we had an issue with people not moving. They'd claim they "didn't hear us or didn't see the lights". A couple of PoVs installed train horns. problem solved.
What I'd suggest is a law that if a vehicle fails to give way to or delays an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens operating, the video should be used as evidence to suspend the license of the registered owner for 30 days. (If they claim they weren't driving, they'll have to provide evidence). For a second offence within 5 years, the suspension should become 3 months. For any subsequent offence within the 5 year limit, their license should be cancelled and they should be disqualified from getting a new license for 1 year. That way, they have to do the whole license test all over again and (hopefully) learn what to do.
"(If they claim they weren't driving, they'll have to provide evidence)" That is not how the law works. The burden of evidence falls on the accuser, not the accused. It would be unconstitutional for them to be forced to prove they were not driving.
I used to volunteer and I live in GA. When I rode on the truck or behind it, literally half the people on the roadway don't care if you are responding to an emergency. Some don't even yield to PD. I talked to a deputy and what they do is watch the footage off the squad cars and write citations and hand deliver them in person (I live in a small county). I don't understand how people can't hear the 120 dB Q screaming, so we make sure to really let them know by draining the tank!
Hey same here lol. And I have the sand issues. Especially out here on rural ga people don't care until it's them or their family or house we are responding for
I was in EMS/Fire in the mid 80's to mid 90's. I think if I was up-fitting a new POV today I'd shell-out for one of those "rumbler-type" sirens. They scare the crap out of me when I hear them!!!!
I'd stop using that phaser and electronic air horn... Keep using those two wails going... Most people can't hear the Phaser it seems until you are right on top of them, same with the air horn, I think your car horn was louder than that electronic one. Great driving and video!!!
If I was responding with a POV in your area I would equip it with the following: First off, I'd focus on front warning and early visibility because there seem to be almost no intersections. I'd also only use Whelen lights & sirens - I simply made the best experiences with them and I haven't seen anything brighter than their lights. - headlight flashers - still one of the best methods for long distance warning and very cheap - you only need to install the module and you're good to go! :) - a dash light (definitely a Whelen Avenger II) - a Whelen lightbar, most likely the Legacy since it's pretty thin, equipped with red/ blue corner modules as well as white lights/ flashing takedowns in the front. - maybe large and very bright grill lights like the Whelen M7
I enjoy watching your videos, great response! I like the dual siren setup too, although have you considered swapping your STL siren for another Code 3 unit or something much louder?
There's no excuse for not yielding. It's even worse in PA where you technically can't use your horn with blue light, but we do it anyway. I even put an air horn on my crown vic and people still don't notice or just don't care, it's disgusting.
You should check your own state laws. It's what makes them "special." Article 26 - NY Vehicle and Traffic Law S 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles. (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
Matt Lane I'm heading to an emergency. And when I'm running lights, it's a real emergency like a wreck a fire or a medical call. That's what makes me so special on the road.
Cohiba Fox So get the job and then you can run the red lights and people will have to, while you want to be a volly, then you must go by the law. As for the poster who quoted NY law, ya, no volly can run red so no one needs to move over for them. Sorry if that is the case all tow trucks, plow vehicles etc are even more special than you. Tow trucks are sometimes needed to stabilize the vehicles before anyone can start extraction, open the roadway, plow vehicles pickups to med duty trucks are all running heavy, large plow on the front. Yet no one must yield to them. Fun fact, a postal vehicle has the right away over *everything* on the road, firetruck, ambulance, cop etc... most wrecks, fires, etc... aint a life or death deal... don't flatter yourself.
Matt Lane it ain't that simple when you live in a small town. If I could be paid to fight fires, would seize the opportunity so fast. But moving is out of the question right now. Also as I volunteer, I'm getting free training. It's not that big of an inconvenience to just pull over for second and let me by.
My town allows firefighters and EMT's to drive personal vehicles to scenes if it will expedite their response to the scene. Often they will display a red flashing light or use light and siren. Always however they will have 'Firefighter' on their license plate.
Ya, i thought it was something like that. I live in a small town, so its like that. but lately, we have had some action. two vehicle car crashes on our highway, and a dead body from a drowning. Of corse, i dont hear all the chatter, but hopefully I will soon, i might be getting a scanner for my birthday or Christmas
People who don't move over to the shoulder while slowing to make a right hand turn piss me the fuck off and especially when they come to a complete stop in the highway to turn. And when people don't yield to cops, EMS or fire trucks that just pisses me off the most. People need to think about how they'd feel if a family member or themselves died bc it took longer to get to the emergency bc dumbass people wouldn't get out of the way
thanks for this video man, Im sad because a youtube star named Caleb Logan, from a family vlogging channel called Bratayley died from "an undetected medical condition" at the age of 13. And your video semi took my mind off his death. so thank you
Even better suggestion is to have a front seat passenger who can ride as a shotgun and if you have a driver who claims that they didn't see you or hear the siren make sure that you have the license plate number to give to the Police.
