Emergency lights demand action on roadways

Local fire departments are sounding the horn on a troubling trend as emergency lights are being ignored.

County of Vermilion River Protective Services made a social media post regarding the issue after reviewing dashcam footage of units responding to a structure fire.

"In one particular review, during a working house fire with possible people trapped (including children), responding apparatus was delayed on three occasions when responding on Highway 897 by vehicles that failed to pull over and stop," stated the post.

"One vehicle pulled to the right, on a blind hill, but maintained a speed of over 100 km/h preventing a truck from safely passing."

County operations officer, Austin Armitage, says it puts everyone in danger by not following the law.

"If you’re still doing 100 kilometres, and you’re riding the shoulder of the road, and you hit a bump? You’re going to either get sent straight into oncoming traffic, into the responding unit, or you’re going into the ditch and rolling. It can end very badly,” he said.

“It puts the responding personnel at risk because they’re in the line of traffic, and we could end up being involved in the collision.”

According to Canadian laws, drivers must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles with activated lights or sirens. Specifically, the law requires motorists to pull over to the right and stop completely, allowing the emergency vehicle to pass safely.

The responsibilities don't end with a responding vehicle coming up behind you. When you see a scene ahead, you must slow down and move over.

Legacy Fire Department regional chief, Dean Peters, has these tips if you come across a scene.

1. When you see emergency lights ahead, turn off cruise control to naturally slow down. Drivers focus on the situation ahead rather than their speed of approach.
2. Follow the directions of the flagger.
3. Don’t stop unless directed to.

"We try to maintain traffic flow, when people stop randomly it causes safety issues as large vehicles do not stop quickly," said Peters.

Peters outlined two accidents that were a direct result of people not following the above listed advice.

"I have had my pick-up hit while parked on the highway with emergency lights flashing, as a result of number one," said Peters. "Followed that same evening with an additional accident caused by three at the same scene."

Officials want you to remember one final thing when it comes to red lights in your vicinity.

"Please yield to responding emergency vehicles - the emergency they may be responding to may be yours."

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