Strictly speaking, mathematically, whether something is true depends on the definitions you’re using. And strictly speaking, a mathematical definition can’t be “wrong”. But a mathematical definition can be stupid, and any mathematical definition that calls a 49% chance of an accident “mostly safe” is a stupid definition.
Put it this way: If drivers routinely did things that had a 49% chance of causing an accident, then 99.many 9s% of all deaths would be due to car accidents. That’s “mostly unsafe”.
Could you tell us what the situation is and why this is an emergency? By the way, separating letters doesn’t mean a computer program won’t know what you wrote-This message board is run by humans.
I can’t find the Lehto’s Law (YouTuber who talks a lot about cars and the law) video on this, but here is a Jalopnik article that really just packages an NBC News piece from a few years ago. Yes, cars are more soundproof and this is causing issues for emergency vehicles.
I meant this to be a reply to @asterion not sure why it didn’t show up that way.
In Rhode Island bus drivers routinely disobey traffic signals. I can’t quite decide whether it’s more terrifying if they are ignoring them, or failing to notice them.
I frequently see buses whose drivers seem to have the attitude that, if the light was green at the time that they got to the stop, that gives them license to go as soon as they finish loading and unloading passengers, regardless of what the light has done in the meanwhile. In fairness, it’s quite possible that it’s just one driver I’ve seen doing this, and our respective schedules mean that I’ve just seen that one driver many times.
From my place I can see a nearby firehouse and frequently see them pulling out and trying to cross a major intersection (happens a few times a day usually). Lights going and sirens blaring and horns honking they will often come to a full stop to be sure crossing traffic has seen them and is stopping (there always…or at least often enough…seems to be that one guy who blows through the intersection despite the emergency vehicles trying to cross). At most they idle forward a little but they never, ever go until it is crystal clear traffic has stopped for them (usually a first row of cars in all lanes which block anything coming from behind).
When I’m at a stop sign at a “T” intersection and a driver is approaching from my left with his right turn signal on, I’m in the habit of waiting to make sure he slows and begins his turn before commencing my own turn onto the intersecting road.
Too many people are oblivious to the fact that their turn signal has been flashing for miles and keep going straight.
Or turn it on intending to turn into the business driveway just past the intersection.
For commercial districts with driveways interspersed with intersections, ideally folks would turn on their signal just after passing the last turn opportunity before the one they intend to use. Heck same for pulling into residential driveways.
Never gonna happen.
So the real meaning of a turn signal is “I intend to turn sometime in the future. Or forgot and intended to turn in the past but now want to go straight.” The real problem is the absence of a turn signal carries exactly the same meaning.
Well, I’m in a tiny state, so the bus stops are frequently crammed right up to the intersection corner - might not be all that easy to see the signal once you’ve stopped… Then again, we have a least one intersection in Providence signed “Three way STOP, except busses” which I interpret to mean I should go another way, and avoid this route…
I was talking about knowing what to do when an emergency vehicle in Code 3 approaches. You’d be stunned how flustered people get, especially on the freeway or multi-lane city street and they are clueless as to what to do when a squad or fire truck approaches with lights/sirens on.
Agreed, and the link to an article provided by another poster is quite informative as to this issue. Not only are cars much more completely soundproofed than they used to be, car stereos surround the driver with loud sounds from all sides now- perhaps more than in past decades. ( yes, yes, I know- people have been customizing car stereos since the dawn of time. I’m talking about the default sound packages in a basic model car. )
It’s why the rules we were taught in Drivers’ Ed still hold true-- and I try pretty hard to hew to them: Keep your eyeballs moving. Don’t get a thousand-mile gaze going without scoping around every minute or two. Bad things come from all sides.
We love to road-trip. A few weeks ago, we drove 2 days to ATL from NYC, had a great time, drove 2 days back. Looooong hours behind the wheel, punctuated by the typical stops for biology and chocolates.
Eyes moving around. Rear-view, side mirrors, etc. Not only would I lose handily against a fire truck OR ambulance, but I don’t want to participate in a MCI that I could have prevented.
I don’t drive in the right lane at 8 mph below the speed limit. But I am pretty cautious regarding scanning the roadway.
One of our cars will pop up a warning “Emergency vehicle approaching” if it recognizes flashing lights in one of its cameras. Probably the newer car, which also looks for speed limit signs and posts the most recent on the display next to the speedometer.
But yes, K53 regulations in South Africa mean that in order to to pass your driver’s license, amongst a myriad of other of other observations, you check your rearview.
I had a delightful scene once where a gentleman on a motorcycle passed between me on the middle line (aka line splitting) at highway speed… doing a wheelie.
I had my children in the car, my dogs in the back. If I had squished that guy, which would be inevitable because I drive a large truck, I would live with guilt forever and my children would live with trauma.
Fuck those guys, and they are always guys.
If I had not kept an eye on my rear view mirror, I’d not have seen the biker gang behind me and would not have been prepared.
And the above rant comes from a motorcycle driver.
all that, and may I add in: a whole lotta real-time-negotiation going on (my fav.: co-pilot getting involved as well, making obscure, (non-insulting) handgestures), to move RIGHT NOW from the inner-most lane through 3 lanes to the exit of a roundabout… because reasons (like permanent and recurring lack to anticipate what you need to do in a couple of seconds ahead)
Life is fun there, once you acclimatize … (which many foreigners never manage to do)
Driving in the truly chaotic traffic of e.g. Egypt, India, China, etc., will certainly teach somebody to keep their brain engaged and their head on a swivel. Lest they be crunched from several directions at once.
Driving in US suburbia or flat Midwest ruralia will teach you that none of that is necessary. Look only forward, zone out mentally, stay between your lane lines, obey the traffic lights, mostly sorta obey the speed limits, and nothing exciting will happen to you except maybe twice in 50 years of driving. It’s very easy and relaxing to drive that way.
Oblivious you might leave a trail of upset drivers and the occasional very rare pedestrian behind and beside you, but you’ll never be the wiser and no paint will be exchanged, much less blood spilled.
I exaggerate for comedic effect, but IMO this isn’t that far from the truth.
Since the three-second scan was referenced, I’ll reply to both of these. In my post up there, I mentioned scanning around every minute or two. Not every 3 seconds. THAT would make for insanely unsafe operating.
I’m about to drive 1,400 miles in 2 days. Safe long hauls are predicated upon not getting dozey, being focused, being ENGAGED with my side views and rear views and listening to Old Timey radio programs on Sirius XM.
Your mileage may vary. Me? We drive a 2010 Prius and we average around 48-51 mpg.