Seven minutes to even get to the station? Does every victim of a fire or MVA die in rural texas? As an european I might have no idea of the huge distances and open lands. I live in rural europe though and my volunteer dep. does 5-10 minutes on scene most of the time.
In rural Texas, yes, it takes time to make it to the station. There are many places where fire stations or towns are 20 to 30 miles apart. I live 6 miles from my station. To answer your question about eveyone dying in rural Texas due to MVA's? No they don't. Statistically, you have a greater chance of dying in a MVA in more urban settings.
It's the law to move over for emergency vehicles. In the State of Texas, under the proper authority, that means POVs. There is no law for "courtesy lights" here. And because of that, running code without lights AND siren here will just get you ignored. Every state has either slightly different or vastly different laws regarding this, but here, we run lights and sirens. (Controlled by State traffic code and individual city ordinances and departments)
Every jurisdiction should use the same laws for volunteer POV response. It would be a lot less confusing for the public. We respond direct to scene and courtesy lights are useless most of the time.
+Dustin Amy well.. no. that depends on the law... Since POVs do not fully qualifies as emergency vehicles. ( definition of emergency vehicle is a vehicle classified as such by the director of Public Safety) so billy bob as a volunteer fireman or EMS worker throwing a light in his 15 year old chevy truck with camo on it does not work like that... Regardless if his Chief or Commander gave him permission, it still has to be deemed by the State... here thats what always is happening... some dont say anything, others will break out the ticket book.... also if your lights cause a wreck, the attorney will crucify you for it because you are not protected under the same rights as marked Police, Fire, EMS vehicles that are deemed so by the state itself... in other words it's more of a do at your own risk scenario..
+Anakin Howard that why I said "under the proper authority". The State of Texas a Traffic Code deems volunteers POV properly equipped an emergency vehicle. Then hat ordinance can be enhanced by the county, or municipality, and finally, the Fire Chief. If all the stars align in that regard, then a POV IS an emergency vehicle.
you need to replace that STL SIREN sounds like you have. buy a federal signal pa 300 siren. you need something that is a better siren and the federal signal pa 300 is and the price on them isn't bad.
A lot of it could do with your speed coming into that intersection. At 55mph, the posted speed limit on the road (which I am almost sure you weren't doing), the car often outruns the sound waves from an electronic siren. Mechanical sirens, on the other hand, are much more effective because they create a spiraling sound wave with a penetrating force up to about 120mph, minimizing speed as a concern.
+Vincent Donaghey What?? The only way to outrun the sound of your own siren would be to travel at 768mph... You would have to break the sound barrier -_-
+Just a Random Dude That's actually incorrect. An electronic siren sends out flatter sound waves than a mechanical siren. There are many dead spots in the waveform of an electronic siren. A normal sound wave from an electronic siren is capable of being outrun anywhere between 55-65mph. You can actually look it up if you'd like. It's the first thing they teach you in Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course. You might want to check your facts before trying to make someone else look dumb.
+Vincent Donaghey You cant outrun soundwaves with a car, that's just facts. You can however, if infront of the siren end up in a node line, or the sound might disappear because of destructive waves, or the sound might alter because of the doppler effect. But you will NEVER outrun soundwaves. It's basic physics.
I used to be a volunteer many years ago. We had the Q sirens at first and everyone could hear you coming. In 1975 we got a new Mack pumper with and electronic siren. It was crap in comparison. Give me a Q any day. Good video.....long haul. Stay safe
I'm actually surprised that you can use a siren. Where I live (Ontario, Canada), volunteer firefighters and EMS can only use green strobe lights, and no siren. Plus, it's considered a "courtesy light", which means that drivers are under no obligation to yield. You must drive like any other vehicle, you cannot clear intersections or obligate others to react to your vehicle. What's also interesting, is that only 2 volunteer EMS agencies have "Green light rights", St. John Ambulance (Which I am a member of), and Hatzolah Toronto (Jewish Community EMS, there are similar agencies in the US). For St. John's, many units don't allow the use of these lights, even though it's permitted under Ontario's traffic law. Only marked vehicles (Our ambulances, and vans/SUV's) are allowed to have them. I would assume the only units that use them, are rural units (Northern Ontario, where EMS coverage is spotty), who get paged to calls.
POV is Personally Owned Vehicle (as in, your regular daily car/truck, NOT a Fire Truck or ambulance etc) All 50 States in America have their own laws, and they vary greatly. But, For simplicity in answering your question, I'll just say as a general statement- Because most (about 78%) of America's Firefighters are "volunteer" - That is, they answer 911 calls from their homes - they are allowed to put flashing lights and sirens (just like an ambulance or police car) on their regular cars so that drivers will get out of their way when they are trying to either get to the station to pick up a Fire Truck, or just get to the actual scene of the emergency.
I have an STL Final 100 and a Code 3 3050 remote. the Code 3 has wail and yelp only, and greatly overpowers the STL. but together they work fine. I like STL products, but their sirens are way behind.
