Move over for emergency responders

Grants Pass, Ore. — First responders are asking the public to obey traffic laws when they are on scene of an incident.

Recent weather conditions may be affecting the visibility of drivers on the road but Rural Metro Fire says the dangers don’t stop there.

Emergency response personnel have noticed most drivers on the road are not following safety regulations upon passing the scene of an accident.

Often times emergency personnel are responding to an area that is already a hazard in itself. The change in weather does not help alleviate the situation, but emergency personnel say the most prevalent danger is other drivers who do not follow the law when crossing through a recent traffic accident. "Most drivers continue driving at full speed and fail to switch lanes as recommended by law," Rural Metro Fire Division Chief Austin Prince said.

According to Rural Metro Fire staff, most traffic incidents occur in the same locations, sharp turns, twisting roads and places that take drivers by surprise

“Our exposure to the risk of being out there is elevated by the continued traffic going through our incident scene because we like to keep the traffic flow moving so when were doing that we try to set up as much advanced notice as we can for an emergency responder we have cones and flares and signs that we can put up but a lot of times thats not enough,” Prince said. “The road might be excessively wet and slippery just due to rain so when were in those same locations tending to the accident scene we have to try to deal with traffic that continues to flow past the scene as well and keep traffic moving.”

Chief Prince said that first responders are always suppose to attempt to get as much advanced warning out before the crash location. They may do so using cones, road flares and signs.

“It gives motorist that are coming up on our crash scene notice to get over into another lane,” Prince said. “However in emergency situations like that we may not carry enough of the equipment, cones and flares and stuff, and we may not have enough time it takes to set that pattern up.”

Rural Metro Fire responds to car accidents all year long, whether it may be because of speeding in the summer months or due to weather conditions in the winter.

At any time they recommend drivers stay focused and look ahead of whatever may come, in order to have time and respond accordingly.