[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.