OMG i cant believe how much of that un1051 you have on those rail cars, must have been 30 of them hope that dont derail it will kill lot of people www.alpharubicon.com/basicnbc/hazmatprepremindertennfsar.htm
What makes your Pov an Emergency vehicle. The lights and siren. A emergency vehicle is a vehicle equipped with everything needed as water, medical supplies, Co2 detector and a way to shut off the gas in this case. When responding pov your asking for the right way. They not obligated to give it too you. I’m on your side but that is how the law is written. I retired after doing Fire/Ems for 35 years. We back in the day had to pass a emergency vehicle operations course before we could respond with our lights and all in our povs. May god bless you and your department
Your right, But just to let you know that I saw on the public safety magazine I receive that there is a review going on to make every state emergency vehicle laws the same after investigation that some states laws on firemen Pov and paid fire chiefs vehicles were in violation of emergency response laws. This will hopefully be helpful for everyone involved and make it the same in every state. Be safe
How about if people just pull there heads out of there asses and STAY OF THERE PHONE AND PAY ATTENTION!!! TRY LOOKING AND BE MORE OBSERVANT!! it would make a world of difference for everyone in lots of situations. .....
Today's modern vehicles are made to be as quiet as possible inside the cab. Unless my windows are down, I most likely won't hear you coming, and when I do, I have no idea from what direction the siren is coming from or going. I don't recognize povs as emergency vehicles. If you don't have the exact same equipment as an official vehicle, it's your responsibility to get there as safe as you can, not my responsibility to figure out who you are. Another thing, you're telling me no one was closer and you have to drive that far just to get to a station? No wonder it takes forever for help to arrive. I can get to the er going the speed limit in 10-15 min. In an emergency, 5 min. Time it takes for anyone to show up dialing 911, 45 min.
Whatever the driver should do or should not do, decreasing your following distance to < 1/2 second is a bad idea. How many of these people do hit their brakes as a reaction to seeing the lights? If you wind up rear ending one of these guys you won't like the conclusion of the insurance company or a court. Other drivers only have a duty to yield once they see you. Prior to that they have zero obligation to yield.
Here you have to follow the same laws as a regular car and can only go 5 miles over the speed limit in a pov. It's rediculous running sirens on a pov. Run duty crews if need be.
In Texas, POVs are considered full on authorized emergency vehicles after being approved by the local fire chief. That means they can use red lights and a siren, and pass red lights.
Makes me feel bad for the vollys in my state of CO who deal with this, and not even a bit for the idiots who don't yield and get stopped b/c the POV was registered XD (In CALARADA we can run reds and airhorns, but we need to register our vehicle as an EV to run sirens at which point it is technically a "fire truck." Hilarious when troopers pull people over who didn't know that)
I can't stand ambulances that don't have air horns. The ambulance in this video is likely a van cab and chassis or pickup truck cab and chassis. The ambulances in my town are Freightliners and they're LOAD AS F*CK! If you can't see them coming, then you shouldn't be driving.
You have miles of empty road ahead so why the sirens all the time? here in the UK they only use them approaching junctions or traffic. Blue lights the rest of the time
I can understand moving out of the way for an emergency vehicle. What I do not understand is why you would move from Lane 1, to the hard shoulder when an emergency vehicle is travelling in a straight line down Lane 2.
+Ryan O'Malley To give enough space to pass by safely. There are radios, cell phones, sirens and other distractions going on. Not to mention the adrenaline rush during all this. So the safer you can make the pass, the better.
I was thinking that same thing. You're more likely to hit something and have a problem going onto the shoulder than continuing in lane 1. In the UK we would only use the shoulder if the traffic is very heavy and/or stationary and even then the emergency vehicle would switch to using the shoulder rather than members of the public.
I know it's frustrating when a vehicle won't move, but however you could've easily moved into the other lane to go around them. Maybe they were hard of hearing or maybe deaf, ? All emergency vehicle's still must obey all traffic law's
Well I don't know where you live, but I assume it's in a state that doesn't allow audible devices on pov's. Many states, including Texas, where I am, do allow sirens. Frankly, in my personal opinion lights should not be used without a siren. There are drivers that won't see lights, then there are those that don't hear sirens. I have looked at the laws in many states, I think I even found a website that had all of them. Most all states at least allow chief officers to run full code 3. And I am a chief officer, so at least I pass that rule. The state traffic code requires lights AND siren, with special consideration to law enforcement here. In my dept, our SOP says that a siren must be used, I feel it would be unsafe to respond code 3 without both.
+mojaveman The following definitions are the top results - copied and pasted - on Google for "talking shit" and "talk shit" respectively (all from Urban Dictionary - it's not in Merriam-Webster) 1. _talking the talk, but failing to walk the walk_ 2. _Filling the air with noise pollution or constant garbage_ 3. _To make a statement that is exaggerated or flat-out untrue_ 4. _To exagerate greatly, to out and out lie, especially when concerning one's own accomplishments._ *Based on numbers 1, 2 and 3, and also the spirit of #4 - all **_"other people's"_** definitions - I fully stand by my comment. Thank you.*
***** I love educating people that do not understand the law. Register owner is not responsible for the action of the driver. Which means unless cop is around and pull vehicle over, no ticket will be issued. So no nice try
aceshot4095 You are wrong, that is only for a) red light tickets because they have video of the driver and picture of the plate. Even then you can tell the court it wasn't me driving and the ticket will get dismissed if it wasn't you driving. That do not work the same way with failure to yield. b)The other ticket that can be mailed is parking ticket being it's issued to the vehicle it self. So again nice try but no you are also are wrong.
