post if you hate it when people don't get out the way for fire trucks with lights on

[joejarman]

reason i pos this is because we have had idiots who don't know how to get out the way and i wanted to see if this has happened anywheres else:mad:

[Dave1983]

Nope, must just be you. People pull over for us blocks ahead.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[joejarman]

well this is some idiot driver who in my opinion got his license from jcpenny!!!!!!!

[ndvfdff33]

Please tell me he didn't turn this into a light in POV thread....

As for your question..Are you talking about a Junior Firefighter...

If so,the answer should be helllllllllll no..

Now if your talking about a new officer on the senior side of the dept..Perhaps yes...

In our area only people who have any sort of lights in POV are the Chiefs..

[CaptainGonzo]

No... all of our drivers are courteous pull to the right for sirens and lights on fire trucks, police cruisers and ambulances.















yeah right!

[CaptOldTimer]

Sounds like another poll to me.

:rolleyes:


It may be a POV light question.

NO

NO

NO


:D :p :rolleyes:

[EFD840]

joejarman,

Welcome to the forums. There aren't many of us Alabama guys around so I am going to take it upon myself to offer some advice, one Heart of Dixie firefighter to another.

First, this ain't AOL Instant Messenger. When you post PLEASE try to use proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Your posts will be taken much more seriously.

Second, if you're talking about folks not yielding to fire apparatus then the answer is it happens everywhere. Sometimes, even when they yield they cause problems. Just wait until both directions of traffic stop for you - and they stop side by side on a shoulderless two lane. If you're not talking about a department vehicle (and I don't think your are), then I've got some bad news: You're probably the one breaking the law. Based on what you posted in the Volunteer forum, you seem to think Alabama volunteers are allowed to use lights in their POV. For the most part, that is not true. The Code of Alabama defines an Authorized Emergency Vehicle as:
Such fire department vehicles, police vehicles and ambulances as are publicly owned, and such other publicly or privately owned vehicles as are designated by the Director of Public Safety or the chief of police of an incorporated city. The definition is found in Section 32-1-1.1 (http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/codeofalabama/1975/32%2D1%2D1.1.htm) .

Section 32-5A-115 (http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/codeofalabama/1975/32%2D5a%2D115.htm) adds that An amber or yellow light may be installed on any vehicle or class of vehicles designated by the Director of Public Safety, but such light shall serve as a warning or caution light only, and shall not cause other vehicles to yield the right-of-way.

The long and short of it is that unless your police chief or the DPS director has recognized your vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle, you can't legally have a light and the public is under no obligation to get out of your way.

While we're talking about Alabama, one more thing you might like to know is that state law also prohibits people under 18 from being used as firefighters. That is found in Section 25-8-43 (http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeOfAlabama/1975/25-8-43.htm) . Volunteer or not, If you're under 18 and fighting fire then your department is breaking the law. Here is an Attorney General's Opinion (http://www.ago.alabama.gov/oldopinions/9700176.pdf) that addresses the code section.

Most of what I just posted probably goes against everything you've been told by your department. I know that many, if not most, run POV lights and many let juniors fight fires. Just because everyone does it doesn't make it legal.

None of my post is meant to be a discouragement. As a junior, you are the future of the fire service but your role should be to LEARN. Take the light off your dash, show down, learn the job, and be there to lead your department ten years from now. Trust me, there will still be fires.

[dmleblanc]

GET OUT OF THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS

Maybe this is why no one pulls over for you....:rolleyes:

[JorieH]

Yesterday I'm driving on the interstate in the ambulance when our call requires lights and sirens(I'm with a priv. not everythings l&s). Right after we switch it on and I turn on my left blinker to get to the left shoulder, some women to my left pulls up and blocks us. Did I like it? No, but it's to be expected~especially in a big city. We should not be getting road-rage.

Actually in Illinois emergency vehicles don't have the right to exceed the speed limit(police are an exception). Also I was taught useing lights and sirens are not giving us the right of way, but requesting for the right of way. Even supposed to stop at stop signs and red lights(I do just to assure no one ignores me~like another Chicagoan did during the same call.) And if you have them on your own vehicle, your supposed to drive as if you don't have them(obeying all signs, lights, and limits).

[ROOKIELZ]

It happens often in our neck of the woods.
We have also had people pass us and/or cut us off.

A good apparatus driver who drives defensively is worth his/her weight in gold (IMHO).

[dmleblanc]

Originally posted by JorieH
Even supposed to stop at stop signs and red lights

I would think you would do this anyway....blowing red lights is asking for trouble....:mad:

[JorieH]

Originally posted by dmleblanc


I would think you would do this anyway....blowing red lights is asking for trouble....:mad:

Obviously you didn't read all the way through. I do stop, only proceeding when safe too. No, not everyone does, my partner even was telling me "just go through." And no I don't bend to peer pressure~especially when safety is involved. No point in getting into an accident, resulting in failure to provide care or foolishness causing harm to a patient. And no I do not have any extra lights on my car(only what the manufactuare installed for standards).

