Motorists need to stop when emergency vehicles pass: “This is serious”

Motorists are being asked to properly pull over when fire trucks and emergency vehicles are passing, especially on highways.

During Tuesday’s Bonnyville town council meeting, councillor Phil Kushnir relayed that there are more close calls when emergency responders are heading out to a scene, after a meeting with BRFA fire chiefs on Oct. 24.

“It’s getting very, very dangerous out there for the firefighters. The last time they went out they said there were four close calls for people not pulling over or not even stopping. In one incidence, there was a guy pulling a trailer and he wouldn’t even let them pass,” said Kushnir at the meeting. 

“These volunteers respond selflessly day and night and EMS as well. They deserve to be protected out there. I implore everyone to please look out for your first responders out there. This is serious.” 

What to do when an emergency vehicle is passing

Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority chief Dan Heney told Lakeland Connect that traffic safety is always a major concern. He reminded drivers that emergency vehicles with their lights flashing have the right of way.

“We have many close calls due to other drivers every year. I wouldn’t say that we are seeing it more, I would say that we are becoming more vocal about it,” he said in an email.

When motorists hear the sirens, they are to immediately pull over the right side of the lane or curb and use their turn signal. They are to stop until the emergency vehicle has passed and make sure there are no others trailing behind. When the emergency vehicle has passed, be courteous and let drivers ahead of you back into traffic.

Heney highlighted stopping, especially on highways, is vital.

“Vehicles that pull over but don’t stop create a situation where we may be passing between two sets of moving vehicles, essentially becoming three wide across the highway. That leaves us very little margin for error for dealing with issues, like the other vehicles are as wide as us or for road imperfections that are amplified at higher speeds,” he said.

Directing traffic while dealing with a vehicle collision is another factor, when those driving ignore or don’t see members on the road.

“Controlling traffic on a highway incident is extremely dangerous and we take many precautions to keep our folks safe such high visibility clothing, traffic signs, flashing lights and even how we park the apparatus. However, we have countless close calls that could leave one of our members injured or worse.”

Former BRFA chief Brian McEvoy echoed these sentiments after Kushnir spoke at the meeting.

“The most dangerous place a firefighter can work is on the highway. Everybody needs to slow down.”