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You're at a stop light and an ambulance comes from behind

D

drnickriviera

Platinum Member
I've seen this twice and was never sure what you are supposed to do.

5 lane road.
Traffic is stopped at the light and an ambulance drives up to the fast lane.
It's blocked on the left by the turn lane and there are 5-8 cars in front of it in each lane.
Cross traffic isn't stopping because they can't see the ambulance

Do you.

Sit there and wait for the light to turn?
Drive out into the intersection? Maybe causing an accident?
 
Your supposed to be courteous and move out of the way if it is safe and possible. If it's not, don't try to do something stupid.

Also, even though those lights and sirens are blaring, the ambulance is still supposed to proceed with caution. If an accident results from the driver's negligence, they can be cited.
 
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

And you'd be cited if you wound up causing an accident.
 
Like I said, I cannot believe that the cross traffic does not see an emegency vehicle. Obviously I am not advocating purposely entering an intersection where people are blazing through. Next time you are sitting there when you have a chance to help the ambulance through, think about if they were coming for your family.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

You mean you were in this situation and decided to go through the intersection, or did you not and get cited?

You don't believe the cross-traffic couldn't see it? How about they don't see it until they're basically about to enter the intersection because the ambulance is 5 cars back (using the conservative corolla at 178.3 inches with a foot distance between cars, the ambulance is almost 900 inches/74 feet back). Thats a long way to see in order to stop safely before an intersection.

BigJ is right in that you will be at fault if you cause an accident, as would the ambulance if it hits something on its way through the intersection with lights blazing.

Of course, the situation might have permitted in that you could safely get out of the way (in right lane and proceeded to turn right).
 
It's an assumption in the question that cross-traffic cannot see the ambulance. Plus, what if the ambulance is far enough behind you that it cannot be seen by the cross-traffic. Also, what if the buildings along the intersection are in the way as cross-traffic cannot be seen until you are just about to enter the intersection.
 
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

You mean you were in this situation and decided to go through the intersection, or did you not and get cited?

You don't believe the cross-traffic couldn't see it? How about they don't see it until they're basically about to enter the intersection because the ambulance is 5 cars back (using the conservative corolla at 178.3 inches with a foot distance between cars, the ambulance is almost 900 inches/74 feet back). Thats a long way to see in order to stop safely before an intersection.

BigJ is right in that you will be at fault if you cause an accident, as would the ambulance if it hits something on its way through the intersection with lights blazing.

Of course, the situation might have permitted in that you could safely get out of the way (in right lane and proceeded to turn right).
Click to expand...


This was the situation I was in. It was I believe 5 lanes. Two in each direction and one right turn lane. Four way intersection through a major part of town. There were cars in everylane and the right turn lane actually had sidewalks curving it. Meaning, once you entered, you had to complete the turn unless you decide to jump the curb. Ambulance comes from behind and driver starts calculating best way to cross intersection. There is an island so no possibility of crossing to oncoming traffic. They pick my lane (middle) since it only has two cars. Myself and a car in front. Comes up behind me. I am now in the middle. I look for a way out but can't move. Ambulance is HONKING, trying to get through. Cross traffic is completely stopped (I don't realize it at this point). Car in front of me drives through intersection and immediately pulls over. I follow suit. Everyone is happy.

Again, I have never seen a scenario where people cannot tell there is an ambulance. If I even hear a siren, I turn down my music and start looking around for it.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Like I said, I cannot believe that the cross traffic does not see an emegency vehicle. Obviously I am not advocating purposely entering an intersection where people are blazing through. Next time you are sitting there when you have a chance to help the ambulance through, think about if they were coming for your family.
Click to expand...

Half the time people don't notice when an emergency vehicle is right BEHIND them.

 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

You mean you were in this situation and decided to go through the intersection, or did you not and get cited?

You don't believe the cross-traffic couldn't see it? How about they don't see it until they're basically about to enter the intersection because the ambulance is 5 cars back (using the conservative corolla at 178.3 inches with a foot distance between cars, the ambulance is almost 900 inches/74 feet back). Thats a long way to see in order to stop safely before an intersection.

BigJ is right in that you will be at fault if you cause an accident, as would the ambulance if it hits something on its way through the intersection with lights blazing.

Of course, the situation might have permitted in that you could safely get out of the way (in right lane and proceeded to turn right).
Click to expand...


