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Eggs and bakey
Wakey, wakey, kiddies. It’s the crazy season—and I’m not talking about the incessant rain. Our highways and side roads are going to be filled with traffic from now until the day after turkey day. There are many events that take place in the County at this time of the year. We’ve got tomatoes, potatoes, fresh fruit, corn, farm stands, food festivals, music festivals, art festivals, sidewalk cafés, sandy beaches, camping sites, cottages and, who knows, maybe some sunshine. In addition to our local traffic, it’s a guarantee there will be tourists. Bicyclists, motorcyclists, hikers, farm equipment, commercial vehicles, cars, runners and emergency vehicles will have a greater than usual presence. We have to promise ourselves, the moment we head out onto the road, we will stay focused on the task at hand. We have to make sure that we are not distracted while we’re on the road. So, my point is—and I do have one—pay attention to the emergency vehicles. When the roads get busy, tempers flare, accidents happen. When campfires are lit, beers flow, burns happen and grass fires happen. It’s “call the emergency responders” season.
We should be able to hear the sirens and (if we’re really paying attention) notice the flashing lights on police, fire and emergency response vehicles as they approach. Those sirens and lights are your warning to get the H E double cuss words out of the way. Moving off the road for emergency vehicles means pulling over in both directions. But just in case you missed it, the green flashing lights are a warning to get out of the way, too. We need to be aware of the green flashing lights when we’re on the road. Yep, it’s time (thanks Wendy) to remind people that the green flashing light on the dashboard/ front window of any vehicle means a part-time or volunteer firefighter is heading to an emergency situation. Your safety, their safety and the safety of the victims in need are dependent upon you being aware. Apparently, some folks in the County are either unaware of the significance of the green, flashing light or think “how hard could it be to go around me?”. Maybe some of all y’all just don’t give a darn. Maybe you’re distracted and didn’t see the vehicle with the green light. Pay attention! Yeah, yeah, it’s the season to power those windows down, crank up the tunes and dazzle pedestrians with your sense of timing as you slap the door of your vehicle in time with the music. No matter. You’re a distracted driver if you can’t see the lights or hear the sirens.
Volunteer or part-time firefighters are driving their own vehicles to an emergency site when the green light is flashing in their front window. During an emergency, in a community like Prince Edward County, we depend upon our volunteers for all kinds of services. These men and women are paged at all hours of the day. They are volunteer medical responders and firefighters. While you are obligated, by law, to bring your vehicle to a safe, full stop off the road (in either direction) for a vehicle with a red, blue or white flashing light, you are not bound to do so for the green flashing lights. You do it because you care. You do it because it’s the right thing to do. You do it because it’s in your best interest to get out of the way. Your vehicle should be parallel to the roadway and clear of any intersections, including highway on/off ramps. Use caution when pulling over onto the shoulder of a roadway as emergency vehicles may be travelling along it.
And finally, “I didn’t hear them or I didn’t see them”, as regards emergency vehicles, isn’t an excuse that will hold up, anywhere. It doesn’t wash with me and it certainly doesn’t hold water in court. Wakey, wakey time.
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