Firemen with blue lights on vehicles

[HiredGoon]

Was just wondering...is a motorist in PA legally required to give the right of way to a private vehicle with a flashing blue (no red; just blue) emergency light? Such as a volunteer fireman? I think not, since it is not an official vehicle (thus the blue-only lights). I believe volunteer fire chiefs only can use a red light...in which case of course, a right of way must legally be given.
Is it correct to say that giving way to a vehicle with a blue light would be....a courtesy?
Any thoughts or facts from the LEOs here?

[JustinM]

I don't see any reason to not give right of way to someone on their way to an emergency.....

Edit: Being a volunteer fireman for 7 years, and growing up with my dad as a fire chief and PSP, I can tell you it's very frustrating to be on your way to a scene and have some asshole refuse to pull over. I don't even see where the debate is coming from. If there's a vehicle on their way to an emergency, and you have a problem pulling over, then you're no better than the people we see on the news complaining about how they don't feel safe in their houses now because the Police/Fire/EMS didn't respont fast enough, etc... (yet they themselves have never done anything to better their nightborhood by joining a Fire Dept, etc...)


If you don't have a blue/red light in your car, then you need to pull your ass over and let those who ARE on their way to go climb into a burning building do their job.

[Warners Surplus]

I'm not sure on the law but

people that refuse to yield to a VOLUNTEER fireman with flashing blue lights are the same people who will complain if thier house burns to the ground because the fireman couldn't get there quick enough.

I see people refuse to pull over all the time and all I can say is WHY?
someone obviously NEEDS thier help, why would you not let them pass?



Rich

[fat_frog]

Blue lights are so called "Courtesy lights." Blue lights don't give them the rights to ignore the law... They're still required to follow the traffic law just like anyone else. People can be nice to the vehicle with blue lights, but they're not obligated to do so.

I'm with a local SAR, and I can have blue lights if I want to. I will probably not get them, though... It's more confusing to everyone around...

[ar15jules]

I will yield to a blue light. As posted, they are not considered Emergency Vehicles in the Vehicle Code, but as others have said, they are trying to respond to the station or a scene. I do have problems with someone running a blue light and blowing stop signs and traffic signals while blinking there high beams to simulate some wig wags and T Boning someone in the intersection. One bad apple always ruins the bunch. Even a red light is useless without an audible signal, even according to the Vehicle Code. I feel bad for anyone running a blue light who injures someone while violating a traffic law. They should get their ass sued off.
Jules

[Steve in PA]

As already stated, those blue lights are "courtesy lights" and are used when the person, normally a volunteer is on their way either to the station or to a call.

Yes you should yield to them.

However, there are some volunteers who think they mean they can drive like a bat out of hell, passing in the wrong lane, speeding (more than one would let slide, etc).

In my jurisdiction, we had one volunteer run a marked car off the road!!! Needless to say he was cited by the officer.

[XD45]

i dont believe its a law to yield to them, but its kinda the would u want someone not yielding when they are responding to your house thing...


with that being said, some of the light setups those hoopy fireman come up with are comical!

[ithinkimamedic]

I dispise BLUE lights! That being said I do have on in my car for when I arrive on a scene and am off duty. Prior to getting my FT job as a medic I was a vol deputy Cheif w/ our EMS company and had red lights and siren in my truck. When ever I used my lights I used my siren as well per company SOG as well as the state (dont remember the statute sorry).

Untill this past sunday morning when we got tagged for a 34 y/o F cardiac arrest and the ONLY medic in the county was 10miles away when it went out I have not used my light in close to a year and a half. I used it (figureing it was a feutile effort) that morning reluctantly and people ended up moving. I beat the first medic unit but not BLS. I did not speed once, run a light or stop sign or drive agressivly, in fact I didn't want to get their first.

I have seen LOTS of wackers in their first couple of years gettin a hard on for their blue lights, spending hundreds of dollars on stupid shit they dont need, to each their own.
It is appreciated by the users of said light that you move but if it is your decision to not move don't say a word about how long it takes for the emergency vehicle takes to get to your emergency!

ok... I'm done now, will get off the soap box.
josh

[Kenshin]

Originally Posted by XD45

with that being said, some of the light setups those hoopy fireman come up with are comical!

Yea and they cost and arm and a leg too. Take a gander into how much those lights cost and then think about how much it costs to deck a firetruck and or police car out with them....

[Warners Surplus]

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

As already stated, those blue lights are "courtesy lights" and are used when the person, normally a volunteer is on their way either to the station or to a call.

Yes you should yield to them.

However, there are some volunteers who think they mean they can drive like a bat out of hell, passing in the wrong lane, speeding (more than one would let slide, etc).

In my jurisdiction, we had one volunteer run a marked car off the road!!! Needless to say he was cited by the officer.

Sound to me like that officers has met my father

Before he passed he was a volunteer fireman for as long as I can remember and when that wistle blew WOW! I think he would have ran over my mom if she didn't move quick enough.



Rich