Officials: Slow down

Randy Mitchell City Editor Ada Evening News

Ada — Emergency officials say the greatest hazards they face at vehicle wreck scenes or during traffic stops are passing motorists.

At a wreck scene, law enforcement is usually present to direct traffic and caution drivers to slow down while going around, but some motorists still drive too fast — which can lead to getting a citation or worse, someone getting hurt or killed.

The general rule when driving around an accident scene is to slow down and proceed with caution. It could be that when a motorist is driving 65 or 70 miles per hour down the highway, slowing to 35 or 40 may seem sufficient, but to emergency officials on scene that’s too fast, according to Rob Johnson, Ada Fire Department assistant chief.

“I think it should be 10 to 15 miles per hour,” Johnson said. “Fifteen would be the fastest I would want them coming through because we’re going to our trucks getting tools or equipment and we’re trying to watch for oncoming cars while we’re also trying to do our job, and if they’re coming through there pretty fast, they might not see someone come around that fire truck after a tool.”

Firefighters are usually in charge of incident command and try not to close a road unless it’s absolutely necessary. After wreck victims have been taken away, traffic is usually allowed to slowly pass through, if possible.

Johnson said although 35 miles per hour may seem slow to some, to an emergency worker standing feet and sometimes only inches away, it’s pretty fast.

“I’ve been on scenes where we had things pretty well under control and someone came buzzing through there going 30 or 35 miles per hour, and that’s pretty fast if someone was to get struck by a vehicle,” Johnson said.

Another reason for slowing down to 10 or 15 miles per hour is due to drivers “rubbernecking” as they pass.

Another dilemma officials want to warn drivers about is what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches.

Emergency workers encounter this situation on every run they make, which in Pontotoc County, is  several times everyday. Johnson said drivers should check rear and side view mirrors every so often to know what’s going on behind them.

“Be aware of your surroundings,” Johnson said. “Our drivers are not going to run right up on your tail end. I don’t want to startle anyone and I’ve seen that happen. People yank their steering wheel and run off into the ditch to get out of our way and I don’t want that.”

Johnson said newer cars have better sound-proofing or drivers have their radios turned up, and they may not see an approaching emergency vehicle behind them.

“I try to give (drivers enough room so they don’t have to panic).”

Gary Ligon, Valley View EMS director, said paramedics often encounter the same problem when approaching a motorist from behind and also warns motorists not to panic.

“Providing an emergency vehicle has its lights and siren on, motorists should — when it’s safe — pull to the right and stop,” Ligon said.

Ligon said that is according to state law. When on a two-lane-road, Ligon said, drivers should first slow down, then pull onto the shoulder only when it’s safe to do so.

“Don’t jerk the wheel to the right or left or whatever. Just slow down and pull to the right when it’s clear of other cars or bridges (or a rough shoulder),” he said.

Ligon said another dilemma motorists should be cautioned about is when emergency vehicles are passing through intersections. Drivers often panic and do not know what to do. With the lights and sirens of emergency vehicles blaring, not to mention air-horns which often blast out 140 decibels — it’s no wonder.

Ligon said drivers of emergency vehicles often use the horn to let motorists know they are coming and to be ready. Motorists who find themselves in the middle of the intersection should clear the intersection and pull to the right but those stuck at the light or in a turn lane should stay put.

“They should sit still and let the ambulance pass them,” Ligon said. “The emergency vehicle will make every effort to go to the left of the vehicle to go around.”

Ligon said this will occur if an intersection is blocked even if they have to go into oncoming lanes of traffic, as long as it is safe.

The slow down and proceed with caution rule also applies to drivers passing a traffic stop. If on a four-lane highway, drivers should enter the left lane — if possible — as they pass a law enforcement officer who has a motorist stopped.

If it is not possible to switch lanes, or if on a two-lane road, drivers should slow down considerably as they pass, according to Sheriff John Christian.

“If you are unable to move over, you should slow down (as you pass),” Christian said. “Basically that law was passed to keep law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel from getting run over.”`

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