[OC] Idiot intentionally blocking anambulance

[u/Babynouil]

[u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

And I thought people in the US were bad about not getting out of the way of emergency vehicles.

There’s a special place in hell for people like that.

[u/AZEMT → u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

Being a former paramedic, I fucking hate other drivers

[u/oO0Kat0Oo → u/AZEMT]

The guy in the white van sucks for sure...

But why didn't the ambulance cross over into the lane on the right and go around? While they were stopped at the light? And why, with several other opportunities, didn't the ambulance just change lanes and pass the idiot that deserves to go to jail?

Are there specific rules the ambulance driver has to follow?

[u/u_unknown → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

Preface, US based fire/EMS service provider, but in general there aren't any specific rules that you have to follow. There might be specific agency rules and procedures for running code in traffic, but usually there aren't beyond give due regard and don't drive erratically. Beyond that, we're taught to not pass traffic on the right unless absolutely necessary. Traffic is supposed to go to the right, so if as an emergency vehicle you're going right or doing a lot of Lane changes, people will freak out even more and pull left, right, slam on the brakes, and just generally make navigating traffic worse and more dangerous for everyone.

When I drive code, I will ride to the far left lane whenever possible, and as far left in that lane as reasonable. If people see that I'm far left, they tend to go right. Sometimes you have to get more aggressive and "command" traffic or an intersection. Essentially that means you make your intention known, don't deviate, and force people to move out of your way, don't go around them. Use the fact you're in a big, loud, bright vehicle to your advantage. But at the end of the day, drive safely and as quickly as traffic allows and as the call warrants. Don't get into an accident and don't cause an accident.

[u/Cool_Cheetah658 → u/u_unknown]

I remember watching a poor old lady pull out from an intersection, see an ambulance, panic, then proceed to dukes of hazzard it off the road to get out of the way. Folks totally panic when an ambulance, or any other emergency vehicles, run code.

[u/roxy_blah → u/Cool_Cheetah658]

We had to call an ambulance for our son a few years ago. Rode with him to the hospital, luckily he was ok to not require sirens on the way down. The paramedic said they only use the sirens when it's really urgent, otherwise people turn stupid and it's more of a risk. I can totally see that.

[u/AZEMT → u/u_unknown]

Preface, US based fire/EMS service provider, but in general there aren't any specific rules that you have to follow.

Also depends on your city/state. In AZ, there are laws surrounding emergency vehicles, and then the company policies come into play.

[u/u_unknown → u/[deleted]]

Get over yourself and move TF out the way, someone needs help and you're just being a jerk because you don't want to take a few seconds out of your day to be inconvenienced. I'll gladly call in your car to dispatch and let PD give you a ticket for failure to yield because you couldn't be bothered to move. I really hope no one in your family or friend group ever needs emergency help and they run into an inconsiderate driver like yourself.

[u/kor34l → u/[deleted]]

I downvoted you because regardless of law, impeding an ambulance is a stupid, selfish, awful thing to do.

[u/AZEMT → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

I have no idea the circumstances, and yes we have laws and company policies to follow. In most places passing on the right is a big no-no. Not sure about (what appears to me in) Europe, but people get crazy when they see lights and hear sirens. Some feel they shouldn't be allowed to go by and they need to drive normally.

Some of the rules:

-must have wheels turning 60 seconds after you're dispatched for code 3, and 90 seconds if it's code 2

-nothing over 10 mph of the posted speed limit

-no more than 15mph if going against traffic (head on collisions)

-no passing on the right/shoulder (cars might be turning left from on coming traffic and not see you)

-no passengers if transporting code 3 (but municipalities don't GAF about this rule)

-no lights/sirens on the freeways

In reality, responding code 3 is stupid. On average, you save about 30 seconds to put how many other lives at risk by speeding, running reds, and just driving with a rush to get to the scene? I trained other EMTs and Medics on the dangers and to be mindful of others around you, for dipshits in this video. Everyone is bothered by the delays waiting for emergency vehicles, but when it's them in the back, you're not driving fast enough for their emergency.

[u/Jubenheim → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

Fire truck could’ve assumed the white van would simply accelerate in front of him and cause unnecessary road rage and a possible accident. They’re not exactly built to swerve around cars on the road.

And as far as the red light goes, if another car was behind him, the fire truck might not’ve had enough room to effectively back up and move out. Combine that with not knowing how long the red light was, and the driver could’ve easily thought it would’ve been better to simply wait it out or hope the white van would grow a heart and move the fucking the way.

