The stupidity of people sometimes catches me off-guard...

[CountryBoy19]

I started the topic as "I can't believe the stupidity..." but then quickly changed that because I can believe it but it still catches me off guard sometimes...

Just returned home from town... I was stopped at a stoplight and an ambulance with full lights and sirens was approaching from behind. For the locals I was on 37 northbound at John Williams in Bedford. For everybody else brief description of intersection layout: 4-lane divided highway with a 4-lane street that Tees into the highway on the east (no street that goes west from this intersection. I was 2nd car in line in the left northbound lane, there is a right turn-lane but no left turn-lane. Ambulance was northbound in my lane and chose to stay in my lane because everybody was moving right blocking the right turn lane. Light is red, guy in front of me is not moving...even after blowing the horn. There is also a car behind me but after that it's clear for the ambulance. After guy in front doesn't move I think maybe he'll get the point if I squeeze around him up into a shoulder area part-way into the intersection so I do that. He still doesn't get it. Mean-while, the car behind me moved up into the place I was further blocking the lane. Ambulance is only 100 yds away at this point and they are laying on the loud as **** air-horn... those 2 cars still won't move. Light turns green, ambulance is now right behind the 2 cars still laying on the air-horn, they won't move for anything. Just sitting there blocking the intersection... there is no possible way they couldn't hear it, there was plenty of space to move forward and either to the right or to the left to clear the way, no cross-traffic was coming off the side-street anymore... yet these 2 buffoons just sat there...

I just had to shake my head at the stupidity...

 

[Frosty]

People freak out given that situation. I really doubt any Leo is going to pull you over for running a red light to get out of the way! All you have to do is look and make sure it's clear... Your not alone in being caught off guard by some of these people!

 

[hoosierdoc]

Yeah, people tend to freeze in their tracks when lights and sirens are coming. they need plows on the front

 

[eldirector]

Many years ago... At an intersection here in town. One left turn lane, two thru lanes, and a right turn lane. Center concrete median, and a curb and phone pole on the right. Fire engine comes up in the left thru lane with lights, sirens, and horns. Everyone manages to clear except the FIRST car in each lane. They all just sat there. After a good 20-30 seconds of BLARING the horn, the pumper finally noses up to the car in front of them, and simply pushes it out of the way.

There are days I am surprised some people manage to breath without hurting themselves.

 

[actaeon277]

Every year, it seems more and more people just stop their car in the road, blocking the ambulance.

I put my flashers on and pull to the closest side.

 

[spec4]

We have many threads on poor drivers and I'm sure there will be more. I rarely have to drive very far to encounter someone who simply shouldn't be driving.

 

[femurphy77]

They were probably busy choking down the dope since they were being pulled over!

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Yeah, people tend to freeze in their tracks when lights and sirens are coming. they need plows on the front

This. If you can't figure it out, too bad there aren't...umm....teaching aids available to help out these ignoramuses.

 

[OutdoorDad]

They need to teach the zipper merge in drivers Education.

Yielding to an emergency vehicle is just an "un"zippering maneuver.

 

[churchmouse]

We have many threads on poor drivers and I'm sure there will be more. I rarely have to drive very far to encounter someone who simply shouldn't be driving.

Every time I leave the driveway.

 

[1911ly]

A few years back I was parked at a stop light that was green. A fire truck was coming up the the intersection I and was yielding for it. The idiot behind me with the stereo thumping away laid on his horn, I gave him the bird he jumped out of his car. He took about a step and realized why I stopped. He jumped back in his car. I wanted to go back and have a chat with him but I think he figure his issue out. I just drove on.

 

[chef larry]

And warm weather just brings them out in larger numbers. I like the plow idea. Sometimes it seems if driving is the last thing on those drivers mind. Texting-phone-tablet-ear buds-makeup-reading newspaper/paper-eating/ drinking whatever.

 

[actaeon277]

And warm weather just brings them out in larger numbers. I like the plow idea. Sometimes it seems if driving is the last thing on those drivers mind. Texting-phone-tablet-ear buds-makeup-reading newspaper/paper-eating/ drinking whatever.

Oh, there's plenty of drivers out there that don't even need to have a distraction to drive stupid.
They either don't know how to properly drive, or don't care.

 

[Frosty]

To be honest, I've had state guys come up on me with their lights on, and I never saw them not that I was holding them up for long, and yes it's my fault for not checking my mirrors more but the lights on the new chargers don't put out the light like the old light bars did! Never heard a siren, not highly unusual to have them run that way with no siren.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Many years ago... At an intersection here in town. One left turn lane, two thru lanes, and a right turn lane. Center concrete median, and a curb and phone pole on the right. Fire engine comes up in the left thru lane with lights, sirens, and horns. Everyone manages to clear except the FIRST car in each lane. They all just sat there. After a good 20-30 seconds of BLARING the horn, the pumper finally noses up to the car in front of them, and simply pushes it out of the way.

There are days I am surprised some people manage to breath without hurting themselves.

In a perfect world the "after action" would play out like this (at least in my mind)...

ID (idiot driver): calls 911 to report that a firetruck rammed her vehicle and she wants justice served.
Operator: Yes mam/sir, we're aware of that situation, the truck has already informed dispatch, please come down to the police station for the report and insurance information.
ID: yes, I will do that right now.

