An American road rule we dont need.

[GasoLane]

Found this today on Snopes.

Now I'm all in favour of slowing right down when emergency vehicles are stopped on the side of the road doing their job, but this is taking it a little too far.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp

[LethalLeigh]

I know in SA you need to be doing 40kph past an emergency vehicle with lights on but I've never heard of anyone who's been done for it despite few people actually doing it.

I also recall my Dad saying in Canada if you see an emergency vehicle moving with lights on you need to either pull over to the outside lane or pull off the road completely. But this was years ago so it may have changed.

[The G6ET Spot]

WOW; If that didn't constitute entrapment, I don't know what would.

Been 6 years since the story. Wonder what's keeping them over here. They would usually be jumping at the chance of a law like that

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

WOW; If that didn't constitute entrapment, I don't know what would.

Been 6 years since the story. Wonder what's keeping them over here. They would usually be jumping at the chance of a law like that

How is that entrapment?

I don't have a problem with it, how many dash mounted videos have we seen of cops getting clipped by cars while they are on the side of the road. We slow down for roadworks, in part to make it a little safer for the guys walking around why not for cops too?

[GasoLane]

Entrapment is not valid here but it was certainly dirty tactics.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by ken2903

How is that entrapment?

I don't have a problem with it, how many dash mounted videos have we seen of cops getting clipped by cars while they are on the side of the road. We slow down for roadworks, in part to make it a little safer for the guys walking around why not for cops too?

Move car or pull over place into a safer area..Like all the road workers have to...Follow HACS...

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Move car or pull over place into a safer area..Like all the road workers have to...Follow HACS...

That's not always a realistic option, what if there isn't room to pull off the road? I guess they should just let people drive off?

People are that scared of 'the man' enforcing laws on us that they seem to forget common sense. Sometimes cops have to stop their cars on the road for whatever reason, common sense would dictate that it is a little safer for them if the cars driving past are traveling a little slower. Obviously its still going to be dangerous but anything is better than nothing.

[prydey]

wouldn't get any revenue from it here. rubbernecks ensure that all traffic in both directions is slowed to a near walking pace.

[3vXT]

EDIT: nevermind, i'm a little drunk and in a bad mood. No need for me to get argumentative, sorry

[GasoLane]

Drunk? at this time of day/night...half ya luck, I have to go to work in about 6 hrs so it's only coffee for me !!

I called it dirty tactics as there were 4 HP cars in the space of a mile all booking drivers for the same thing.

[mrbaxr6t]

so many times I have seen vicpol get highly frustrated at the "slow to a crawl and rubberneck" behavior - I see them out there waving their arms feverishly wanting the traffic to "move" kinda flies in the face of that rule.

[Buzz Box]

We there was a HUGE traffic accident on the western ringroad in melb on the outbound this morning and obviously due to rubber neckers they shut both directions so they diverted everyone off in both directions at the exits either side.

Its true when you watch those cop show they say generally when theres 1 accident you'll get another one from rubber neckers and from our driving experience its true all of a sudden the person in the right lane will slow right down to look and someones coming at limit its dangerous.

But we are all humans......

[OZQUAD44]

Perhaps Aussie driver are a little more considerate or have a little more CDF when it comes to dealing with emergency vehicles?

I'm not sure if, at this point in time, drivers running down emergency workers is a big problem in Australia? It would certainly make national news if an emergency worker was killed like this (it has happened I'm sure, just not in the proportions as outlined in the article).

Our problem is probably quite the opposite, too many drivers slowing down for a rubber neck.

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

Perhaps Aussie driver are a little more considerate or have a little more CDF when it comes to dealing with emergency vehicles?

I'm not sure if, at this point in time, drivers running down emergency workers is a big problem in Australia? It would certainly make national news if an emergency worker was killed like this (it has happened I'm sure, just not in the proportions as outlined in the article).

Our problem is probably quite the opposite, too many drivers slowing down for a rubber neck.

