By Andrew Strickler
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2007 Newsday, Inc.
By flipping on a vehicle’s flashing lights and sirens, the driver sends the message loud and clear: Here I come, and get out of the way.
But while lights and sirens may clear traffic and shave precious minutes off an emergency call, they also have inherent risks for both emergency workers and the public.
Police and emergency workers say that lights and sirens often cause other drivers to slam on their brakes, swerve or stop in a busy intersection. Others may pull in front of a speeding vehicle in their attempt to clear the way.
Using lights and sirens “doesn’t mean you’re protected,” said Scott Glazer, chairman of the Nassau Regional EMS Council. “It’s not like putting up shields on ‘Star Trek’ and then you can just blow down the LIE. “
Emergency equipment can also affect the responder, driving up adrenaline and potentially clouding judgment.
“That’s absolutely a factor, and that’s a big part of [police] training, on how to stay calm while they’re driving,” said Nassau police spokesman Lt. Kevin Smith.
Glazer and Smith said responders must weigh the risks of using lights and sirens with the facts of each call. Smith said that while policy and best police practices dictate that officers refrain from using lights and sirens except in public safety or medical emergencies, a different set of standards may apply to officers assigned to political dignitaries like Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi.
The detective driving Suozzi’s car “may not have liked the position of the car and made the determination to turn on lights and sirens ... and then entered the intersection to reduce that risk,” Smith said.