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Failing to yield to emergency vehicles is arrogant, heartless

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, January 7, 2005

To the editor:

I was visiting family over the weekend in Fort Wayne. While I was stopped at a red light, I heard a siren. The siren belonged to an ambulance, which approached the intersection as my light turned green.

Naturally, I did not move. After all, pulling out in front of an ambulance is not only dangerous, it is illegal. Most importantly, I would not slow down an emergency vehicle, because seconds can mean the difference between life and death. I heard the person waiting behind me honk his horn because I did not proceed through the green light. Apparently, getting to wherever he was going was more important than the life-saving mission the ambulance was on. This combination of arrogance and heartlessness saddens me.

I am not sure what this individual hoped to accomplish. Even if I had been arrogant and heartless enough to pull out in front of the ambulance, there was not enough room for him to get out.

To those drivers who think their time is too important to yield to an emergency vehicle, I challenge you to answer the following questions.

What if the ambulance you delayed was carrying a loved one? What if the delay you caused resulted in the death of that loved one? Could you live with yourself knowing that you killed someone you love? What if the few seconds you delay a fire engine is just enough to prevent them from saving your home as it burns? What if you are seriously hurt because you are hit by the fire engine to which you refused to yield the right of way?

Is it really worth it?

Scott Tibbs.