+Michael Lawn In Michigan, If a Emergency Vehicles (any kind) dash-cam catches a driver not yielding for them, they can be ticketed. It goes to the owner of the vehicle. Responders can also radio in the description of the vehicle and PD will find you.
GerpherTheGamer You seem not to understand that register owner is not responsible for the action of the driver. This type of tickets are called moving violation which means it impacts the driver. As such no, unless cop witness violation nothing can happen being officer do not know who was/is actually operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
People who don't move over to the shoulder while slowing to make a right hand turn piss me the fuck off and especially when they come to a complete stop in the highway to turn. And when people don't yield to cops, EMS or fire trucks that just pisses me off the most. People need to think about how they'd feel if a family member or themselves died bc it took longer to get to the emergency bc dumbass people wouldn't get out of the way
I truly believe, in my 7 years of driving emergency, I've never run into someone who just "didn't want to yield". I honestly believe that they just don't see me. Cars are far better insulated now, drivers are blasting the radio (as I occasionally do too), and worst of all, the cell phones. Every time I have a "failure to yield", much like the car in this video, you can tell they didn't see you, because as soon as they do, they immediately move (usually in a hazardous manner)
+Dave Carsley I can tell you here in south Mississippi, drivers see you coming, Fire or pov, they out run you! Most succeed until they come up behind a driver that is just putzin along. Then again, unless your in a "city", there aren't any many shoulders to pull off on. And when you do pass them they complain to the fire co-ordinator. Some have actually submitted written complaints about us passing them...smh...I'm on a leave of absence because I can't stand the bullshit from the community anymore, let alone someone who can't tell the callers or complainers to yield, come sign up and help or, file a traffic complaint with the appropriate authorities, I'd love to waste somebodies time and money in court! They will never win! and don't get me wrong, I agree with your second and third paragraph. I've seen this also. (33 yrs in the vol. service.)
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
we had an issue with people not moving. They'd claim they "didn't hear us or didn't see the lights". A couple of PoVs installed train horns. problem solved.
Big deaf population in my area, but I work nights... if they cant see the lights at least then they have no right driving.
Train Horns will do the trick!
Guess what im installing next week!
What I'd suggest is a law that if a vehicle fails to give way to or delays an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens operating, the video should be used as evidence to suspend the license of the registered owner for 30 days. (If they claim they weren't driving, they'll have to provide evidence).
For a second offence within 5 years, the suspension should become 3 months. For any subsequent offence within the 5 year limit, their license should be cancelled and they should be disqualified from getting a new license for 1 year. That way, they have to do the whole license test all over again and (hopefully) learn what to do.
JasonMasters I agree the video should be used, but would want something more than a 30 day suspension.
"(If they claim they weren't driving, they'll have to provide evidence)"
That is not how the law works. The burden of evidence falls on the accuser, not the accused. It would be unconstitutional for them to be forced to prove they were not driving.
I used to volunteer and I live in GA. When I rode on the truck or behind it, literally half the people on the roadway don't care if you are responding to an emergency. Some don't even yield to PD. I talked to a deputy and what they do is watch the footage off the squad cars and write citations and hand deliver them in person (I live in a small county). I don't understand how people can't hear the 120 dB Q screaming, so we make sure to really let them know by draining the tank!
Hey same here lol. And I have the sand issues. Especially out here on rural ga people don't care until it's them or their family or house we are responding for
I was in EMS/Fire in the mid 80's to mid 90's. I think if I was up-fitting a new POV today I'd shell-out for one of those "rumbler-type" sirens. They scare the crap out of me when I hear them!!!!
JESUS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY HIGHWAY RAILROAD CROSSINGS
Drive to Sandusky,OH from Columbus,OH,at least 5 railroad crossings on those highways
4:00 Drivers like that guy infront of you becomes more and more common in the states.
I'd stop using that phaser and electronic air horn... Keep using those two wails going... Most people can't hear the Phaser it seems until you are right on top of them, same with the air horn, I think your car horn was louder than that electronic one.
Great driving and video!!!
That's the point of the Phaser. Use it when you are on top of the traffic at a junction.
If I was responding with a POV in your area I would equip it with the following:
First off, I'd focus on front warning and early visibility because there seem to be almost no intersections. I'd also only use Whelen lights & sirens - I simply made the best experiences with them and I haven't seen anything brighter than their lights.
