SPECIAL REPORT: First responders’ road worries

During emergencies, every second counts. However, there’s an all too familiar scene for many first responders on an everyday basis – people not knowing what to do when they see an emergency vehicle using its lights and sirens.

“Every year it seems a little more difficult,” said Keith Emery, a captain paramedic with Salinas Fire. “The increase in traffic trying to get through the multitude of cars depending on time of day especially.”

Salinas fire crews have figured out the trouble spots and times. Parts of Davis Road are only two lanes with not a lot of wiggle room on the sides. Others like North Main Street have too many lanes, which can create too many problems. During a ride along with the Medic 1 Unit, we found that out.

“We had two drivers, as a matter of fact, on that last run that pulled right in front of the fire engine as we were trying to safely go around traffic that’s backed up,” Emery said.

The downtown area is always busy, so crews have to be mindful at every intersection. They say just about everywhere is tricky to navigate during the morning and afternoon commutes.

“What we’ll do oftentimes is we just have to shut down, which means turn off our lights and sirens and just wait calmly for the light to change, which can be a number of seconds or up to a couple of minutes,” Emery said. “Once the light changes, we’ll be able to proceed in caution and go where we need to go.”

They want to clear the air about what drivers should do to clear the way. When a driver sees an emergency vehicle, signal to the right and pull over when it’s safe. If that’s not an option, just stop.

“Just stay in place would be the safest thing for them to do, and then when it’s safe enough or when we’re approaching the scene or them, we’ll safely navigate to our left around them,” Emery said.

They don’t want drivers to turn left, because that is the route they will often take to get around traffic. They also don’t want drivers to blow through an intersection, because that could put them at risk.

Drivers who don’t yield to emergency vehicles using its lights and sirens could get busted.

“Following too closely to an emergency vehicle, you’re looking at $367,” said CHP Officer Oscar Loza. “Failing to yield to the right is $490 and not moving over or slowing down is $367.”

Because it’s a moving violation, someone’s driving record and insurance rates could also take a hit.

Slowing down an emergency vehicle is not worth what could be at stake.

“If my mom or dad were at home and something was happening, I think they (drivers) should just let them go so they can proceed and get to that emergency,” Salinas resident Ivan Casillas said. “They have to go and take care of that people.”