Fire Personnel speeding.

[Fordy_Styles]

What are the laws in your guys state about other emergency personnel vehicles, such as fire and medical. Just curious to see about the speeding laws, and if they apply to these vehicles (and police). I work for a government fire service in eastern canada, and I know we're quite restricted as to what we can do when operating code, its pretty much no different then if we were not going code, but the lights and siren are still there.

[mobrien316]

In Connecticut emergency vehicles are legally permitted to violate the motor vehicle statutes, but must do with with due regard for the safety of other cars and persons on the road.

It is deliberately ambiguous language and most emergency personnel I know take it to mean that, although we are legally able to exceed the speed limit, go through red lights, and so forth, if we do so and get into an accident we will be screwed for not driving with "due regard" for others' safety.

[retdetsgt]

In Connecticut emergency vehicles are legally permitted to violate the motor vehicle statutes, but must do with with due regard for the safety of other cars and persons on the road.

It is deliberately ambiguous language and most emergency personnel I know take it to mean that, although we are legally able to exceed the speed limit, go through red lights, and so forth, if we do so and get into an accident we will be screwed for not driving with "due regard" for others' safety.

Perfect answer.

[pac201]

In Connecticut emergency vehicles are legally permitted to violate the motor vehicle statutes, but must do with with due regard for the safety of other cars and persons on the road.

It is deliberately ambiguous language and most emergency personnel I know take it to mean that, although we are legally able to exceed the speed limit, go through red lights, and so forth, if we do so and get into an accident we will be screwed for not driving with "due regard" for others' safety.

I would be confident in saying that could summarize all 50...

[Fordy_Styles]

I see, thats what I figured anyhow. in my province, I shouldnt say its no different then the normal laws, we are permitted to run red lights (you must make a full stop, be absolutely sure no traffic is comeing, and then proceed) Its just I work for a forest firefighting department, and our trucks are all green, people seem to get really confused at the colour of our vehicles, and dont pull over right away, it can get pretty sketchy driving any amount of speed with that kind of traffic. They're use to either a RED truck with red lights, or a white police cruiser.

[retdetsgt]

Fire trucks should be red, period. There was a time around here that some departments in the suburbs used yellow ones. The only reason I could think of for that was so they wouldn't be confused with Portland, but who should care about that???? Now I think they're all red.

Sirens are iffy anywhere outside city streets. Driving 45 mph even without a radio or other distractions and the windows down, you can't hear a siren coming up behind you until it's right on your bumper. That was demonstrated to us once during an in-service training. I was surprised at how close the siren had to be before those of us in the car could hear it.

Emergency lights are much better than they used to be though. If people check their rear view mirrors, they should see an emergency vehicle a quarter mile or more behind them.

[Fordy_Styles]

Yeah, I agree they should be red, the fire departments like city and volunteer all have red trucks, except a few towns that have a baby puke yellow paintjob.. But all the DNR trucks, fire, utility, and enforcement division are all green, its just the department colour. The new firetruck has a giant Federal signal LED bar on the roof, and many little LED's all around it, people pull over alot faster then the old firetruck we had, it had hide-away lights (for some reason), they were bright but the light bar on the roof just has a better effect.

[scott715us]

Our fire trucks are yellow/green, but we're at an airport.

[Fordy_Styles]

hah yeah I figured the airport FD would have that colour. The US forest service has green firetrucks tho I beleive. I think its just tradition.