Pet Peeve #5

Bad drivers are my pet peeve numero uno and this is so closely related that it falls pretty high on my list. What do you as a driver do when you see an ambulance in your rearview mirror? The correct answer is pull over if you are on a single lane road and if you are on a highway or road with at least 2 lanes move into the right lane. Since I began working at a hospital I obviously notice ambulances more because I tend to see them headed toward the hospital or out of the ambulance company which is in close proximity to the hospital. I also live around the corner from my local ambulance company and hear the sirens often.

I am always amazed at how people react to ambulances. Last week I was on a 4 lane highway and an ambulance was 4 cars behind me with lights flashing and sirens on. It was one exit before the hospital in that area and even though I had to slow down a little I moved over to the right. The 3 drivers behind me who could have easily moved over also instead opted to drive past me and ended up blocking the ambulance from getting any farther due to too many cars being in the right lane. I got off the highway at my exit and shook my head while I watched the ambulance stuck with no where to go. I would love to ask those drivers that decided not to move over how they would feel if it was a life and death situation and it was their relative or friend that was in the back of that ambulance. What if it was them? Would they want me to move over so they could get to the hospital when precious minutes could save their life? When did our society become so selfish?

Another thing that kills me about terrible drivers and ambulances has been happening to me a lot lately and I really want to know what is going on inside these driver’s heads.  Picture driving east down a single lane road and an ambulance is approaching from the opposite direction heading west. There are no cars blocking the ambulances path but there are cars in front of you. Suddenly as the ambulance approaches the driver in front of YOU pulls off the road. The ambulance of course stays in its own lane since there were no obstructions in its way and you jam on your breaks to avoid the idiot in front of you who has now decided it is safe to pull back into traffic. WHAT?!?! I am so puzzled by this one I am speechless. Is the problem the drivers or the driving instructors who clearly are not getting the message across about when you pull over for an emergency vehicle?

One last comment on emergency vehicles and pulling over…NY State has a new law that requires drivers to move into the middle or left lane on highways when an emergency vehicle is pulled over on the shoulder.  If you cannot move over, you must slow down to a reasonable speed. It is for the protection of the emergency personnel after several cops have been killed during traffic stops. I have been shocked by the lack of response to this. Not only do people not move over, but I have seen many drivers get into the right lane after people get over to the left and speed past the cop. Its times like that when I wish there were a second cop hanging around waiting for these morons.

I am frustrated on a daily basis by bad drivers and that will never change. Commuting 2 hours a day to work for 8 ½ years has taken a toll on me. As long as my horn works and I can extend my middle finger I will continue to let people know what assholes they are.