True.

The only times i can think of where a cop here has been hit with a car have been when the driver has run them down on purpose or tried to take off with the cop going for the keys. There was the one a while back where the guy getting chased swerved to miss the spikes (years ago when they were trialing them) and killed the cop but they are different situations entirely.

EDIT: For the record, i don't really think we need this law here either. I just wouldn't have a problem with it if it was.

[geckoGT]

I am going to go against the grain here, I think we do need the law. I have had a number of times when the condition of our patient has changed and my partner has urgently required my help for a procedure. So I pull as far off the road as I can and turn on the emergency beacons. Then I have to sit in the drivers seat and wait for a break in the traffic as the cars still keep rushing past, not moving over to the other lane to give me room to open the drivers door. Meanwhile my partner is sweating because he needs my help, the patient is getting worse and I can't get to the back.

I also would hate to estimate the number of times I have been at an accident that takes up one lane, leaving one free and have had drivers go through the scene at unsafe speeds. They are normally taxi drivers, truck drivers or guys with doof doof music and big rear wings on a pulsar.

I am going to suggest the main reason we have not had more injuries is because our emergency services personel are so good at taking care of themselves. For the record QLD has had at least three ambulances written off in the last five years by a motorist hitting it while it is stationary with emergency beacons operating.

[ltd]

In the USA if you see a police car on the side of the interstate or highway you are required by law to move into the next lane as an additional buffer of safety. I have driven over 100,000 miles in the states and been to every state besides Rhode Island and it is a uniform rule all over the USA. This is a brilliant rule when you see it executed, but I guess it wouldn't work here as a number of drivers are far too inconsiderate to let anyone else into their lane.

[smciner1]

I'm with Gecko on this one. The Laws intent is to reduce / prevent Injuries to Emergency Services People on the side of the Road. It is really just a matter of being courteous. If you see an Emergency Worker on the side of the Road, move over and give them a bit of room, or slow down.

Put yourself in their Shoes. Would you like to be working with something wizzing past you at 100 km/h that close to you?

Lastly, I think the major problem for the People using the Road is knowledge of the Law. People can't abide by laws if they don't know they exist.

[RG]

I thought it was just common sense and decency to either slow down or move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of a highway.

[ch33z1l]

Originally Posted by RG

I thought it was just common sense and decency to either slow down or move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of a highway.

Agreed entirely. I always slow down well before any scene where there are flashing lights. You never know what can be strewn across the road (oil, debris, etc), not to mention personnel.

I think this rule would certainly get some idiots of our roads.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by RG

I thought it was just common sense and decency to either slow down or move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of a highway.

The greatest shame is neither of these qualities are very common out on our streets.

I have seen a firey cleaned up at the side of Greenhill road at a car crash in the Adelaide hills by some douche that was driving too fast... i think in this case it was stoopidity, whilst the situation in the states was blatant revenue raising...

I do not see how enforcing a law that is poorly complied with is revenue raising. I say bring it on, do a huge blitz with double demerit points, might give me a safer workplace. Nothing like some big fines and lots of them to attract media attention and get the word out there.

Personally I think they should fit front mount cameras to our vehicles, on the right side of the bar so that it picks up the drongo's that don't get out of our way and those that speed past at accidents. Then when we finish the shift we can drop the footage in and have some fines dished out to the stack of morons. Once it becomes known the vehicles have cameras people will start slowing down and giving us room. Yes I am passionate about it but you would be too if someone drove through your office at 100km/h.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I do not see how enforcing a law that is poorly complied with is revenue raising.

Had you read the first post and followed the link to Snopes you'd see the article that mentions 4 Police cars in the space of a mile.

Go read the article, then come back and tell us if you think it was in the interest of road safety or not.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by smciner1

Lastly, I think the major problem for the People using the Road is knowledge of the Law. People can't abide by laws if they don't know they exist.

