Watch above: Video captured by our Global 1 chopper at a rollover shows many drivers don’t know what to do when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights approaches. Laurel Gregory has more.
EDMONTON — As the Capital Region continues to grow and more cars cram the roads, the increased capacity can make it tough for emergency vehicles to get through. Even with lights flashing and sirens blaring, drivers don’t always move out of the way.
The Global 1 news helicopter captured video of a police car and ambulance attempting to get past vehicles on 137 Avenue Wednesday evening, after five people were injured in a collision in the area of 137 Avenue and 123A Street.
It takes upwards of one minute for the emergency vehicles to drive just one block.
Watch below: Ambulance attempts to get through traffic on 137 Avenue
In a situation where every minute counts, when medical care is often being performed in the back of ambulance, some Alberta paramedics say situations like the one in Edmonton Wednesday happen far too often.
“I’m not only aware of the road in front of me, but also what’s happening behind me,” said Helene Hamilton, an Emergency Medical Technician. “When the people in front of me on the road aren’t pulling over and stopping, or are getting in the way … I have to take that much longer to get to the hospital.
“Those seconds matter.”
Hamilton believes some drivers just don’t think about what could be going on inside the ambulance when it comes up behind them. She urges all motorists to simply pull over and stop.
“We don’t go lights and sirens for fun. It’s one of the most dangerous things we do in our job.”
When it comes to emergency vehicles, do drivers just not notice them? Or do they not know the proper procedures?
According to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, when an emergency vehicle – ambulance, fire or police – is approaching you from any direction and is sounding a siren, drivers must yield the right-of-way by:
- Immediately moving clear of any intersection
- Driving your vehicle to the right side of the road if it has one or two lanes
- Driving your vehicle to the nearest side of the road if it has three or more lanes. If you are in the centre lane, drive to the right side
- Stopping until the emergency vehicle has passed and checking that no other emergency vehicles are approaching
In addition, drivers must not follow within 150 metres of any emergency vehicle that has its siren or lights operating.
Watch below: What to do when emergency vehicles approach
With files from Laurel Gregory, Global News.
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