Passing ambulances?

[redhenracing2]

Can you get in trouble for passing an ambulance with its lights/sirens running?  I was in a situation the other day, going down the interstate, with almost no traffic. I was running about 85-90 as I usually am, and I came up on an ambulance that seemed to be responding to a call. I slowed down, and for all the hurry he seemed to be in, he was only running 70. I stayed behind him, not sure why, out of courtesy I guess? I was stuck behind him for 9 exits, and was rather disgruntled about it, but just chilled behind him until he took his exit downtown (headed for the hospital). But had I passed him and carried on at my own pace (getting 'out of his way' in no time at all), could there be any repercussions?

[adidasguy]

A good place to post this is on  http://pnwriders.com/

in the "Ask an Officer" area .

Only certified LEO's (Law Enforcement Officers) can answer questions there. They are the ones that give tickets so they know what to do.

[yamahonkawazuki]

To answer your question redhen, repercussions, no not really. UNLESS you broke a speed limit in passing him. BUT since rescue is NOT law enforcement, tehy really cannot do anythign. unless tehy take your picture, , video, and whatever else and forward it TO law enforcement. but odds of that happening are slim to none. and slim took the exit to whereverville. however, passing an ambulance at 70 i wouldnt recommend. ( i was in law enforcement, for several years. )htey do have radios. they CAN relay info TO LEOS. they DO have cameras on their vehicles. so BE safe 

[Big Rich]

+1.

A friend of mine here in PA told me that the only lights and sirens that you HAVE to obey are police. Of course, common sense says get out of the way for firetrucks and ambulances.

[stroztech]

+1.

A friend of mine here in PA told me that the only lights and sirens that you HAVE to obey are police. Of course, common sense says get out of the way for firetrucks and ambulances.

You serious?
Here in AUS it's an offence to impede any emergency services vehicle (Police, Fire, Ambulance or State Emergency Services).
On the other hand, the only ones who are going to give a ticket are the Police, but like yama said - they do have radios and can use them to call for the fuzz 
Whether they will or not while they're on a callout for something not directly affecting them, is anyone's guess.

As for common sense - there's always some nutter who'll deliberately be a donkey just to prove he's a bigger schmuck than the rest of us. Usually men in Armani suits driving Audis or Mercs. 

For the record - if I was in your place red, I would have done the same thing you did. Good excuse to relax and just cruise for a while.

[tt_four]

Regardless of how I've been riding that day, I always take it easy when I see an ambulance around. I figure they see enough stupid stuff in a day, the last thing they need is to having kids on sportbikes wizzing past them. If I had to pass them and they were going 70mph, I would've taken my time and passed them going 72mph, and waited until I got a few car lengths between us before I slowly got back up to speed.

My rides are seldomly set on a strict route. If I get stuck behind something like that I just pull off at the next exit and keep on my way.

[Toogoofy317]

Well, first off you were breaking the law to begin with there are no roads where the speed limit is 85-90 so it doesn't make a difference does it.

Secondly, ambulances are not allowed to break the speed limit just as you shouldn't . It has been proven in studies that the few seconds that ambulance drivers save vs the risk they are putting theri patients in aren't enough to sanction it. They may save an extra minute and typically if you really need that extra minute to survive you probably won't to begin with. It has just become too dangerous. Most EMTs myself included will go a bit faster where it is safe to do so and no the cops aren't going to pull us over if we are speeding because it is a professional courtesy (Even cops call 911).

Third, I know it is law here in Florida and pretty sure in every other state but you must yield the right of way to any emergency vehicle responding to a call. What infuriated me as an EMT though was when I was on the interstate going on a call everyone slows down and "yields" in opposite direction leaving me no way to get around. If there is no safe place for you to stop and get out of the way then keep going. I'd rather follow behind you at the speed limit than be stuck behind you not moving because you tried to get out of the way and couldn't.

My .02 cents from experience.

Mary

[Paulcet]

Some emergency services are allowed (by law or otherwise) to exceed the posted limit.  For instance in my area the county operated services will exceed when prudent, but private services do not.

