robert gift

In the long distances out west, it is perfectly safe. I should have mentioned this is on an Interstate or highway where the roads were originally designed for 75 mph. When it is clear and dry, no problem -unless a tire failure. Never travel this fast with a patient and personnel in the back. Drive smoothly and gently.

In some states, it is perfectly legal and expected. Why should they be impeded by slow traffic or backups if they can proceed?

Yes! Why keep lights on and needlessly disturb the peace if people are passing you and no one is in your way? Totally uneeded and ridiculous. To the public you look like clowns. I was driving a firetruck which could not attain the 55 mph Interstate speed limit. I turned off all the lights. Then after I signalled and exited onto the off-ramp, turned everything back on which would be need at the upcoming intersection. Did not lengthen our response time even one second, and did not impede traffic flow.

NO! There are places with no traffic, great visibility, clean, dry, smooth pavement. We have attained over 100 mph at such places. In such conditions it would be ridiculous to restrict speed to 10 mph over the posted speed limit. (At those speeds I worry about tire failure, but they are well below the speed ratings.) Likewise, we slow to a safe speed which conditions permit. In icy conditions I have driven only 5 mph -any faster and I could lose control. Also, in fog, 5 mph with all e-lights off, low beams only. Any faster and I would not be able to stop in time if someone/something suddenly appeared in front. With patient on board, we drive much more slowly and gently.

Auto/train collision: Camera was aimed through the open front passenger door. In my jumpsuit, on my knees in the front bench seat, I was strapping the driver sitting behind his wheel to a half-backboard. While reaching around the pt, the jumpsuit got pulled kinda tight... (form-fitting!) Everyone commented that the news crew captured my "best side" and that I should have had my name printed on my the seat of my jumpsuit. My gay friends who saw the TV coverage quipped that I "... had the best butt in da bidness." My girlfriend, Debbie, an OTR, who has a great sense of humor, told those friends that she would pimp me out. FF/Worst Responder

Was the young woman wearing seat-belts? If not, I assign much of the blame to her. You don't needlessly place yourself in a condition where you make yourself vulnerable to others' mistakes. I never took anyone's word and checked for myself, especially when the patient is so young and likely more resilient. Any question, I'd load and go and let the hospital decide. Chief should have been more careful wth what he said. Media will try to find something sensational in whatever you say. I appreciate outspokenness and spontaneity but have learned to shut the f up. Then speak with care and consideration.

Funny avatar, 007! Aurora police used to do that alot. I always felt guilty when they followed us and stopped motorists. Hopefully just warnings. But when I drove, no one was ever stopped. To make the lights/EV more noticeable I would often positioned the EV to the left in lane 1, sometimes with my wheels on the lane line. (always depending on debris) Drivers would often detect the EV earlier and because of my being so left, it would influence them to move right. If some started to clear to the left, I would go more left and they would see and move right. (usually)

Yes, there are some blind intersections where one must stop and creep to see if it is safe to proceed. But we have wide open intersections where you can easily see no one is approaching. I like most when all lanes are occupied with stopped vehicles blocking anyone behind, but am always expecting a motorcyclist or bicyclist moving between vehicles. Also, I've had wide open intersections where I had to stop and creep because of vehicles, especially busses, trucks and semis obsuring view. But even a low sports car can be hidden by just regular automobiles. A "double" city bus in lane 3 saw the EV and stopped. In his rearview mirror the driver could see vehicles proceeding at full speed towards their green signal. (They probably thought the bus was stopped at a bus stop.) I could tell the driver was expecting a big collision. But I slowed and stopped. The vehicles zoomed by at 35 mph and I crept to where I could see no other vehicles were coming.

I disagree with full stop rules. Full stop causes more pt. discomfort, slows progress and ruins momentum which causes more vehicle wear and tear, more heat build-up of brakes, more fuel consumption and air pollution. Also, it slows other vehicles which must wait longer for the EV to clear out of their way. Our statutes only require slowing and stopping as necessary for safety.

This is on my own vehicle. Just in case anything ever happens. I'm also a tornado chaser so it comes in handy for that. It also easily unmounts so we use it for everything. With no tape it should not wear out - I hope. Got it as an Open Box Buy at Circuit City. Also, it has a 16:9 screen aspect so gets more side view. I saw the police officer who was to be sued by 5 passengers in a vehicle he broadsided while L/S. They all claimed he ran a red signal and did not give them a chance to yield. Unbeknownst to them, he had a dash cam which showed they were all lying. Officer had a stale green. They ran their red signal. Without that video, I guess the officer would have lost.

I doubt any drivers even consider a red light camera ticket. When/if crosstraffic has stopped for the EV, I would pull forward out of the way of the EV. If I get a ticket, show the court the EV run report and have the ticket dismissed. Stopped at a red signal, a man pulled forward out of the way of a responding fire truck behind him and was broadsided and killed. At that same intersection, when necessary, I have always gone on other side of the median so no one is pressured to pull out into traffic. P.S. I have a dash-mounted JVC 20 Gig Hard Drive camcorder recording while I am driving. 7 hours of video/audio . If not wanted, each driving segment is easily erased in two seconds!