Post by Chief100 on Dec 30, 2005 14:05:26 GMT -5
Emergency vehicles have right-of-way
ANDREA CICCOCIOPPO
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
I drove home slowly during the last snow storm because I really wanted to get home in one piece.
As I made my way down a local road, I noticed a long line of slow-moving traffic coming toward me. A school bus was in the lead, followed by a half-dozen cars and another school bus. The snow was flying, and it was difficult to see beyond the rear bus, but I thought I noticed flashing lights.
At first I thought it was the signals from the last school bus. Then I suspected a salt truck or plow. But as I got closer, I realized the lights were coming from some kind of emergency services vehicle.
As the vehicle got closer to me, I realized it was an ambulance. I looked at the line of vehicles in front of it and wondered why they were not making any attempts to pull off to the side of the road to let it pass.
I wondered if their hesitation might be due to road conditions on the shoulder, but the sides of the road didn't appear to be any different than the rest of the road.
Then I wondered what the rules are for getting out of the way. I mean, I know you should get over to let emergency vehicles pass, but how far in advance?
I pulled over to the shoulder, and so did several of the cars in front of the ambulance. We waited until it passed.
Later, I checked the state vehicle code to see exactly what the protocol is for such situations.
I discovered that, according to the code, "upon approach of an emergency vehicle making use of an audible signal and visual signals ... the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in that position until the emergency vehicle has passed."
According to Harold Cramer, assistant chief counsel for the state Department of Transportation, all that legalese boils down to this: Drivers need to pull over to the side of the road as soon as they hear or see an emergency vehicle approaching.
"It's real important. We need to be able to administer care [to victims] ASAP," said Bob Weidner, deputy chief of Yellow Breeches EMS.
Coming to a complete stop at the roadside is the only legal thing to do, but things can get confusing when you're in multiple-lane traffic or in the middle of an intersection.
"If traffic is in a deadlock, it's hard to get through. If they can't go to the curb, they need to sit still, and we'll work our way around them," Weidner said.
"In an intersection, get out of the intersection and pull over," Cramer said.
But compliance with the law is minimal when it comes to emergency vehicles, said Larry Roberts, vice president of West Shore ALS Services.
Roberts said sometimes drivers pull over to the side but continue driving. "That makes is difficult for our folks to get around them," he said.
Weidner said sometimes he's forced to follow drivers for three or four miles before they pull over to let the ambulance pass.
Drivers who fail to give the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle can face a fine of about $100, including associated costs. "We have had situations when folks have been ticketed because they were reported," Robert said.
Violators often are reported by other motorists, rather than emergency workers, who don't usually take the time to write down a license number.
"At that time, you just want to get to the scene," Weidner said.
Roberts said pulling over to let emergency vehicles pass isn't just the law, it's common sense. "The next time, we could be responding to their relative's emergency, and they'd want us to get there as quickly as we could," he said.
And, he said, the excuse that "I didn't hear or see it" doesn't wash.
"They have to be aware of what's going on around them," Roberts said. "If they're not aware of our vehicles with lights and sirens, should they be out there driving?"
"Cumberland Crossroads" is a weekly perspective on issues and events from the Carlisle area. Andrea Ciccocioppo welcomes tips from readers. Messages may be left for her by calling 249-2006 or e-mailing aciccocioppo@patriot-news.com.
©2005 The Patriot-News
© 2005 PennLive.com All Rights Reserved.
ANDREA CICCOCIOPPO
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
I drove home slowly during the last snow storm because I really wanted to get home in one piece.
As I made my way down a local road, I noticed a long line of slow-moving traffic coming toward me. A school bus was in the lead, followed by a half-dozen cars and another school bus. The snow was flying, and it was difficult to see beyond the rear bus, but I thought I noticed flashing lights.
At first I thought it was the signals from the last school bus. Then I suspected a salt truck or plow. But as I got closer, I realized the lights were coming from some kind of emergency services vehicle.
As the vehicle got closer to me, I realized it was an ambulance. I looked at the line of vehicles in front of it and wondered why they were not making any attempts to pull off to the side of the road to let it pass.
I wondered if their hesitation might be due to road conditions on the shoulder, but the sides of the road didn't appear to be any different than the rest of the road.
Then I wondered what the rules are for getting out of the way. I mean, I know you should get over to let emergency vehicles pass, but how far in advance?
I pulled over to the shoulder, and so did several of the cars in front of the ambulance. We waited until it passed.
Later, I checked the state vehicle code to see exactly what the protocol is for such situations.
I discovered that, according to the code, "upon approach of an emergency vehicle making use of an audible signal and visual signals ... the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in that position until the emergency vehicle has passed."
According to Harold Cramer, assistant chief counsel for the state Department of Transportation, all that legalese boils down to this: Drivers need to pull over to the side of the road as soon as they hear or see an emergency vehicle approaching.
"It's real important. We need to be able to administer care [to victims] ASAP," said Bob Weidner, deputy chief of Yellow Breeches EMS.
Coming to a complete stop at the roadside is the only legal thing to do, but things can get confusing when you're in multiple-lane traffic or in the middle of an intersection.
"If traffic is in a deadlock, it's hard to get through. If they can't go to the curb, they need to sit still, and we'll work our way around them," Weidner said.
"In an intersection, get out of the intersection and pull over," Cramer said.
But compliance with the law is minimal when it comes to emergency vehicles, said Larry Roberts, vice president of West Shore ALS Services.
Roberts said sometimes drivers pull over to the side but continue driving. "That makes is difficult for our folks to get around them," he said.
Weidner said sometimes he's forced to follow drivers for three or four miles before they pull over to let the ambulance pass.
Drivers who fail to give the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle can face a fine of about $100, including associated costs. "We have had situations when folks have been ticketed because they were reported," Robert said.
Violators often are reported by other motorists, rather than emergency workers, who don't usually take the time to write down a license number.
"At that time, you just want to get to the scene," Weidner said.
Roberts said pulling over to let emergency vehicles pass isn't just the law, it's common sense. "The next time, we could be responding to their relative's emergency, and they'd want us to get there as quickly as we could," he said.
And, he said, the excuse that "I didn't hear or see it" doesn't wash.
"They have to be aware of what's going on around them," Roberts said. "If they're not aware of our vehicles with lights and sirens, should they be out there driving?"
"Cumberland Crossroads" is a weekly perspective on issues and events from the Carlisle area. Andrea Ciccocioppo welcomes tips from readers. Messages may be left for her by calling 249-2006 or e-mailing aciccocioppo@patriot-news.com.
©2005 The Patriot-News
© 2005 PennLive.com All Rights Reserved.