- headlight flashers - still one of the best methods for long distance warning and very cheap - you only need to install the module and you're good to go! :)
- a dash light (definitely a Whelen Avenger II)
- a Whelen lightbar, most likely the Legacy since it's pretty thin, equipped with red/ blue corner modules as well as white lights/ flashing takedowns in the front.
- maybe large and very bright grill lights like the Whelen M7
I enjoy watching your videos, great response! I like the dual siren setup too, although have you considered swapping your STL siren for another Code 3 unit or something much louder?
There's no excuse for not yielding. It's even worse in PA where you technically can't use your horn with blue light, but we do it anyway. I even put an air horn on my crown vic and people still don't notice or just don't care, it's disgusting.
Why should people move over for you if they don't have to by law? Like what makes you so special?
You should check your own state laws. It's what makes them "special."
Article 26 - NY Vehicle and Traffic Law
S 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency
vehicles. (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light
visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five
hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or
bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when
audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust
whistle, bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every
other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive
to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right-hand
edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway
three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop
and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has
passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
Matt Lane I'm heading to an emergency. And when I'm running lights, it's a real emergency like a wreck a fire or a medical call. That's what makes me so special on the road.
Cohiba Fox So get the job and then you can run the red lights and people will have to, while you want to be a volly, then you must go by the law. As for the poster who quoted NY law, ya, no volly can run red so no one needs to move over for them. Sorry if that is the case all tow trucks, plow vehicles etc are even more special than you. Tow trucks are sometimes needed to stabilize the vehicles before anyone can start extraction, open the roadway, plow vehicles pickups to med duty trucks are all running heavy, large plow on the front. Yet no one must yield to them. Fun fact, a postal vehicle has the right away over *everything* on the road, firetruck, ambulance, cop etc... most wrecks, fires, etc... aint a life or death deal... don't flatter yourself.
Matt Lane it ain't that simple when you live in a small town. If I could be paid to fight fires, would seize the opportunity so fast. But moving is out of the question right now. Also as I volunteer, I'm getting free training. It's not that big of an inconvenience to just pull over for second and let me by.
My town allows firefighters and EMT's to drive personal vehicles to scenes if it will expedite their response to the scene. Often they will display a red flashing light or use light and siren. Always however they will have 'Firefighter' on their license plate.
Man, i wish you could upload more often then a month, ive watched like every pov video, and idk what to watch now xD
Well, we don't have a high call volume at my DEPT, and I don't upload everything, because of HIPPA or other privacy concerns. But I post most of them.
Ya, i thought it was something like that. I live in a small town, so its like that. but lately, we have had some action. two vehicle car crashes on our highway, and a dead body from a drowning.
Of corse, i dont hear all the chatter, but hopefully I will soon, i might be getting a scanner for my birthday or Christmas
Great Video, Keep them coming, Updated Lighting/Siren Display Video?
Awesome Response! People need to yield for emergency vehicles, Gets Old!!
People who don't move over to the shoulder while slowing to make a right hand turn piss me the fuck off and especially when they come to a complete stop in the highway to turn. And when people don't yield to cops, EMS or fire trucks that just pisses me off the most. People need to think about how they'd feel if a family member or themselves died bc it took longer to get to the emergency bc dumbass people wouldn't get out of the way
Thats why I always liked the rumbler. You can be deaf and blind but it doesn't matter because you will FEEL the rumbler.
thanks for this video man, Im sad because a youtube star named Caleb Logan, from a family vlogging channel called Bratayley died from "an undetected medical condition" at the age of 13. And your video semi took my mind off his death. so thank you
Even better suggestion is to have a front seat passenger who can ride as a shotgun and if you have a driver who claims that they didn't see you or hear the siren make sure that you have the license plate number to give to the Police.
What sirens are you using there please? Sounds like a dual combination.
Seven minutes to even get to the station? Does every victim of a fire or MVA die in rural texas?
As an european I might have no idea of the huge distances and open lands. I live in rural europe though and my volunteer dep. does 5-10 minutes on scene most of the time.
In rural Texas, yes, it takes time to make it to the station. There are many places where fire stations or towns are 20 to 30 miles apart. I live 6 miles from my station. To answer your question about eveyone dying in rural Texas due to MVA's? No they don't. Statistically, you have a greater chance of dying in a MVA in more urban settings.
Is it law to move over for pov's in your state? Where I live our lights are on courtesy so people failing to yield is a usual thing.
It's the law to move over for emergency vehicles. In the State of Texas, under the proper authority, that means POVs. There is no law for "courtesy lights" here. And because of that, running code without lights AND siren here will just get you ignored. Every state has either slightly different or vastly different laws regarding this, but here, we run lights and sirens. (Controlled by State traffic code and individual city ordinances and departments)
Every jurisdiction should use the same laws for volunteer POV response. It would be a lot less confusing for the public. We respond direct to scene and courtesy lights are useless most of the time.