[dmleblanc]

Originally posted by JorieH


Obviously you didn't read all the way through. I do stop, only proceeding when safe too.

OK, that clarifies it a bit...I was wondering (although I know there are some out there who don't stop....)

[CaptainMikey]

Some drivers make me wonder how they are still alive. What pisses me off is when the drivers cut off the emergency vehicles and then sue for damages from there God D** stupidity.

[tk1918]

We just run right over them or bump them outta the way!!:D

[JorieH]

Originally posted by dmleblanc


OK, that clarifies it a bit...I was wondering (although I know there are some out there who don't stop....)

Not all emergency vehicle drivers stop for red lights and stop signs. I've seen it happen and know some drivers that don't stop. they seem to think "It's ok, I'm an ambulance.":rolleyes: Generally the new cocky individuals, sometimes there are those long timers who are so confident in their capabilities. they just keep forgetting they can't control the other drivers or pedestrians.

Luckily my regular partner and I have the same idea of safety to eachother and our patient(s). *Safety first* We were just talking about this today. we're in disagreement of parking in front of a fire hydrant. He thinks it's ok, because we're an ambulance/"emercency vehicle". I don't like too, we're not a fire engine. Friendly banter, I get made fun of for it.:)

peace:D

[Co11FireGal]

JorieH, tell your partner to come park in front of one of our fire hydrants...I'd like to try my new window punch :eek: ;) Just kidding, but the pic below...THAT'S CLASSIC!

[Berks2Montco84]

I don't know FireGal, it might be difficult to put 5' through the windows of an ambulance like in a low-lying car. Now, if you used the Sawz-All to cut two hole through the box...then that just might work :D

[NJFFSA16]

Main Entry: na·ive
Variant(s): or na·ïve /nä-'Ev/
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): na·iv·er; -est
Etymology: French naïve, feminine of naïf, from Old French, inborn, natural, from Latin nativus native
1 : marked by unaffected simplicity : ARTLESS, INGENUOUS
2 a : deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment; especially : CREDULOUS b : not previously subjected to experimentation or a particular experimental situation <made the test with naive rats>; also : not having previously used a particular drug (as marijuana)
3 : SELF-TAUGHT, PRIMITIVE
synonym see NATURAL
- na·ive·ly or na·ïve·ly adverb
- na·ive·ness noun

[JorieH]

Originally posted by Co11FireGal
JorieH, tell your partner to come park in front of one of our fire hydrants...I'd like to try my new window punch :eek: ;) Just kidding, but the pic below...THAT'S CLASSIC!

Yeah that is and always will be a classic!:D

And yes Chicago FD are tarritorial, but great men and women.

[JorieH]

First: Hu, what?

Originally posted by NJFFSA16
b : not previously subjected to experimentation or a particular experimental situation <made the test with naive rats>; also : not having previously used a particular drug (as marijuana)


Second: well I guess I am cause never did marijuana, don't even know how to smoke a cigarette.

[NJFFSA16]

Can't argue with Websters.......must be the grass they're smokin' in Alabama.....:rolleyes:

[joejarman]

thanks all AND I APPRECIATE IT

[Dave1983]

Yesterday I'm driving on the interstate in the ambulance when our call requires lights and sirens(I'm with a priv. not everythings l&s).

I NEVER run hot on an interstate. People react in very strange ways to lights/sirens and do stupid things at 30mph. Imagine the carnage that could cause at 70mph+.


Actually in Illinois emergency vehicles don't have the right to exceed the speed limit(police are an exception).

That doesnt make much sense:rolleyes:

Also I was taught useing lights and sirens are not giving us the right of way, but requesting for the right of way. Even supposed to stop at stop signs and red lights

I belive you will find that to be the case in most states. I guess your partner(s) that blow red lights/stop signs dont know that they can do jail time, as well as be sued in civil court, if they hit and kill someone doing this.

I cant belive its 2005 and I'm still hearing about this stuff. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[thebigcheese]

You know what I hate? I hate it when animals don't give us the right of way. Just the other night we were running l&s down a county road a racoon had the nerve, and i do mean the nerve, to run out in front of us. Geez louise, some animals just deserve to get hit. :rolleyes:

[JorieH]

Originally posted by Dave1983


I NEVER run hot on an interstate. People react in very strange ways to lights/sirens and do stupid things at 30mph. Imagine the carnage that could cause at 70mph+.




That doesnt make much sense:rolleyes:



I belive you will find that to be the case in most states. I guess your partner(s) that blow red lights/stop signs dont know that they can do jail time, as well as be sued in civil court, if they hit and kill someone doing this.

