways mean houses, and there may be kids who will run out to see what all of the sirens are about. So slow down.
And that electronic siren you have on that ambulance? Set it on wail. Leave it. Stop playing with it. ‘ET’ can’t hear you. People will have a better chance of hearing you if you do.
