-EDITORIAL
EMS Week is a great reminder to always pull over for emergency service vehicles.
Whether it’s an ambulance, police cruiser, fire truck, or other for that matter, pulling over when you see flashing lights in your rearview is a must.
There shouldn’t be a moment of hesitation wondering if you need to.
You just should.
Every second counts.
Emergency responders are trying to get somewhere, fast. By pulling over, you’re clearing the way for them to get where they need to go.
Those few seconds it takes for someone to pull over could be the difference between life and death.
Think about it.
What if it were someone you loved that was waiting for an ambulance to arrive?
What if it were your house that was engulfed in flames?
Or what if it were a dear friend who had just been assaulted and needed the RCMP?
It wouldn’t feel great pulling into your driveway and seeing the fire crew you just delayed by not pulling onto the side of the road were battling the fire consuming your home.
It’s important to remember that although it may seem like an inconvenience to pull over, it’s the law.You can be charged in the moment, or even at a later date.
You read that right.
By not paying attention to your surroundings and slowing emergency crews down, you can be fined.
It should be that way.
It’s one of the first rules of driver training. When you see or hear sirens, look around, see where they’re coming from, put on your blinker, slow down, and pull over.
Even if they’re headed the opposite direction, the more room they have, the better.
They’re just trying to get from point A to point B as fast as they can so they can do their job, because someone needs them right now, not in 10 minutes, not in an hour, but right away.
So when you’re driving home from work, keeping your eyes peeled and your ears open, because no one ever wants to be what stands between life and death.