+Dustin Amy well.. no. that depends on the law... Since POVs do not fully qualifies as emergency vehicles. ( definition of emergency vehicle is a vehicle classified as such by the director of Public Safety) so billy bob as a volunteer fireman or EMS worker throwing a light in his 15 year old chevy truck with camo on it does not work like that... Regardless if his Chief or Commander gave him permission, it still has to be deemed by the State... here thats what always is happening... some dont say anything, others will break out the ticket book.... also if your lights cause a wreck, the attorney will crucify you for it because you are not protected under the same rights as marked Police, Fire, EMS vehicles that are deemed so by the state itself... in other words it's more of a do at your own risk scenario..
+Anakin Howard that why I said "under the proper authority". The State of Texas a Traffic Code deems volunteers POV properly equipped an emergency vehicle. Then hat ordinance can be enhanced by the county, or municipality, and finally, the Fire Chief. If all the stars align in that regard, then a POV IS an emergency vehicle.
Is that a Feniex Storm Pro & a Code 3 3050 I hear?
+Adam B, you got the 3050 correct, but the other is an STL Final
+Dustin Amy nice I run the Code 3 3000 same thing but no airhorn with a Unitrol Omega U90. They seem to be so much louder than more modern sirens.
you need to replace that STL SIREN sounds like you have. buy a federal signal pa 300 siren. you need something that is a better siren and the federal signal pa 300 is and the price on them isn't bad.
I agree, I took the stl final out and put a galls st160. Much better.
In Houston drivers never yield emergency vehicles it's horrible and whoever does this deserves a hefty ticket
What state is this? Most states dont allow POV vehicles to have red and blue lights.
What's the M35 used for?
Ok I got a question? The red light u came thru, did the camera not give u a ticket? I
A lot of it could do with your speed coming into that intersection. At 55mph, the posted speed limit on the road (which I am almost sure you weren't doing), the car often outruns the sound waves from an electronic siren. Mechanical sirens, on the other hand, are much more effective because they create a spiraling sound wave with a penetrating force up to about 120mph, minimizing speed as a concern.
+Vincent Donaghey What?? The only way to outrun the sound of your own siren would be to travel at 768mph... You would have to break the sound barrier -_-
+Just a Random Dude That's actually incorrect. An electronic siren sends out flatter sound waves than a mechanical siren. There are many dead spots in the waveform of an electronic siren. A normal sound wave from an electronic siren is capable of being outrun anywhere between 55-65mph. You can actually look it up if you'd like. It's the first thing they teach you in Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course. You might want to check your facts before trying to make someone else look dumb.
+Vincent Donaghey You cant outrun soundwaves with a car, that's just facts. You can however, if infront of the siren end up in a node line, or the sound might disappear because of destructive waves, or the sound might alter because of the doppler effect.
But you will NEVER outrun soundwaves. It's basic physics.
I used to be a volunteer many years ago. We had the Q sirens at first and everyone could hear you coming. In 1975 we got a new Mack pumper with and electronic siren. It was crap in comparison. Give me a Q any day. Good video.....long haul. Stay safe
That's some truck.
Does the speedo go to an even 800mph? Or does it stop at 768mph?
Do you have a video of your light setup
Yes, I do. It's on my channel.
Man oh man, that fool motorist hitting the brakes in the left lane...unbelievable!
This is the sort of time you fit a semi horn and make them move with that
7 min response time, holy shit... I mean gosh I get it's more south but we have an engine rolling with a full crew in under two and we are volunteer
No you don't
+Dave Carsley My department does...if they're doing a shift at the station xD
+Dave Carsley right?
I call BS. Here in the UK our retained stations have 5 minutes to get to the station and go.
I'm actually surprised that you can use a siren. Where I live (Ontario, Canada), volunteer firefighters and EMS can only use green strobe lights, and no siren. Plus, it's considered a "courtesy light", which means that drivers are under no obligation to yield. You must drive like any other vehicle, you cannot clear intersections or obligate others to react to your vehicle.
What's also interesting, is that only 2 volunteer EMS agencies have "Green light rights", St. John Ambulance (Which I am a member of), and Hatzolah Toronto (Jewish Community EMS, there are similar agencies in the US). For St. John's, many units don't allow the use of these lights, even though it's permitted under Ontario's traffic law. Only marked vehicles (Our ambulances, and vans/SUV's) are allowed to have them. I would assume the only units that use them, are rural units (Northern Ontario, where EMS coverage is spotty), who get paged to calls.
+Jared Trombetta Here in NC, red lights are permitted, sirens are only allowed by chiefs. And the lights cannot be on top of your car, unless a chief.
I'm in Ontario too. I have a POV video up on my channel. People don't yield worth shit and they don't have to which pisses everyone off.
what does pov response means?
who is when allowed to use it?
I am from germany, that's why I do not know this...:D
POV is Personally Owned Vehicle (as in, your regular daily car/truck, NOT a Fire Truck or ambulance etc)
All 50 States in America have their own laws, and they vary greatly. But, For simplicity in answering your question, I'll just say as a general statement-
Because most (about 78%) of America's Firefighters are "volunteer" - That is, they answer 911 calls from their homes - they are allowed to put flashing lights and sirens (just like an ambulance or police car) on their regular cars so that drivers will get out of their way when they are trying to either get to the station to pick up a Fire Truck, or just get to the actual scene of the emergency.