Here in Georgia, the maximum speed limit is 70 mph. But if you are not going 75-80 you are probably impeding traffic. Troopers running radar have always ignored me when I go by at 80. And I have passed an ambulance who was moving at the posted speed with lights and sirens going. Got by quickly and gave him plenty of room.

A for emergency vehicles exceeding the limit, I, for one, am glad they do it when necessary.  Been there.

[ohgood]

really ? does this question really need to be asked ?

[spc]

As for common sense - there's always some nutter who'll deliberately be a donkey just to prove he's a bigger schmuck than the rest of us. Usually men in Armani suits driving Audis or Mercs. 

So, wearing Armani and driving a German vehicle makes one a schmuck?  Fuch off.
(BTW, Audi is crap, I can't believe those idiots think they're gonna sell an 'all new' A8 for 80k+)

[yamahonkawazuki]

Well, first off you were breaking the law to begin with there are no roads where the speed limit is 85-90 so it doesn't make a difference does it.

Secondly, ambulances are not allowed to break the speed limit just as you shouldn't . It has been proven in studies that the few seconds that ambulance drivers save vs the risk they are putting theri patients in aren't enough to sanction it. They may save an extra minute and typically if you really need that extra minute to survive you probably won't to begin with. It has just become too dangerous. Most EMTs myself included will go a bit faster where it is safe to do so and no the cops aren't going to pull us over if we are speeding because it is a professional courtesy (Even cops call 911).

Third, I know it is law here in Florida and pretty sure in every other state but you must yield the right of way to any emergency vehicle responding to a call. What infuriated me as an EMT though was when I was on the interstate going on a call everyone slows down and "yields" in opposite direction leaving me no way to get around. If there is no safe place for you to stop and get out of the way then keep going. I'd rather follow behind you at the speed limit than be stuck behind you not moving because you tried to get out of the way and couldn't.

My .02 cents from experience.

Mary

Well for arguments sake amry, certain highways i believe either in montana, or thereabouts, the speed limit is " any SAFE" speed.

[redhenracing2]

Well for arguments sake amry, certain highways i believe either in montana, or thereabouts, the speed limit is " any SAFE" speed.

Also true in some parts of the desert, where there aren't any exits for stretches of 20 miles at a time.

I run down I-575 all the time, where the speed limit is 70. Thus, 84 mph (my usual cruising speed) is only 14 over, and would be extremely unlikely to warrant a ticket. I have had cops come flying up behind me, I just shift over to the slow lane to let them by and then carry on. In GA it's not even a point on your license until 15mph, and 11 over is minimum offense with a fine of $111.

SO ANYWHO .  . . . I was just curious, no need for anyone's panties to get bunched.

[jserio]

My dad was given a ticket in Kansas for 1mph over the posted speed limit. Just sayin, if you're speeding you CAN get a ticket for it.

[redhenracing2]

That's interesting, any chance you know what the fine was for it?

They can write you for it here, but it usually gets thrown out. One of my buddies was written for 7 over (42 in 35) last month and the judge tossed it. I have gotten pulled over for 37 over in a school zone, and walked away with what the cop said was 'minimum offense' of 11 over.

[jserio]

I never asked him, he was so pissed when he came home that day. It's been almost 15 years ago or so.

[yamahonkawazuki]

If the meatwagon was EXITING the roadway, i dont see anythign happening, other than speeding. IF they thing was exiting interstate @ 70 and not being on a call id wonder. If it was on call id still wonder, cause they dont handle too well at high speeds. i had a surplus unit before, it would fly, but damn GOD forbid you had to swerve

[Toogoofy317]

In Fl they can throw you in jail for 15 over. I mean "really" what can you possibly be  doing that justifies you passing an Ambulance in Emergency mode? I mean there is most likely an Emergency situation in your vicinity and your gonna go flying through there at 70+? What if a tanker carrying toxic materials overturned ahead and those chemicals are now all over the roadway. Or a close call for me last year was a disgruntled employee had gone postal and was taking pot shots at passing motorist. I was one of the last vehicles to get through before the road was shut down for 6+ hours. While I was glad I didn't get "stuck" in traffic I found out at home just how close I could have been "wild game" to some maniac.

Trust me from experience if I'm not speeding while I'm running lights and sirens on the Rig that probably indicates that it really isn't safe for you either.

