They have lights and sirens for a reason folks!

[Kassaundra]

I am very glad your husband was okay.


Quote:
That is certainly a part of it, but every week I see people who are at intersections and look straight at us coming up w/ lights and sirens, are completely stopped, then make the conscious descision to "beat" us through. Or at night when even if you can't hear us coming you can certainly see us especially w/ the new LED lights and still refuse to yeild right of way, and that doesn't even come close to the idiots driving by an accident w/ all the emergency personnel, pts, vehicles, equipment, debris etc... in the roadway who speed through or are so distracted by gawking they nearly run us down.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That is certainly a part of it, but every week I see people who are at intersections and look straight at us coming up w/ lights and sirens, are completely stopped, then make the conscious descision to "beat" us through. Or at night when even if you can't hear us coming you can certainly see us especially w/ the new LED lights and still refuse to yeild right of way, and that doesn't even come close to the idiots driving by an accident w/ all the emergency personnel, pts, vehicles, equipment, debris etc... in the roadway who speed through or are so distracted by gawking they nearly run us down.

So true. We don't have any major highways close to us. The four lane in town is the widest roadway and it's only four lanes wide for about 5 miles befor it narrows down to a two lane again. The state added a center turn lane to the road about about a year ago and I am continuously amazed at the sheer number of people that don't have a clue about how to correctly use a turn lane. The big issue around here is people that feel like they just MUST beat you to town. They tailgate and pass in no passing zones just to get ahead of the car in front of them. Then you get to town and they are stuck at the light with all the people they passed.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Liability should cover the total cost for the patrol car. When you get your car paid off, you can switch it to liability only with under and non insured coverages (as mantadory in our state). If you expect total coverage as collision, and her car is paid off, then it is not done. I am sure the police department can handle that.

I love that Jumpy story.....not too many criminals would stop unless they are being shot at or the police dog is being heard or attacked.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote:
This one always gets me....they risk everyone's lives and then end up at the same stoplight as everyone else! I just look at them and shake my head.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Liability should cover the total cost for the patrol car. When you get your car paid off, you can switch it to liability only with under and non insured coverages (as mantadory in our state). If you expect total coverage as collision, and her car is paid off, then it is not done. I am sure the police department can handle that.

I love that Jumpy story.....not too many criminals would stop unless they are being shot at or the police dog is being heard or attacked.

Only if they have enough liability coverage. In our state the minimum liability coverage by law is 10-20-10, so the absolute most that the insurance company would pay for property damage for the accident would be $10,000, not many police cruzers are under $10,000.

I don't know what the minimum coverage is in the state the accident happened in, and it is frightening how many people drive around w/o any insurance at all.

 

[Nic&Chickies]

Quote:
I think I sometimes make my passengers nuts; I'll hear a siren way off in the distance, not sure where, and I'll tend to slow down, --usually with my head slightly spinning a la Regan in "The Exorcist"-- checking rear-view, side mirrors, and out in front, trying to see if the source is behind me or just down the block, nowhere nearby.
Then, if it is an emergency vehicle behind, and I move, I get so irritated, screaming (sometimes just in my head) at the drivers who WON'T MOVE out of the way! I have been in situations with loved ones being transported by ambulance, and others waiting for police, and I always think in those terms: "What if that were your mother or child waiting for that vehicle to get through?"

Btw, what happened with the original accident? The ditzy driver didn't cause more harm in that way, did she (by preventing your DH from doing his job)?

 

[gritsar]

Nic&Chickies :

Quote:
I think I sometimes make my passengers nuts; I'll hear a siren way off in the distance, not sure where, and I'll tend to slow down, --usually with my head slightly spinning a la Regan in "The Exorcist"-- checking rear-view, side mirrors, and out in front, trying to see if the source is behind me or just down the block, nowhere nearby.
Then, if it is an emergency vehicle behind, and I move, I get so irritated, screaming (sometimes just in my head) at the drivers who WON'T MOVE out of the way! I have been in situations with loved ones being transported by ambulance, and others waiting for police, and I always think in those terms: "What if that were your mother or child waiting for that vehicle to get through?"

Btw, what happened with the original accident? The ditzy driver didn't cause more harm in that way, did she (by preventing your DH from doing his job)?

The original accident that DH was on his way to had to be handled by different officers of course. No fatalities. As is protocol in the case of an officer being involved in an accident, DH's wreck was handled by one of the county deputies. Had it been a deputy who wrecked it would have been handled by a city cop or a state trooper; just to ensure that wasn't any bias.​

 

[hennyannie]

My husband is a firefighter and he comes home all the time ranting about how people do crazy stuff when they see a firetruck.
Most of them slam on brakes right in front of the truck, some throw it into the left lane(PULL TO THE RIGHT DUH) and other just speed up.
He says it would be safer to just not run the lights and sirens.


Glad he was unhurt and commited to get the message out to young drivers.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote:
Liability should cover the total cost for the patrol car. When you get your car paid off, you can switch it to liability only with under and non insured coverages (as mantadory in our state). If you expect total coverage as collision, and her car is paid off, then it is not done. I am sure the police department can handle that.

I love that Jumpy story.....not too many criminals would stop unless they are being shot at or the police dog is being heard or attacked.

Only if they have enough liability coverage. In our state the minimum liability coverage by law is 10-20-10, so the absolute most that the insurance company would pay for property damage for the accident would be $10,000, not many police cruzers are under $10,000.

I don't know what the minimum coverage is in the state the accident happened in, and it is frightening how many people drive around w/o any insurance at all.

I was hit by an "under insured" driver. She totaled my BMW Z3, my back and my shoulder! 3 years later I'm finally scheduled for my back surgery (cause I can't wait for my insurance to settle so I can afford it), the shoulder surgery will have to wait and I'm thankful that I had under insured motorist insurance because my insurance paid for everything, I'm self employed so no disability for me, though I should have been for the last three years. Sad part is, I've received $8K of the $30K she had because the lawyer got his cut and my health insurance wanted to be paid back...I've had to pay out way more then that in payroll to cover my stores because I can't work more then a few hours and I'm still waiting on what ever I get from my under insured coverage.

I think the minimums are a joke! Most cars on the road aren't under $10K to replace. I think I just hijacked this thread??? Sorry!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

mom'sfolly :

I really think that everyone should have a drivers test every 10 years. If you fail, you must go through a safe driving course before you can drive again. I'm 48 years old, and I haven't taken a driving test in over 30 years. I think it would keep all the idiots off the road for a while and force all the people who are too old to drive to give up their licenses.

I'm glad Keith was already, and very sorry he was put in jeopardy.

This. I know people would scream about the government, but you know driving is NOT A RIGHT. IT SHOULD BE EARNED.

We just went through this trying to get FIL to give up his license. And I know way too many people who won't pull over for a police car or ambulance. The other day I pulled over to let an ambulance go by and the driver behind me honked at me and then tried to pass me too! I let him.... If he hadn't been behind me the whole time I would have assumed he was with the ambulance the way he acted...

Glad Kieth is OK grit. Pass on hugs and our gratitude to him would ya?​