The topic of this blog, "Observing Safety Vehicle on the Road" was inspired by several recent witnessed events between emergency vehicles and passenger vehicles.  Many readers may think this is common sense when traveling the roadways but we all should be reminded that these laws are in place to save lives.  What if your loved one was in one of those emergency vehicles racing to the hospital?  Or you were killed in a collision with an emergency vehicle?  Lives would be changed forever.  We all are guilty of trying to outrun the emergency vehicle or making an evasive maneuver to avoid having to get out of the way of the emergency vehicle.  This blog is just to remind us of the importance of observing emergency vehicles on the road.

The most common mistake or traffic violation when an emergency vehicle is approaching your vehicle is not yielding for the emergency vehicle to pass.  Drivers tend to “freeze” wherever they are on the road and not get out of the way of the emergency vehicle.  When an emergency vehicle approaches you, as a driver you are required to move to the right of the roadway.  This is why it is important to check your rear view mirror often; to allow enough time to yield to the passenger vehicle.  When approaching an intersection; regardless of the traffic signal the passenger vehicle must stop and pull over.  Do not try to “beat” or “outrun” the emergency vehicle through the intersection.  This is the #1 reason for pedestrian and emergency vehicle crashes. 

Another law passenger vehicles tend to “overlook” is emergency vehicles on the side of the road with their light on or otherwise known as being “lit up.”  The Ohio law is to move over as far left as the road conditions allow.  If you are on a two lane road or highway, you are to move to the left lane if possible.  If the passenger vehicle can’t move over to the left then it is to slow down until the emergency vehicle is passed.  We have all viewed clips of officers being hit by cars passing by and the outcome is never good.  They would like to get home to their family after work just like the rest of us.  So next time you hear sirens think about observing emergency vehicles on the roadway and pull over.  I promise you that it won’t delay your journey any more than a minute and that delay can be worth a life. 

Next week begins Etler-Kettenacker’s series on claims that involve more than one line of coverage and outlandish claims you’d never think of that have or can occur.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about your insurance contact EK Agency, they’d be glad to provide you with personal service.