Also, from the research that I've done it seems there are only two stretches of road in Texas where the speed limit is 80 (as of January '09) so 85 is still illegal everywhere in the U.S.

Looks like they've changed the law in Montana as well "On March 10, 1996,[90] a Montana patrolman issued a speeding ticket to a driver traveling at 85 mph (136 km/h) on a stretch of State Highway 200. The 50 year-old driver was operating a 1996 Camaro with less than 10,000 miles (16,093 km) on the odometer. Although the officer gave no opinion as to what would have been a reasonable speed, the driver was convicted. The driver appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. The Court reversed the conviction in case No. 97-486 on December 23, 1998; it held that a law requiring drivers to drive at a non-numerical "reasonable and proper" speed "is so vague that it violates the Due Process Clause ... of the Montana Constitution".

Effective May 28, 1999, as a result of that decision, the Montana Legislature established a speed limit of 75 mph.[91]
Montana US and State and even Secondary roads have speed limits posted similar to Texas. 70 mph /night: 65 and truck: 60 / night:55 (similar to the truck speed limit for secondary (Farm to Market) roads in Texas.)"

So, according to my quick research there are no longer any roads where the limit is "reasonable and prudent". And 85 mph is speeding in this country!


Mary

[yamahonkawazuki]

agreed ok. i stand corrected on montana now. that aisde. if i read correctly, the rig was leavin the interstate. OP  passes while still on interstate continuing on his? original course. if rig was or has already lef t teh interstate/exited, to me ti doesnt sound like he passed anythign. unless he passed amb. before it had exited. / or had JUST started process

[Toogoofy317]

But had I passed him and carried on at my own pace (getting 'out of his way' in no time at all), could there be any repercussions?

Pretty sure if a LEO saw you depending on his mood could do nothing to throwing the book at you. Anything, here from innocent speeding to careless driving. I mean here is NY law on the matter.
You must yield the right-of-way to fire, ambulance, police and other authorized emergency vehicles when they are responding to emergencies. They will display flashing red, or red and white, lights and sound a siren or air-horn. When you hear or see an emergency vehicle approaching your vehicle from any direction, including on your side of an expressway or limited access highway, safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop. Wait until the emergency vehicle passes before driving on. If you are in an intersection, drive out of it before you pull over.

You must pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle even if it is coming toward you in the opposite lane of a two-way roadway.

If you hear a siren or air-horn nearby but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, you should pull over and stop until you are sure it is not approaching you. An emergency vehicle using lights and a siren or air-horn may be unpredictable. The driver may legally exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and STOP or YIELD signs, go the wrong way on one-way streets and turn in directions not normally allowed. Although emergency vehicle drivers are required to exercise due care, be very cautious when an emergency vehicle approaches.
Mary

[yamahonkawazuki]

But had I passed him and carried on at my own pace (getting 'out of his way' in no time at all), could there be any repercussions?

Pretty sure if a LEO saw you depending on his mood could do nothing to throwing the book at you. Anything, here from innocent speeding to careless driving. I mean here is NY law on the matter.
You must yield the right-of-way to fire, ambulance, police and other authorized emergency vehicles when they are responding to emergencies. They will display flashing red, or red and white, lights and sound a siren or air-horn. When you hear or see an emergency vehicle approaching your vehicle from any direction, including on your side of an expressway or limited access highway, safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop. Wait until the emergency vehicle passes before driving on. If you are in an intersection, drive out of it before you pull over.

You must pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle even if it is coming toward you in the opposite lane of a two-way roadway.

If you hear a siren or air-horn nearby but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, you should pull over and stop until you are sure it is not approaching you. An emergency vehicle using lights and a siren or air-horn may be unpredictable. The driver may legally exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and STOP or YIELD signs, go the wrong way on one-way streets and turn in directions not normally allowed. Although emergency vehicle drivers are required to exercise due care, be very cautious when an emergency vehicle approaches.
Mary

well said, i also stand corrected as far as lights and such for my earlier comment.  BUT most laws also say  something to the effect of pull over or yield ( if safe to do so), IF it can be safely done, you are REQUIRED to do so