Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Howdy!
Let me start this post off saying that I'm no expert on ANYTHING. But that I was previously involved in a county rescue squad in TN. Part of the training was driving the rescue vehicles with lights and sirens going (and the adrenalin pumping).
By far, the things I saw while driving the emergency vehicles, and the things I heard about and was taught, was that the biggest problem for emergency vehicles was erratic drivers. Not traffic. Not those drivers that couldn't tell where the sounds were coming from and pulled out in front of the emergency vehicle. We were taught to expect that, because IT IS IN FACT difficult sometimes to tell where the sound is coming from. And going through intersections (traffic lights or not) we either completely stopped or got close enough to a stop to tell that all the other traffic could visibly see what's going on.
Let me give you an example off erratic driving that emergency vehicles have a problem with and why. This is from my experience driving my own personal vehicles. The other day, on my way home from work, I was traveling down a 2 lane road (speed limit 55) and I was going between 55 & 60. Only 2 cars were visible up ahead, the closest was like 20 car lengths up.
Way ahead was the 1st car (a pickup). He was starting around a turn when I see him go off the edge, start sliding (straight) throwing a big dirt cloud. He's so far ahead of me, I don't even react. And I couldn't see around the turn he was in. Then the car ahead of me starts around the turn, and then (she) slams on her brakes in front of me. She was far enough up there that at first I don't know that she came to a complete stop. Then I see an ambulance coming the other way (in his own lane, noone around for him to be overtaking). When I look back up the road, I had to almost lock my brakes to keep from hitting her, sitting stopped in our lane! This is a wide open country road.
In that example, some other drivers may have had an accident. The stopped lady might have got RAMmed, or a person behind her may have swerved into the path of the ambulance.
PEOPLE, AN AMBULANCE ONLY TAKES UP ONE LANE!
#ad
What I learned as a driver of an emergency vehicle is that we prefer drivers to keep on doing what they're doing. They are more consistant that way and are more predictable. Crashing off the road, or stopping on the road is something you shouldn't do because that may cause a domino effect of more accidents.
If an emergency vehicle is coming behind you. Slow up MAYBE 5 OR 10 MPH, try to move over a little (don't run off the road), only when the emergency vehicle is right behind you. Some people are so stupid, they think that if they can see a flashing light anywhere in front of or behind them (even way way off) they think they have to swerve off the road, throw it in a ditch, and stop. NO! Drive predictably, give room where necessary, but don't stop in your lane. You think that 12,000 lb. ambulance can stop as fast as you? Think not!
If you're already stopped at a traffic light, STAY STOPPED! If a cop car, ambulance, or rescue squad vehicle is right behind you at the light, he would rather figure out a way around, than to have you dart out into the path he was going to take to go around. If they're stuck behind you in a lot of traffic at a light and the light turns green, the GO, and get the he11 out of the way after you're through the traffic light.
Sorry for the long post, but the actions of erratic drivers when they see/hear lights/sirens are by far my biggest peeve about other drivers.
- JyRO
------------------
Y2K 2500 Cummins ETC/DEE, SLT+, 4X4, Quad, LB, Intense Blue Sport, 3. 54 LSD, rear aux. springs (camper special), sliding rear window, all options except cab clearance lights including agate leather, totally stock engine, silencer ring removed, "stealth," mod to run fogs with high beam. (20. 8 mpg @ 70 mph) Since everybody else listed their toys, I will too.
2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 4L V6 (25. 5 mpg @ 65 mph)
1990 Toyota Celica STX, FWD, 5-speed, 1. 6L I4 (36+ mpg @ 65 mph)
1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL Limited Edition RWD, 5-speed, 1. 1L Wankel (For sale)
No auto trannies in my home! Just say, "No!" to auto trannies.
Let me start this post off saying that I'm no expert on ANYTHING. But that I was previously involved in a county rescue squad in TN. Part of the training was driving the rescue vehicles with lights and sirens going (and the adrenalin pumping).
By far, the things I saw while driving the emergency vehicles, and the things I heard about and was taught, was that the biggest problem for emergency vehicles was erratic drivers. Not traffic. Not those drivers that couldn't tell where the sounds were coming from and pulled out in front of the emergency vehicle. We were taught to expect that, because IT IS IN FACT difficult sometimes to tell where the sound is coming from. And going through intersections (traffic lights or not) we either completely stopped or got close enough to a stop to tell that all the other traffic could visibly see what's going on.
Let me give you an example off erratic driving that emergency vehicles have a problem with and why. This is from my experience driving my own personal vehicles. The other day, on my way home from work, I was traveling down a 2 lane road (speed limit 55) and I was going between 55 & 60. Only 2 cars were visible up ahead, the closest was like 20 car lengths up.
Way ahead was the 1st car (a pickup). He was starting around a turn when I see him go off the edge, start sliding (straight) throwing a big dirt cloud. He's so far ahead of me, I don't even react. And I couldn't see around the turn he was in. Then the car ahead of me starts around the turn, and then (she) slams on her brakes in front of me. She was far enough up there that at first I don't know that she came to a complete stop. Then I see an ambulance coming the other way (in his own lane, noone around for him to be overtaking). When I look back up the road, I had to almost lock my brakes to keep from hitting her, sitting stopped in our lane! This is a wide open country road.
In that example, some other drivers may have had an accident. The stopped lady might have got RAMmed, or a person behind her may have swerved into the path of the ambulance.
PEOPLE, AN AMBULANCE ONLY TAKES UP ONE LANE!
#adWhat I learned as a driver of an emergency vehicle is that we prefer drivers to keep on doing what they're doing. They are more consistant that way and are more predictable. Crashing off the road, or stopping on the road is something you shouldn't do because that may cause a domino effect of more accidents.
If an emergency vehicle is coming behind you. Slow up MAYBE 5 OR 10 MPH, try to move over a little (don't run off the road), only when the emergency vehicle is right behind you. Some people are so stupid, they think that if they can see a flashing light anywhere in front of or behind them (even way way off) they think they have to swerve off the road, throw it in a ditch, and stop. NO! Drive predictably, give room where necessary, but don't stop in your lane. You think that 12,000 lb. ambulance can stop as fast as you? Think not!
If you're already stopped at a traffic light, STAY STOPPED! If a cop car, ambulance, or rescue squad vehicle is right behind you at the light, he would rather figure out a way around, than to have you dart out into the path he was going to take to go around. If they're stuck behind you in a lot of traffic at a light and the light turns green, the GO, and get the he11 out of the way after you're through the traffic light.
Sorry for the long post, but the actions of erratic drivers when they see/hear lights/sirens are by far my biggest peeve about other drivers.
- JyRO
------------------
Y2K 2500 Cummins ETC/DEE, SLT+, 4X4, Quad, LB, Intense Blue Sport, 3. 54 LSD, rear aux. springs (camper special), sliding rear window, all options except cab clearance lights including agate leather, totally stock engine, silencer ring removed, "stealth," mod to run fogs with high beam. (20. 8 mpg @ 70 mph) Since everybody else listed their toys, I will too.
2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 4L V6 (25. 5 mpg @ 65 mph)
1990 Toyota Celica STX, FWD, 5-speed, 1. 6L I4 (36+ mpg @ 65 mph)
1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL Limited Edition RWD, 5-speed, 1. 1L Wankel (For sale)
No auto trannies in my home! Just say, "No!" to auto trannies.
