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Driving safely is worth 'waking up the neighborhood'
Saving minutes is not worth risk of crashing, not to mention unnecessary public criticism
By Art Hsieh
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Editor's note: An investigation showed city vehicles routinely run red lights, with or without emergency indicators. |
Always remember how much we are in the public eye and under its scrutiny.
It seems pretty alarming that police cruisers, fire trucks and ambulances routinely run stoplights while not in emergency mode. It also points out buses and other nonemergency government vehicles doing the same thing.
Some of this can be explained by the nature of the business, especially law enforcement; police don't always want to let their clients know they're coming.
I have more trouble trying to rationalize fire and EMS drivers doing the same thing. Given the number of injuries and fatalities associated with intersection collisions, it's not wise to run through red lights, even in the dead of night.
I know some EMS folks feel lights and siren at night are not necessary during emergency runs. The rationalization is not wanting to "wake up the neighborhood."
While I can empathize, I'm not sure if that argument would hold up in a lawsuit filed after a crash (why we're still speeding all the time is a column for another day).
It's vitally important to fully understand the motor vehicle laws in your state and the implications and consequences for violating them.
Recent articles have reported on EMS providers being investigated and prosecuted for willful violation of driving laws.
To me, saving a minute or two of time is not worth the risk of crashing, not to mention the unnecessary public criticism about what we do.
Mad Merc Wednesday, July 18, 2012 5:16:49 AM The truth of the matter is that we should almost NEVER respond with lights and sirens to a scene, and after arriving, we should transport using the lights and sirens even less. The studies that are out there simply do not validate the use of RLS on well over 90% of the calls dispatched. It's absolutely ridiculous that we use them as much and as often as we do. 
David Young Wednesday, July 18, 2012 9:37:40 AM Excellent points! We drive too fast; we take too many risks; all under the guise of "saving lives", but too often the real reason is "because we can". There was a case not long ago where an ambulance running lights and sirens collided with a police cruiser who was not. Both were headed to the same location for the same incident, and the ambulance ran the red light. Debate ensued over who was at fault, and although those of us in EMS may feel for the ambulance driver, he failed to obey the law, failed to observe established protocol, and made a bad situation worse. The ambulance driver was subsequently charged, found guilty, and punished. 
