Ambulance on the Highway

[momrek06]

Today DH & I were driving to CT on RTE 395 (a two lane highway connecting MA and CT) to visit his parents. We were driving along at 70mph in the high speed lane. All of a sudden, from an on ramp an Ambulance is entering the highway with all the lights flashing and going at a very high rate of speed.

We were in the high speed lane. What we did notice is that many drivers that were in the slow lane (travel lane) were pulling over to the break down lane and stopping!

DH & I were a bit confused by that...it has been a long time since I opened a drivers manual BUT if you are on the highway and an Ambulance is speeding by you are you suppose to PULL OVER INTO THE BREAK DOWN LAND AND STOP???

Because at this point the Ambulance entered the highway and got right over into the high speed lane and DH actually wanted to get into the slow lane BUT with all these cars attempting to get back into the same lane, DH then just stayed in the high speed lane.

This appeared to us as a bit hazardous all these drivers now attempting to get BACK ON THE HIGHWAY!

Anyone have any thoughts on this situation!!! TIA!!!

 

[piglet too]

"Pull to the right for sirens and lights" is a big deal here in Illinois. I am under the impression that this applies to all roads.

 

[CEDmom]

Everyone should get into the right hand lane and let the ambulance go by. It's not necessary if there are 2 lanes to pull onto the shoulder and stop. It's also not a very smart idea either.

I once entered a construction area on a highway where there was only 1 lane and an ambulance came up behind me. Talk about being scared. I just floored it until I could move over.

 

[momrek06]

It's also not a very smart idea either.

That is exactly what DH & I thought, as these drivers TRIED to find clearance to get back onto a highway where everyone is driving 65 or higher!!

 

[Nancy]

I would think staying in the right lane and slowing a bit in case someone wanted to move form the left to get out of the way would be enough. What woukd they do on a 4 lane road with sidewalks, there is no shoulder to oull over and stop on, they'd be jumping curbs!

 

[Temair]

I was in a similar situation in MO when traveling to Kansas City. Since we were on the far left lane we would have to cut off the abulance to get to the right side. We just staid on the left and slowed a bit, but not stopped. That way we were not in the direct path of the ambulance and did not have to cut him off just to get to the right side of the road. Sometimes you just have to make a judgment call on whats the best thing to do.

Temair

 

[disykat]

I think technically you ARE supposed to pull to the right and stop. Usually on the freeway I (and everyone else around me) pulls to the right and slows down. (I think the slow down happens when traffic is moving quickly and there simply isn't time to get stopped before the emergency vehicle has passed.) Then people try to politely allow people to merge back in. In my experience, people are pretty good about making way for the emergency vehicles AND the cars who slowed or stopped for them. I agree with Temair that sometimes it's necessary to stay left to stay out of the way if you are close to where the ambulance is merging.

 

[MAKmom]

I think technically you ARE supposed to pull to the right and stop. Usually on the freeway I (and everyone else around me) pulls to the right and slows down. Then people try to politely allow people to merge back in. In my experience, people are pretty good about making way for the emergency vehicles AND the cars who slowed or stopped for them. I agree with Temair that sometimes it's necessary to stay left to stay out of the way if you are close to where the ambulance is merging.

I agree. If you can get off the road you should in case someone is in the passing lane & the ambulance needs to change lanes. Of course if you can't you can't.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Per the MA DMV

You must always yield the right-of-way to fire
engines, ambulances, police cars, and other
emergency vehicles when those vehicles are
using a siren and/or emergency flashing
lights.
• If you see or hear an emergency vehicle
coming from any direction, you must pull as
close as possible to the right side of the road
and stop until the vehicle has passed.
Slowly rolling is not acceptable.
• Check your mirrors and find a safe place to
pull over to the right. You should not pull
your vehicle to the left or slam on your
brakes and stop suddenly. Use your right
turn signal to let those driving behind you
know what you plan to do.
• NEVER stop in the middle of an intersection.
Continue driving through an intersection and
pull over as soon as it is safe to do so.
• After the emergency vehicle has passed, use
your left turn signal and make sure the lane
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144
is clear before merging into traffic. Be sure
that there are no other emergency vehicles
approaching before you enter traffic.
• It is illegal to follow closer than 300 feet
behind an emergency vehicle responding to
an alarm.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I asked my Dh and he seems to think that in all States you must pullover and stop . We live in texas .
He says that when they use lights and siren that you have to pull over and come to a complete stop . It doesnt matter if you are on the freeway or a 2 lane road .

I always pull over not because I am a Firemans wife but because if it were my child or Mother or Grandmother they were trying to get to I would want everyone out of the way sothey could get there as fast as they could .

 

[robertsmom]

I asked my Dh and he seems to think that in all States you must pullover and stop . We live in texas .
He says that when they use lights and siren that you have to pull over and come to a complete stop . It doesnt matter if you are on the freeway or a 2 lane road .

I always pull over not because I am a Firemans wife but because if it were my child or Mother or Grandmother they were trying to get to I would want everyone out of the way sothey could get there as fast as they could .

I agree. When my son had to go to the hospital last year after a massive seizure, I was very glad that the ambulance was able to get to our house so fast.

 

[Geoff_M]

It's my recollection that in Michigan the only time you do not have to pull over and stop is when the emergency vehicle is travelling in the opposite direction from you on a divided highway.

On this subject that's a big pet peeve of mine are all of the idiots here that think you only have to slow down for emergency vehicles. I obey the law and stop, but on more than one occasion I've almost been rear-ended by some one who only slowed down and was watching the flashing lights instead of the road in front of them.

 

[Moonmom]

I've always pulled off to the right; as far as possible, and stopped. And according to DH, who's worked for Fire Dept for 29 years that's the "thing" to do. I travel one stretch of road that's a 2 lane road with very narrow shoulders several times a week that at least once a week I encounter some emergency vehicle or two. Cars in each direction pull to the side and stop.. and as the emergency vehicle goes past each car comes out in turn.. like well rehearsed dance... either we very polite drivers or it's been ingrained in us!