Agree 100%. Most people seem to be oblivious too of the most basic laws such as indicating when you are changing lanes, turning a corner or pulling over. Roundabouts is annoying too, especially with morons who think it's a case of "giving way to the right" instead of giving way to vehicles already present on the roundabout. The amount of losers you see speeding through these things at 60 because they can't see anything approach to their right is hideous, and plenty an accident is caused as a result.

[Scott]

Ahh, CDF - not enough around if you ask me. This seems pretty reasonable to me, I generally wipe off a bit of speed when there's emergency vehicles with their lights on by the road, where I can I take a wide berth too. It's not like you can't see them.

If it is, or becomes a rule, just make sure people know it.

[alecrain]

A bit off topic but on Sunday I saw on M1 an ambulance with lights flashing, beeping at a car in front of it that was hogging right lane and refused to change lane or speed up, the cars around were beeping at that (camry) driver too.

[chevypower]

Actually, having driven in America and Australia a lot! I can say Australians don't get out the way of emergency vehicles enough (particularly fire and ambulances). Americans have to get right out of the way by law and pull over, Australians will move over slightly -if it's convenient. If me or a family member was in an ambulance I will take the place that has the roads cleared for an emergency.
As for Police pulling someone over, if it's a double lane road going each way, you have to move over to the inside lane when passing a stopped Police car, which makes sense. I do it for broken down cars, I also move over for cars merging on to the freeway - I don't have a problem with it.

[seduced_xr]

ive only come up against a few of these situations
1 i was at a set of red lights front in the line when the ambulance came up behind me so after checking that every1 on the green signals had stopped i pulled into the middle of the intersection let it out and then backed back into where i was.

the 2nd one was a police road block where they police were making people turn around on the highway through questionable surface when there was a gravel pathway 10 metres up the road. myself and the VL owner next to me who had just had a respray both refused to turn around in the space the police had marked out. in the end they moved their roadblock up as clearly any1 with a new car was not bashing through the trees and soft sand.

if i see an emergency vehicle with its lights on its common sense to go slow,give way or just plain get out of the way

[LethalLeigh]

Another interesting note though, recently in Adelaide there was a fella who was waiting for a green light in a right turn only lane with an ambulance approaching at full tilt behind. He's checked to see if it was safe to move forward to let the ambulance though and get the fine in the mail a couple of weeks later for running the red light. It was the Richmond/South Rd intersection for those playing at home, a red light camera intersection. He's tried contesting it on a principle that he was doing the right thing for the ambulance and has been told bad luck.

[S3SR]

Originally Posted by LethalLeigh

Another interesting note though, recently in Adelaide there was a fella who was waiting for a green light in a right turn only lane with an ambulance approaching at full tilt behind. He's checked to see if it was safe to move forward to let the ambulance though and get the fine in the mail a couple of weeks later for running the red light. It was the Richmond/South Rd intersection for those playing at home, a red light camera intersection. He's tried contesting it on a principle that he was doing the right thing for the ambulance and has been told bad luck.

in that situation if you look at the road markings there is a solid white line then about 1m or 2 infront of it there is a broken white line... the procedure is to move your car up to that line and to the right.... the car beside you in the left lane does the same but towards the left... there should be enough space for the ambo to squeeze past otherwise i know sometimes they may cut onto the other side of the road..... BUT they never ask for the public to put their own lives in danger by running a red light

youll also notice that in traffic they will turn off their sirens because it freaks people out

comes back to education honestly, we need a degree to save peoples lives but we can take it from them with just a birth certificate and a photo, if people know what to do in a situation rather than get fined for turning the car on, lives, money, time would all be something we would have more of.

[mik]

sadly we need laws because half the population does`nt have common courtesy or common sense.

[SAHeapsGood]

I have seen a firey cleaned up at the side of Greenhill road at a car crash in the Adelaide hills by some douche that was driving too fast... i think in this case it was stoopidity, whilst the situation in the states was blatant revenue raising...