Shouldn't you stop the car when you hear the siren? (Rockville: dangerous, buses)

[Wizdom]

The funniest (or worst) thing is when an Ambulance is on a major Interstate or Highway and people actually PASS them. Out of control.

Wiz

[emsgoof]

The actual law-
Maryland TR 21-405 - Operation of vehicles on approach of emergency vehicles.

(a) In general- On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall yield the right-of-way.
(b)Duty of driver upon approach of emergency vehicle- On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall drive immediately to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the edge or curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection.
(c)Same- Stopping until emergency vehicle passes- On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall stop and stay in this position until the emergency vehicle has passed.
(d)Passing emergency or police vehicles- A driver, when proceeding in the same direction as an emergency or police vehicle, may not pass an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of 22-218 of this article or a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal unless:
(1) The emergency vehicle has stopped; or
(2) Otherwise directed by a police officer.
(e)Driver of emergency vehicle no relieved from duty of care- This section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons.

Basically, pull over, stop, and wait for them to pass. If you don't, and an officer witnesses it, or if you don't, and an accident occurs because of it, you can get a "failure to yield to an emergency vehicle" citation, among other things. That being said, emergency vehicle operators are trained to expect the public to do the stupidest thing they possibly can, at the worst possible moment. But, a 60,000 pound fire truck doesn't exactly turn or stop very quickly when it gets cut off.

Of further note, pedestrians are also required to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles... so don't walk out into that crosswalk in front of the police car!

In my experience, people in southern maryland and far western maryland actually pull over and stop. Everyone else (the middle of the state) thinks they're more important than the emergency equipment.

[dkf747]

I still find the use of "every other vehicle" multiple times in the law posted above to be confusing. Does it mean every second car? I'm sure it doesn't, but I'm sure some people could read it that way.

[emsgoof]

It's lawyer speak for every vehicle that isn't an emergency vehicle or police car. Otherwise the emergency vehicles and police cars would be required to stop, pull over, whatever even if they're going to the same call.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by emsgoof

It's lawyer speak for every vehicle that isn't an emergency vehicle or police car. Otherwise the emergency vehicles and police cars would be required to stop, pull over, whatever even if they're going to the same call.

Why not - "all other vehicles"?

I know that's not the reason MD drivers do what they do, but...

[robertjohnson]

In the last 5 or 6 years drivers in California have gotten much worse about this.

[Missmeamea]

Add Delaware to the list of states that have people too important to stop. It's flabbergasted me. I come from NJ, lived in OR and PA, and so far of my experience, DE drivers were the worst offenders.

Not only that, but those who DO take the law seriously and pull over and stop run the risk of getting rear ended or merely stranded by the side of the road while everyone else races along gleefully in the ambulance's wake. It gives jerks the opportunity to get ahead in traffic, isn't that nice...

[BigDragon]

Originally Posted by firefightermom

My husband has been raced while driving the ambulance on 270--people trying to pass him and exit on Shady Grove Rd before he does!

People should be locked up for that. You don't race an emergency vehicle or get in its way. Cutting it off to beat it to an exit is just mind-numbingly stupid...but I did just see someone do that on 295 today just to get one car ahead of a vehicle that wasn't taking the off ramp. X_X

Granted, I don't normally stop, but I slow down and get out of the way. Most of the time I'll even signal to demonstrate I'm trying to move or wave on an emergency vehicle if there's a turn coming up. Passing in turns is not safe. In PA I've never had a problem with someone abruptly stopping in front of me when there's an emergency vehicle off in the distance on approach, but in MD (particularly on 30) I've had people slam on the breaks to stop the moment they saw the flashing lights in their mirrors even if it's half a mile or more away...meanwhile another person doesn't yield until the last second. Very irritating. Yeah, perhaps the law says you stop, but the objective here is to get everyone where they need to go as safely and as quickly as possible. Slamming on your breaks or racing is not helpful. Just get out of the way!

[taconis]

My husband was an Annapolis Firefighter and when people would really block the trucks or refuse to move out of the way the officer on the truck will call in the license plate information to dispatch and have a ticket issued to the driver for impeding an emergency vehicle. It used to drive him nuts trying to get through intersections with lights and sirens going and no one would get out of his way.

[nnf97]

I am also surprised at Marylanders not stopping at ped xings. I come from MA, and it was a huge surprise to me the first few times that I got honked soon as I started slowing down for peds. lol.