Letters: Drivers should heed laws and yield to emergency vehicles

Recently, my husband and I had cause to go down to the Department of Motor Vehicles. On our way there, we heard sirens headed our way. We came to a complete stop in the turning lane waiting for the light to change.

As the sirens got louder signaling their impending approach, I realized that all the other traffic must be deaf and oblivious as to what those sounds meant and what they should have been doing.

As an ambulance, followed by Fire and Rescue, reached the intersection they had to wait for vehicles to move. This delayed their emergency response time. The delay may have been only seconds, but to the person who needs help it could feel like a lifetime. Not to mention the fact that it could very well be a matter of life or death.

Upon our arrival at the DMV, I helped myself to the 2008 California Driver Handbook. My curiosity had been sparked as to the the exact regulations concerning emergency vehicles and I wanted clarification as to the rules.

While reading the handbook, I thought back to those times I had encountered emergency vehicles over the past year. In every instance that I can recall, drivers did not move their vehicles to allow passageway for the emergency vehicles until absolutely necessary.

The driver handbook states that you must yield the right of way to any emergency vehicle using a siren and lights. All vehicles are supposed to drive as close to the right edge of the road as possible and wait until the emergency vehicles have passed before proceeding.

Nowadays, most drivers are always in a hurry-up mode. They've become selfish with the roadway, lazy, inconsiderate and inattentive. All of which are dangerous while driving.

When it's an emergency, no one wants to have to wait for help. Especially if that wait is longer due to traffic.

To my knowledge, the regulations concerning emergency vehicles have never been enforced. Why?

The revenues it would generate if it were enforced would be astronomical, thereby benefitting the city, county or state.

For those drivers who do pull over for emergency vehicles, kudos! And for those drivers who don't pull over, I really hope the day never comes when they need help and it's delayed due to traffic.

Jill Bausch

Crescent City