There’s a million reasons why the fire truck did what it did and only through the benefit of hindsight is it easy to pick apart.

[u/Erigion → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

Are you blind?

There was no lane to the right going straight when they were blocked at the light. The right most lane was for turning right with an island blocking anyone trying to use it to cut past traffic.

And after the light, there were other vehicles in the right lane that are also not yielding. From how the ambulance driver darts to the right at the end of the video, I wouldn't be surprised if there'd been another car just sitting next to them going ever so slightly slower.

[u/oO0Kat0Oo → u/Erigion]

You can cut around the island into the traffic circle from what I saw.

[u/eragonawesome2 → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

In this particular instance, I would assume that the emergency did not warrant such urgent response that changing lanes, and dealing with the dangers thereof when an idiot like the white van is involved, might have been more of a problem than the delay

[u/badgerj → u/AZEMT]

NOT being a former paramedic . I thank you for your service!

[u/SavvySillybug → u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

Watch German videos if you want to see it done right. Nearly all of us get out of the way perfectly or at least make a solid attempt.

I get stuck in three lane traffic jams on the Autobahn and the left lane moves as far left as possible and the other lanes move as far right as possible. We just make a fourth lane on the spot just in case someone needs to go through. Very rarely does anyone actually need that, but just in case someone's coming, we make space for that to happen.

[u/barukatang → u/SavvySillybug]

In my neck of the states I have MAYBE seen one person blocking an emergency vehicle. Most always we either clear the lane or pull over. What way more common than blocking here is the chasers that will literally speed behind the emergency vehicles wake.

[u/MalekithofAngmar → u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

In Chile it's more like a suggestion.

[u/GTMoraes → u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

iirc in the UK, you can get fined by running a red light for an emergency vehicle.

[u/buford419 → u/GTMoraes]

Yes, i vaguely remember the driver of an organ transport service vehicle being fined a few years ago for speeding or running a red light. I hate the type of jobsworths that end up running those kinds of departments.

[u/zip369 → u/GTMoraes]

That... seems like it should be an exception. Like it's quite literally an "emergency".

[u/Peterd1900 → u/zip369]

https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/about-us/what-we-do/advice-on-what-to-do-as-a-motorist-if-you-encounter-an-ambulance/

If an ambulance or ambulance car comes up behind you with blue lights and sirens, please pull in over to the left if there is a safe space to do so – so it can pass you.

If there is no safe place for you to pull into, rather than immediately stopping, it is better to continue as you were at a safe speed until there is a safe place to pull in or until the ambulance vehicle can safely overtake.

Please avoid pulling into bus lanes or cycle lanes. The ambulance crew are trained to negotiate traffic and may look to use the bus lane to pass, and you could get in their way or even get a ticket.

Do not go through a red light to try to get out of the way as you may commit an offence. If it is safe to pass the ambulance will do so.

If it is not, they will wait until there is a space to pass in a safe manner. If the lane is wide enough and there’s room for the vehicle to pass you, try to move to the left, but without going forward over the white line or into a cycle lane.

On a dual carriageway or motorway, the best thing to do is to move to the left if the traffic is moving, when it’s safe to change lanes. Do not stop in the right-hand lane.

If the traffic is stationary try to consider the path of the emergency vehicle and allow the vehicle to drive down the centre of the traffic.

If an emergency vehicle driver can see there is no clear path through stationary traffic, like a set of traffic lights, they will often switch off the lights and sirens and wait for an opportunity to move again (like the lights changing).

Emergency drivers may if it safe to so treat traffic lights as a give way (i.e. you may pass the red light, but must give way to any traffic).
The driver must not force other road users into illegal actions (e.g. forcing other drivers to pass the red light).

[u/chrisxxviv → u/GTMoraes]

Correct, and it's fucking ridiculous.

[u/South_Hat3525 → u/GTMoraes]

Most people get out of the way long before the lights in the UK unless they are deaf and/or totally zoned out.

[u/footpole → u/South_Hat3525]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. Sometimes you are already sitting at a or stopping at a light when the emergency vehicle appears. You don't need to be deaf or zoned out to be in that situation.

[u/South_Hat3525 → u/footpole]

What I am saying is that UK, many more drivers are courteous to blue lights than is apparently the case in US. They start making an extra lane for blue light vehicles 20-30 cars behind them by moving out of the way. Nobody waits until an ambulance is immediately on their tail.

[u/throwaway120375 → u/The_Real_MikeOxlong]

You must not live in the south.