+Dave Carsley I am a volunteer in the German red kross, but in Germany it is not allowed to do this...I will come to america! : D
+Dave Carsley and thank you for your nice answer
Thanks for explaining. Love the video.
3:00 your lucky that the train just passed
that train wasn't even moving....
Those tank cares are always sitting there
what sirens do u have
I have an STL Final 100 and a Code 3 3050 remote. the Code 3 has wail and yelp only, and greatly overpowers the STL. but together they work fine. I like STL products, but their sirens are way behind.
if I was a firefighter and some one didn't yield I would give them the finger when I pass
If you're giving people the finger you're really not mature enough to be driving emergency vehicles.
Zach Walker they just report them to the police and the said driver gets a ticket in the mail.
OMG i cant believe how much of that un1051 you have on those rail cars, must have been 30 of them hope that dont derail it will kill lot of people www.alpharubicon.com/basicnbc/hazmatprepremindertennfsar.htm
try cargo decoder for your phone its awesome
What makes your Pov an Emergency vehicle. The lights and siren. A emergency vehicle is a vehicle equipped with everything needed as water, medical supplies, Co2 detector and a way to shut off the gas in this case. When responding pov your asking for the right way. They not obligated to give it too you. I’m on your side but that is how the law is written. I retired after doing Fire/Ems for 35 years. We back in the day had to pass a emergency vehicle operations course before we could respond with our lights and all in our povs. May god bless you and your department
It's differs from state to state
Your right, But just to let you know that I saw on the public safety magazine I receive that there is a review going on to make every state emergency vehicle laws the same after investigation that some states laws on firemen Pov and paid fire chiefs vehicles were in violation of emergency response laws. This will hopefully be helpful for everyone involved and make it the same in every state. Be safe
Love the video.
How about if people just pull there heads out of there asses and STAY OF THERE PHONE AND PAY ATTENTION!!! TRY LOOKING AND BE MORE OBSERVANT!! it would make a world of difference for everyone in lots of situations. .....
Today's modern vehicles are made to be as quiet as possible inside the cab. Unless my windows are down, I most likely won't hear you coming, and when I do, I have no idea from what direction the siren is coming from or going. I don't recognize povs as emergency vehicles. If you don't have the exact same equipment as an official vehicle, it's your responsibility to get there as safe as you can, not my responsibility to figure out who you are. Another thing, you're telling me no one was closer and you have to drive that far just to get to a station? No wonder it takes forever for help to arrive. I can get to the er going the speed limit in 10-15 min. In an emergency, 5 min. Time it takes for anyone to show up dialing 911, 45 min.
looks like southern texas or louisiana... I bet texas because the traffic light hand side ways..
and that whole "Corpus Christi" Freeway sign, and the Texas plate on the Kia at the end, and all the other license plates in the video :-)
+Dave Carsley lol, you and I would get along just fine.
Whatever the driver should do or should not do, decreasing your following distance to < 1/2 second is a bad idea. How many of these people do hit their brakes as a reaction to seeing the lights?
If you wind up rear ending one of these guys you won't like the conclusion of the insurance company or a court. Other drivers only have a duty to yield once they see you. Prior to that they have zero obligation to yield.
hey Dustin nice m35 repurpose
Here you have to follow the same laws as a regular car and can only go 5 miles over the speed limit in a pov. It's rediculous running sirens on a pov. Run duty crews if need be.
In Texas, POVs are considered full on authorized emergency vehicles after being approved by the local fire chief. That means they can use red lights and a siren, and pass red lights.
Makes me feel bad for the vollys in my state of CO who deal with this, and not even a bit for the idiots who don't yield and get stopped b/c the POV was registered XD
(In CALARADA we can run reds and airhorns, but we need to register our vehicle as an EV to run sirens at which point it is technically a "fire truck." Hilarious when troopers pull people over who didn't know that)
I can't stand ambulances that don't have air horns. The ambulance in this video is likely a van cab and chassis or pickup truck cab and chassis. The ambulances in my town are Freightliners and they're LOAD AS F*CK! If you can't see them coming, then you shouldn't be driving.
U need the rumbler siren
You have miles of empty road ahead so why the sirens all the time? here in the UK they only use them approaching junctions or traffic. Blue lights the rest of the time
Some states require volunteers to keep their siren on if their lights are on
+Michael Lawn i'll continue honking at you if you did that in my county
Nice Vid!! 8-)
I can understand moving out of the way for an emergency vehicle. What I do not understand is why you would move from Lane 1, to the hard shoulder when an emergency vehicle is travelling in a straight line down Lane 2.
+Ryan O'Malley To give enough space to pass by safely. There are radios, cell phones, sirens and other distractions going on. Not to mention the adrenaline rush during all this. So the safer you can make the pass, the better.