ID arrives at police station.
Officer: Sir/mam, are you the lady that was hit by the firetruck?
ID: Yes, see the damage?
Officer: And you were driving the car?
ID: Yes, I want the responsible person to answer for this.
Officer: Ok, we'll take care of it. Can I get your license and insurance information for the report?
a few minutes pass
Officer: Ok ma'am/sir here is your citation for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. We have completed the accident report detailing that fact. The fire-station's insurance will be contacting your insurance company for payment for the damage to the fire-truck. Have a wonderful day!!!

To be honest, I've had state guys come up on me with their lights on, and I never saw them not that I was holding them up for long, and yes it's my fault for not checking my mirrors more but the lights on the new chargers don't put out the light like the old light bars did! Never heard a siren, not highly unusual to have them run that way with no siren.

Honestly, I think many of us are guilty. I've had similar happen... while travelling on the road you just don't always see them coming up behind you and a reasonable person feels guilty that they didn't yield sooner. That being said, if you were stopped at an intersection and a guy blows his horn at you that pulls past you out into the intersection then a loud thundering horn is heard behind you don't you think maybe it would cause you to see what is going on? Even if you didn't hear a sound (say you're deaf), if a car squeezes past you out into an intersection and stops randomly and just sits there wouldn't it make you look around to see just what was happening around you?

That's the part that just really baffled me...

 

[hoosierdoc]

I saw an ambulance screaming up the on ramp to 65S from beech grove. I was in the middle lane and watched it speed up and pass someone on the inside shoulder and continue on. I sped up to see what was going on since I had just left BG Hospital and it was driving towards our other campus. We had no emergent transfers leaving at the time I left. When the ambulance got to the county line exit it shut off the lights and waited at the top of the ramp for the light to change. Weird.

i never followed up to see why they did that but it struck me as incredibly unsafe for all involved. Running lights and sirens is rather dangerous.

 

[Frosty]

In a perfect world the "after action" would play out like this (at least in my mind)...

ID (idiot driver): calls 911 to report that a firetruck rammed her vehicle and she wants justice served.
Operator: Yes mam/sir, we're aware of that situation, the truck has already informed dispatch, please come down to the police station for the report and insurance information.
ID: yes, I will do that right now.

ID arrives at police station.
Officer: Sir/mam, are you the lady that was hit by the firetruck?
ID: Yes, see the damage?
Officer: And you were driving the car?
ID: Yes, I was the responsible person to answer for this.
Officer: Ok, we'll take care of it. Can I get your license and insurance information for the report?
a few minutes pass
Officer: Ok ma'am/sir here is your citation for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. We have completed the accident report detailing that fact. The fire-station's insurance will be contacting your insurance company for payment for the damage to the fire-truck. Have a wonderful day!!!


Honestly, I think many of us are guilty. I've had similar happen... while travelling on the road you just don't always see them coming up behind you and a reasonable person feels guilty that they didn't yield sooner. That being said, if you were stopped at an intersection and a guy blows his horn at you that pulls past you out into the intersection then a loud thundering horn is heard behind you don't you think maybe it would cause you to see what is going on? Even if you didn't hear a sound (say you're deaf), if a car squeezes past you out into an intersection and stops randomly and just sits there wouldn't it make you look around to see just what was happening around you?

That's the part that just really baffled me...

I really like your ideas!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd be wondering what the hell this guy is doing getting ready to call you a f****** oh crap a fire truck! Run the red light, get your ass onto the right shoulder! Driving is my day job, and I have to pay lots of attention to what's going on around the truck, if I let an emergency vehicle catch me by surprise it could be pretty bad, I can't just pull over anywhere I want, I try to find a safe spot ASAP, and watch many, many cars seize the opportunity to pass me so they aren't stuck behind me

 

[actaeon277]

I saw an ambulance screaming up the on ramp to 65S from beech grove. I was in the middle lane and watched it speed up and pass someone on the inside shoulder and continue on. I sped up to see what was going on since I had just left BG Hospital and it was driving towards our other campus. We had no emergent transfers leaving at the time I left. When the ambulance got to the county line exit it shut off the lights and waited at the top of the ramp for the light to change. Weird.

i never followed up to see why they did that but it struck me as incredibly unsafe for all involved. Running lights and sirens is rather dangerous.

Maybe a call was canceled?

 

[shibumiseeker]

I saw an ambulance screaming up the on ramp to 65S from beech grove. I was in the middle lane and watched it speed up and pass someone on the inside shoulder and continue on. I sped up to see what was going on since I had just left BG Hospital and it was driving towards our other campus. We had no emergent transfers leaving at the time I left. When the ambulance got to the county line exit it shut off the lights and waited at the top of the ramp for the light to change. Weird.

i never followed up to see why they did that but it struck me as incredibly unsafe for all involved. Running lights and sirens is rather dangerous.

We get the call to disregard.

Every Single Time I ran LAS, you could count the number of stupid people, and worse, the ones who deliberately blocked us. I always hoped we were going to their house for someone they cared about.

 

[ghitch75]

way i see it 85% of the population doesn't have a clue what is gonin' on......just start keepin' track when your out and about and you'll see what i mean......