Another EMV lights thread

[Jstpssng]

I didn't want to hijack the bicycle thread, but had planned on starting this anyways.

+On the way home last Thanksgiving Weekend I came upon an accident scene after the ambulance had left and the wrecker was tieing the car down. There were firefighters standing around or taking pictures with their cell phones, vehicles parked on both sides of the road and nobody directing traffic so I asked if it was OK to pass and almost got my head bit off for not waiting. I later felt a bit like a heel, because earlier a couple other passing motorists had pulled an infant out of the vehicle, which was upside down in a stream, and used CPR to get her breathing again.)
Three-month-old baby revived by passing motorist after crash in Washington County ? Down East ? Bangor Daily News ? BDN Maine

+Friday I saw an ambulance with lights flashing approach a stopsign at a funky "Y" intersection, so I came to a stop to allowhim go through. As I waited, two cars passed from the other direction before he proceeded. When he pulled out I saw that he had shut his flashing lights off. (Huh)

I often hear emergency personnel complain about how people don't yield to them or respect the lights and sirens; yet shouldn't they show the same consideration?

 

[davrow]

Are you sure the lights were off? Around here they only appear from the front of the vehicle (apparently operator controlled, as I do see them on the back sometimes).

Also, they only need them for intersections or where their path is impeded by vehicles or people. If they are on a wide open stretch of road, why use the lights?

edited to add: oh, and no, I don't think they should show the same consideration. They operate on an as-needed basis, either not going anywhere or at full emergency. If dispatch radios and says they should return to base... off go the lights and sirens without any warning to you. They are not the same as the other vehicles on the road and should not be expected to act the same.

 

[breadtrk]

Lights or none, they are required by law to obey all traffic signs and signals. Metro Nashville bought me a new Dodge van back in 85 because a fire chief ran a red light and T boned mine.

It didn't help that he lied about having his lights on to the safety Officer that showed up. Witness started coming out of the nearby businesses reinforcing my story that he had NO lights on at all.

Even if a cop is chasing a triple murder mother raper, if he causes or is in any accident he is 100% responsible for damages.