# People who dont stop for emergency vehicles... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000 "2003-12-04T19:54:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/21 "2003-12-05T21:43:49Z")
No offense intended, superstar, but if you are behind the wheel of your car, you should see an emergency vehicle. Now, if you have two SUV’s blocking your view or a semi truck or something else to that effect, that is understandable. But at the point where you need to be out of the emergency vehicle’s way, you should be. I do agree with your hijack, though…but don’t want to hijack further:) ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/22 "2003-12-05T21:55:33Z")
No offence taken but… I don’t hear it because the radio is loud, and I don’t see it as I’m too busy wondering why the hell is everyone in front of acting so crazy. Also this has only happened to about 3 times in my 13 years of driving. I’ve never held up an emergency vehicle as I am always out of the way in plenty of time, I’m just having a little consideration for the people who get suprised by a vehicle , as I feel that is what happens 79% of the time when we see people not get out of the way in time, the other 20% is because people don’t know what to do in the situation and freak out. The last 1% is for the assholes this thread was originally intended. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/23 "2003-12-05T22:30:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rimshotgdansk \* > \*\*I’ve always advocated arming ambulances, the way stage coaches used to be. The shotgun guy would have license to kill. > > You can bet people would hustle out of their way, then. \*\* No, the real solution is to build them like tanks. Drivers who don’t get out of the way get crushed. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/24 "2003-12-05T22:48:07Z")
I hate to run a red light, (although I have) but in a pinch I’ll do an illegal right on red to get out of the way of an EV. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/25 "2003-12-05T23:02:46Z")
Wow, everybody has an opinion! Well, when and if it happens, I guess I’ll stick with my standing plan, which is to slink forward as carefully as possible, then clear the intersection once the ambulance (or whatever) is past me. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/26 "2003-12-06T01:04:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > **[Minor nitpick] Rather than stop, I’d prefer people to yield-pull to the right, turn right, get the f**k outta the way. Having approached people from the rear, they sometimes panic and stop. right. there. Yield is not part of their option list, and so I have to wait until other operators with a better mental OS provide a hole for my firetruck or ambulance.[/Minor nitpick] > > Truly, the party in the OP should have been made to eat their driver’s license, without peanut butter, and walk home while wearing signboards proclaiming, “I Am an Asshat.” 😃 \*\* Amen, brother! **This Year’s Model** Colorado may vary, but in most states that I’m familiar with, you’re not obligated to do anything illegal to make way for an emergency vehicle. The last EVOC I took taught that we should go into the oncoming lane, if possible or shut off the siren and wait until traffic clears. St. Urho EMT/Firefighter ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/27 "2003-12-06T02:03:20Z")
Superstar: I thought about your post a bit, and it makes more sense now. It sounds to me that you are an alert enough of a driver to know that something is out of the ordinary if people behind you are suddenly all pulling to the right. That alerts tells you to be wary, and you see the emergency vehicle approaching. That is a large part of what it takes to be a good driver. Now, as far as having the radio too loud is concerned, that is the topic of an entirely different thread. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000/28 "2003-12-06T04:47:07Z")
Here in Memphis, TN the drivers seldom move over. I saw that exact same thing, guy turning left in front of a fucking fire truck, the other day. People here seem to think the EV just needs to fend for itself. Really amazing. I have driven in many other cities and have seen traffic move over and come to a standstill (as they should). I think it is a lack of enforcement. And a lot of poorly educated drivers (I mean drivers who are not educated on how to drive - they may all have phd’s as far as I know, but the degrees are not in Driver’s Ed). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-stop-for-emergency-vehicles/217000.md?page=1)