I cant belive its 2005 and I'm still hearing about this stuff. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:


There's supposed to be an ordinance IN Chicago(past along time ago) not to use sirens while on the Interstate/expressways/Lake Shore Drive/or highway routs. However if you use lights you also use sirens, always(orders from my medical director and company). Also almost every road is a highway rout:rolleyes: , so if you go by it you wouldn't be useing L&S most of the time. CFD aslo uses L&S on them. Yeah they do act odd or ignore us, but then again we're not allowed to speed, so nothing above 55mph or lower posted speed limits. Pluss we're anticipating stupid acts. During that call I didn't exceed 45mph~lots of debris on the shoulder, even a green flowered seat cushion from a chair.

Yeah it is 2005, what would make ya think things would change? Stupid pepole bread stuipid children.:) As do thebigcheese's racoons.;)

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

You know what I hate? Fire Fighters and EMT's who are too lazy or stupid to take down a plate number, get a basic description of the operator and go to the court clerk to sign a summons. It's your right. Anyone can do it.

[JorieH]

Originally posted by GeorgeWendtCFI
You know what I hate? Fire Fighters and EMT's who are too lazy or stupid to take down a plate number, get a basic description of the operator and go to the court clerk to sign a summons. It's your right. Anyone can do it.

Actually I haven't heard of this before~After the fact of refusing to pull to the side or cutting an EV off.

However we have drivecams that records 10-15 secs prior and 30 secs after if 1. impact/collision occurs to our vehicle 2. sudden abrasive movements(acceleration/stopping/swerving) or 3. the panic button is pressed. they're really clear with a 360 degree veiw with audio and transmitted to our home base. There they can be copied on a disk and zoomed in on any given point.So as long as none of the three occur it doesn't record.

Asking for an(all) opinion(s):
If the camera doesn't record because the EV driver hadles the situation with great care, should the offender still be summoned?

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

You don't need a camera to sign a summons. Why would you? You make the observations, presumably you have a witness, you log it in the company journal or generate some other type of report (even if it is a police report) and you sign the summons. You will be responsible for testifying and providing the prosecutor with the evidence he needs to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Of course, if you have the camera, it is gravy.

[Co11FireGal]

That's kind of what I was thinking...very simple to take down a plate number. Just thought maybe the police elsewhere weren't as helpful on such matters as ours tend to be. But if that is not the case, not sure why more people don't do it.

Every now and again we'll get a joker who will not follow orders while we're directing traffic...local, even the county sheriff's dept. and state police have made it very clear that all we have to do is give the plate number to dispatch and the driver will be in a world of trouble. Very simple...

[tyler101]

However we have drivecams that records 10-15 secs prior and 30 secs after if 1. impact/collision occurs to our vehicle 2. sudden abrasive movements(acceleration/stopping/swerving) or 3. the panic button is pressed.

I don't get the usage of the word prior. How does a camera know your going to crash 15 seconds prior to the incident.

[Plattsfire2]

If the camera knows you're going to crash 15 seconds prior, would you still crash? :p

By the way, my personal feelings are that it is your responsibility for everyone around you when driving lights and sirens. If the guy in front doesn't pull over, then let off the damn gas and take it easy until he does. Maybe he's an older fella who can't hear very well, or maybe even deaf. It's YOUR responsibility to be safe. There is no call in the world worth killing yourself, your crew or another innocent driver. Yeah it's frustrating, but how would you feel if you hit the car and realized it was full of kids? Take it easy behind the wheel...

[EFD840]

I don't get the usage of the word prior. How does a camera know your going to crash 15 seconds prior to the incident.

While I don't know anything about the DriveCam system (other than they've got some cool clips on the website), I think it is safe to assume the recorder is a digital recorder that is set up like an old analog loop system. Once an incident occurs that meets its parameters, it simply saves the segments prior and following the trigger event.

The system doesn't 'know you're about to crash', it knows you just crashed and it saves the preceeding video before it gets overwritten.

[Skwerl530]

I must admit I puzzled over the 15 seconds prior thisng as well. I was thinking "Why not wire that thing to a BIG red light in the cab and make accidents go away forever".

[Dave1983]

Yeah it is 2005, what would make ya think things would change? Stupid pepole bread stuipid children. As do thebigcheese's racoons.

I guess you missed my point. I wasnt talking about the civilian drivers, I was talking about the emergency vehicle opperators who continue to blow red lights and stop signs.

[nmfire]

That is exactly how the DriveCam works. It is a digital recorder and always running in a loop. When one of those inputs tells it there was an "incident", it simply saves 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after.

[GDDYUP]

In NH, lights and sirens doesn't GIVE you right of way, it only ASKS for right of way. Drive as if the lives of your brothers rely on every move you make, because thats exactly the way it is. It's not YOUR emergency until you're on scene.

You can't mitigate an incident if you never make it to an incident. Making it there is up to you, regardless of what every other person on the road is doing.

[lutan1]

The sad thing about all this, is if you look back through the archives of this site, you'll find similar discussions, however one of the really common problems discussed was emergency services not yielding for other emergency services. (ie: Fire not moving over for Police, etc)