On city streets, we know the procedure - pull over/slow down - give the vehicle the right of way.

But on the highway, what do you do? Simply slow down? Give way for the emergency vehicle?

medisonic, I think this one is for you.

 

Here in Iowa they are discussing a law that would require you to move atleast one lane over for any state vehicle that is pulled over. If it is not possible, you must slow to "below" the speed limit.

If a cop or ambulance is behind me, I just move over and let them pass, and if it's a cop, I would probably slow down.

 

Simply put...slow and pull over to the right so the emergency vehicle can pass you on your left.

 

i watch where the emergency vehicle is trying to go and try to go the opposite way so it'll actually be able to pass and make it too where it has to go...unlike some people who freak out and just stop and then the emergency vehicle gets stuck behind them...

 

Dunno but if you get in right behind it's like having an escort all the way down the crowded freeway.

 

We have HOV lanes in this area and some are on the right, some are on the left. Over time, I've noticed the emergency vehicles like using the HOV lane, so a lot of times I'm moving to the left (out of the right side HOV lane) into mainstream traffic.

 

die hard style but you have to stay 500 ft behind it i believe when its sirens and/or lights are on.

 

lol...yeah everytime after an emergency vehicle passed, you should see all the cars swarm back in quickly following the emergency vehicle. Me included.

 

More than half of the time I don't hear the emergency ehicles. I don't have the rsdio up loud or anything, just at a nice, calm listening level. But with the windows up and A/C on the 1st setting, the car is virually soundproof. It's pretty dangerous too though, cause one time I didn't know that an ambulance was coming till it was directly behind me. We have to pull over...if not, you MAY get a ticket.

 

Thats somethign I have seen discussed before. How cars are getting so silenced to the outside world that many people do not hear thigns like this coming. I dont know what the solution is though because not many people wanna go back to having them loud and what not on the inside understandably.

SuDZ

 

Exactly what I was gonna say man! I've done it a couple of times on queens blvd, if it's packed and an ambulance passes by (and it happens pretty often on queens blvd), I just get behind it and zoom zoom zoOom.

But as far as giving them the right of way, like someone else said, I see where it is trying to go and then move out of it's way so it can just keep going instead of having to avoid me or go around me.

 

I've never seen an ambulance or fire truck go faster than me. In fact, I've passed quite a few of them because they were going too slow (with their lights and sirens on). If one ever tries to pass me I'll get over, I guess, but I doubt it'll happen.

 

I know it's illegal to pass one with its lights on. You better watch it, because it would be easy for them to call ahead to someone and nail you.

 

Yes, it is definitely illegal to pass an emergency vehicle which has its flashing lights or siren (or both) on. The notion is that you may be restricting their movement by occupying the lane around and in front of them, even if its for a moment.

Don't purposely pass emergency vehicles. Yes, those heavy ambulances can't go that fast, but I'm sure you don't want other cars blocking the ambulance that on its way to you when you need one!

 

I'm not blocking the ambulance when I'm miles up the road.

 

Reminds me of a time I was driving on I-75 in Ohio at 72MPH. First of all the freeway was nearly empty. This ambulance gets on the freeway behind me. It has the lights and siren on, why I don't know. The freeway was basically deserted. It started out about 1/2 a mile behind me and it never caught up with me. In fact I got further ahead of it. I'm pretty certain that if I'm ever injured and can still drive I'm going to drive myself to the hospital rather than going 65MPH in an ambulance down an empty freeway with the lights and siren on.

Stereodude

 

That's what "Long John" Martorano tried to do recently but he ended up crashing at 8th & Spruce in Philly eventually dying from gunshot wounds to the chest. It's really annoying to see people following emergency vehicles from behind as if they're an escort, and then to not yield to them thinking they can stay far enough ahead. Someday heaven forbid if one ends up in a bone box, he/she'll be thankful that motorists are courteous and yield the roadway. It's the law here anyway but so is yielding to pedestrians--people should learn from Toronto and Europe on that one.

 

I was joking about driving myself to the hospital. It seems that a Ambulance should be going more than 65MPH down an empty freeway with it's lights and siren on.

Stereodude

 

I usually pull to the right and put my hazzards on to let them know I see them. Its more of a habit for me since I used to drive big buses and such.

 

Well, they're not always in a rush. I was picking up a pizza one night when a couple of paramedics arrived to order some subs/pizzas. After they ordered they got a call(not sure what kind of call it was). They asked the girl at the counter how much longer it would be; she said about 5-10 minutes; they decided to wait.

 

You could check your mirrors every now and then - the flashing lights are kind of obvious.

 

Being a former EMT in PA, I can shed some light on why emergency vehicles don't go top speed when they are on public roads.

First, these vehicles are big and heavy with a lot of expensive equipment on board. Physics isn't going to let them hit 100+mph.

Second, their primary job is to save people and keep them from getting hurt, not to cause any more accidents or to injure themselves. They're a common quote in the practice which is "save the patient, don't become one." This is why you'll see a fire engine or ambulance slow to a crawl going through an intersection. The EVs used to blaze through them and after some drivers who weren't paying attention to the big red car with flashing lights crashed into them the policy change to say the EVs have to make sure all traffic is stopped before they pass through.

Finally, you have no idea what is going on in the back of the ambulance. Did you know there are common rules in many states that when an ambulance has a patient with XXX condition or when they are performing some traetment they have to drive under a certain speed. It's hard to give an injection or to start an IV when you're bouncing around the back of a speeding vehicle. In some cases the ambulance must even pull over and stop to perform some procedures. It's been proven that spending a few extra moments properly taking care of a patient at the scene or in transit can make a world of difference when the person finally gets to the hospital.

Obviously I can't make you do anything, and I don't mean to sound like your mothers, but next time you see an EV in your rear view mirror just think if wherever you are driving to and whatever you have to do is more important then where the EV has to go.

 

I agree, but trust me, ambulances can go 100 MPH.

 

I've seen some dude pull this in a Lexus LS400 on Queens Blvd for a good ten blocks, the ambulance driver must have noticed this...slams on the brakes, throws the ambulance into reverse, smashing the Lexus's grille and keeps going. The guy gets out and has this dumb look on his face while all the other drivers point and laugh.

 

I can agree...
But for the most part, ambulances are not racing with a patient in the back, they are truck and drive like trucks and the crew in the back gets tossed around pretty bad if you are hauling a$$ down the road, hence the ambulance driving with lights and sirens doing 30 MPH.