Drivers should all know what to do when they see red and blue emergency lights flashing — they probably shouldn't have a licence if they don't.
Drivers should all know what to do when they see red and blue emergency lights flashing — they probably shouldn't have a licence if they don't.
Whether an ambulance, fire truck or police cruiser is coming up from behind or ahead, motorists should pull over to make plenty of space for emergency responders to pass safely. It's basically Driving 101.
However, Sundre residents have likely noticed recently a new kind of emergency light in town, potentially leaving some to wonder what the flashing green lights might mean.
The Sundre Fire Department has since the end of February been trying out green emergency lights, which are used by volunteer firefighters who are driving their personal vehicles to respond to the fire hall during an emergency.
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Fire Chief Marty Butts told the Round Up those lights do not give firefighters "special powers" to speed or drive through controlled intersections. Instead, the lights are meant to provide other motorists with an easily recognizable visual cue that lets them know when a firefighter is trying to reach the fire hall as quickly as possible.
So if it's safe to do so, drivers are asked to pull over to let the firefighter pass.
The minor inconvenience of pulling over a few moments pales in comparison to the potentially devastating inconvenience of desperately needing emergency assistance. And those few moments could make a world of difference for the person or people who require help.
"If we can shave minutes off of our response times, the person who's having the worst day of their life is the one who's going to benefit," said Butts.
Members of the fire department have already seen some positive responses with motorists complying. But as with anything new, the green emergency lights could take some getting used to for others, who might simply not yet be aware of the change.
However, it's just a matter of time before drivers become accustomed to the new lights. Before too long, motorists might barely remember a time without them.
Still, constantly maintaining situational awareness when behind the wheel is important — some drivers unfortunately seem oblivious until the last moment that emergency crews are trying to get through. We've all seen drivers who fail to make room until the emergency vehicle has been forced to either slow down or stop right behind them, or even worse, drive into the oncoming traffic lane to get around. Don't be that driver.
No one wants to impede emergency crews from doing their job.
By making way for our volunteer firefighters when they've got their emergency green lights flashing, residents will be helping them to improve their response time, which in turn means someone who needs help will get it that much sooner.
It's not asking much, but those few seconds could mean everything to someone who needs help.
So keep your eyes peeled for the green flashing lights when you're driving, and let people who aren't aware of the new lights know they should make every effort to safely pull over and allow volunteer firefighters to pass.
— Simon Ducatel, Round Up editor