This was the situation I was in. It was I believe 5 lanes. Two in each direction and one right turn lane. Four way intersection through a major part of town. There were cars in everylane and the right turn lane actually had sidewalks curving it. Meaning, once you entered, you had to complete the turn unless you decide to jump the curb. Ambulance comes from behind and driver starts calculating best way to cross intersection. There is an island so no possibility of crossing to oncoming traffic. They pick my lane (middle) since it only has two cars. Myself and a car in front. Comes up behind me. I am now in the middle. I look for a way out but can't move. Ambulance is HONKING, trying to get through. Cross traffic is completely stopped (I don't realize it at this point). Car in front of me drives through intersection and immediately pulls over. I follow suit. Everyone is happy.

Again, I have never seen a scenario where people cannot tell there is an ambulance. If I even hear a siren, I turn down my music and start looking around for it.
Click to expand...

That sounds completely reasonable to me, but then the ambulance was only 2 cars back from the line instead of five. I would think that makes a big difference in being noticed audibly or visually and although if I was in the situation, I'd want to move, of course, but not where it might put myself in any unreasonable danger.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

You mean you were in this situation and decided to go through the intersection, or did you not and get cited?

You don't believe the cross-traffic couldn't see it? How about they don't see it until they're basically about to enter the intersection because the ambulance is 5 cars back (using the conservative corolla at 178.3 inches with a foot distance between cars, the ambulance is almost 900 inches/74 feet back). Thats a long way to see in order to stop safely before an intersection.

BigJ is right in that you will be at fault if you cause an accident, as would the ambulance if it hits something on its way through the intersection with lights blazing.

Of course, the situation might have permitted in that you could safely get out of the way (in right lane and proceeded to turn right).
Click to expand...


This was the situation I was in. It was I believe 5 lanes. Two in each direction and one right turn lane. Four way intersection through a major part of town. There were cars in everylane and the right turn lane actually had sidewalks curving it. Meaning, once you entered, you had to complete the turn unless you decide to jump the curb. Ambulance comes from behind and driver starts calculating best way to cross intersection. There is an island so no possibility of crossing to oncoming traffic. They pick my lane (middle) since it only has two cars. Myself and a car in front. Comes up behind me. I am now in the middle. I look for a way out but can't move. Ambulance is HONKING, trying to get through. Cross traffic is completely stopped (I don't realize it at this point). Car in front of me drives through intersection and immediately pulls over. I follow suit. Everyone is happy.

Again, I have never seen a scenario where people cannot tell there is an ambulance. If I even hear a siren, I turn down my music and start looking around for it.
Click to expand...

I agree with what you did in that situation. The difference between your situation and the OP's is that there is the assumption that cross-traffic doesn't stop for some reason. In your case, the ambulance was just 3 cars away from the intersection. What if they were 10 cars away from the intersection? The cross-traffic might not have any warning that an ambulance is waiting back there until it is near the intersection.
 
Let the ambulance driver decide the best course of action, instead of trying to do something and making it worse. If it's safely possible to make room, then you'd do that.
 
Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I've seen this twice and was never sure what you are supposed to do.

5 lane road.
Traffic is stopped at the light and an ambulance drives up to the fast lane.
It's blocked on the left by the turn lane and there are 5-8 cars in front of it in each lane.
Cross traffic isn't stopping because they can't see the ambulance

Do you.

Sit there and wait for the light to turn?
Drive out into the intersection? Maybe causing an accident?
Click to expand...

If the cross traffic stops, go threw the intersection and pull over. Or wait till the light changes and do it.
 
Yeah, based on your last update, you have to pull out into the intersection to allow the emergency vehicle through. But only do so if safe for yourself.
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

And you'd be cited if you wound up causing an accident.
Click to expand...

then i would sue
 
I agree with what you guys are saying if you are really stressing the 10 cars behind, cross traffic REALLY cannot see point. Ok, I get it.

mobobuff - You can't let the ambulance driver decide. People are stupid and suck at driving. The end up causing the ambulance to slow down. I have seen cop cars and ambulances speeding down the street coming up to a car is going 15 MPH and the driver is bewilder as to what to do. He/She has plenty of time to move out of the way but they force the cop/ambulance to basically slam on their brakes then go around.
 
Originally posted by: quasarsky
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Wrong Answer. You drive through the intersection. I cannot believe cross traffic does not see the ambulance. This is impossible. The right answer is to cross. I have been in this situation.
Click to expand...

And you'd be cited if you wound up causing an accident.
Click to expand...

then i would sue
Click to expand...

And you'd be laughed out of court.
 
Usually with big intersections like that the stop line is far enough back from the intersection that you could pull forward and turn right in front of the other 3 lanes of cars to your right, and if possible merge into traffic to complete the right turn and get out of the way.

But at a big intersection like that the ambulance would probably also be able to control the light.
 
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