I was thinking that same thing. You're more likely to hit something and have a problem going onto the shoulder than continuing in lane 1. In the UK we would only use the shoulder if the traffic is very heavy and/or stationary and even then the emergency vehicle would switch to using the shoulder rather than members of the public.
I know it's frustrating when a vehicle won't move, but however you could've easily moved into the other lane to go around them. Maybe they were hard of hearing or maybe deaf, ? All emergency vehicle's still must obey all traffic law's
since when did so many POVs run sirens... Thats a big ticket here
Well I don't know where you live, but I assume it's in a state that doesn't allow audible devices on pov's. Many states, including Texas, where I am, do allow sirens. Frankly, in my personal opinion lights should not be used without a siren. There are drivers that won't see lights, then there are those that don't hear sirens.
I have looked at the laws in many states, I think I even found a website that had all of them. Most all states at least allow chief officers to run full code 3. And I am a chief officer, so at least I pass that rule. The state traffic code requires lights AND siren, with special consideration to law enforcement here. In my dept, our SOP says that a siren must be used, I feel it would be unsafe to respond code 3 without both.
Same in Michigan. All POVs can have lights AND siren (with all certs and license from Chief).
What they cannot have, is one without the other.
I can't understand how some departments are limited to green flashing lights, and the lawmakers still expect the volunteers to make great time.
+Anakin Howard No ticket, check out 1:37, passes local cop, its legit dude.
+FF5754 -- he said "Thats a big ticket here" not there. In many states it is against the law to equip your POV with emergency lights/sirens.
I saw a yield sign /shocked
95% of people are lousy drivers.
The guy who failed to yield, I would've rammed him out of the way
No you wouldn't.
But you WOULD sit there and talk shit on the internet, so I give you credit for _that_
+mojaveman
The following definitions are the top results - copied and pasted - on Google for "talking shit" and "talk shit" respectively (all from Urban Dictionary - it's not in Merriam-Webster)
1. _talking the talk, but failing to walk the walk_
2. _Filling the air with noise pollution or constant garbage_
3. _To make a statement that is exaggerated or flat-out untrue_
4. _To exagerate greatly, to out and out lie, especially when concerning one's own accomplishments._
*Based on numbers 1, 2 and 3, and also the spirit of #4 - all **_"other people's"_** definitions - I fully stand by my comment. Thank you.*
+mojaveman
You must be referencing my comment, which you not only read, but took the time to reply to..... twice?
Unless you are a cop, your siren means nothing to me. I will just ignore being no cop=no ticket=me not giving a crap about your siren.
*****
I love educating people that do not understand the law. Register owner is not responsible for the action of the driver. Which means unless cop is around and pull vehicle over, no ticket will be issued. So no nice try
+Michael Lawn they're allowed to mail you a ticket especially with proof from video and a lisence plate number
aceshot4095
You are wrong, that is only for a) red light tickets because they have video of the driver and picture of the plate. Even then you can tell the court it wasn't me driving and the ticket will get dismissed if it wasn't you driving. That do not work the same way with failure to yield. b)The other ticket that can be mailed is parking ticket being it's issued to the vehicle it self. So again nice try but no you are also are wrong.
+Michael Lawn In Michigan, If a Emergency Vehicles (any kind) dash-cam catches a driver not yielding for them, they can be ticketed. It goes to the owner of the vehicle. Responders can also radio in the description of the vehicle and PD will find you.
GerpherTheGamer
You seem not to understand that register owner is not responsible for the action of the driver. This type of tickets are called moving violation which means it impacts the driver. As such no, unless cop witness violation nothing can happen being officer do not know who was/is actually operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
People who don't move over to the shoulder while slowing to make a right hand turn piss me the fuck off and especially when they come to a complete stop in the highway to turn. And when people don't yield to cops, EMS or fire trucks that just pisses me off the most. People need to think about how they'd feel if a family member or themselves died bc it took longer to get to the emergency bc dumbass people wouldn't get out of the way
I truly believe, in my 7 years of driving emergency, I've never run into someone who just "didn't want to yield".
I honestly believe that they just don't see me. Cars are far better insulated now, drivers are blasting the radio (as I occasionally do too), and worst of all, the cell phones.
Every time I have a "failure to yield", much like the car in this video, you can tell they didn't see you, because as soon as they do, they immediately move (usually in a hazardous manner)
+Dave Carsley -- VERY VERY VERY True
+Dave Carsley I can tell you here in south Mississippi, drivers see you coming, Fire or pov, they out run you! Most succeed until they come up behind a driver that is just putzin along. Then again, unless your in a "city", there aren't any many shoulders to pull off on. And when you do pass them they complain to the fire co-ordinator. Some have actually submitted written complaints about us passing them...smh...I'm on a leave of absence because I can't stand the bullshit from the community anymore, let alone someone who can't tell the callers or complainers to yield, come sign up and help or, file a traffic complaint with the appropriate authorities, I'd love to waste somebodies time and money in court! They will never win!
and don't get me wrong, I agree with your second and third paragraph. I've seen this also.
(33 yrs in the vol. service.)