Two men were injured and another woman killed in a car accident on White Horse PIke in New Jersey.
Ambulance Service of Manchester
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An ambulance was involved in a minor motor vehicle accident in the area of America’s Keswick on Monday, police said.
No one was injured in the 5:51 p.m. accident on Route 530, police said.
The Priority One Ambulance was traveling westbound on Route 530 in the area of America’s Keswick when it collided with a 2002 Ford Explorer, police said.
The Explorer, driven by 74-year old, Rita Gulick of Manchester, was traveling Eastbound on Route 530 and made a left turn in front of the ambulance.
The crash is being investigated by Ptl. Arthur Cronk of the Manchester Township Police Division.
CM
8:58 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Unfortunately, driving an ambulance gives the driver a sense of entitlement. They forget that getting somewhere, is less important than, trying to get to get there fast. One almost killed my son by blowing through a red light.
barb
9:55 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I think when you see or even just hear a siren you're supposed to slow down and check around for it, especially at intersections. I lived in NY for a few years and no one slowed down or pulled over, was amazed. This is NOT how I learned to deal with emergency vehicles. They have the right of way.
Margie
10:49 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
They only have the right away if its given to them. What ppl don't realize is u don't legally have to stop or pull over for ambulance. Its just curtousy
Matthew
11:05 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Margie, you are 100% WRONG, by law you have to yield the right of way to any emergency vehicle including ambulances.
.
12:06 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Margie - You are so wrong. It is called the "MOVE OVER LAW"/
"The new law requires motor vehicle operators to reduce their speed and change lanes when approaching authorized vehicles displaying emergency lights. Such vehicles include police, fire and medical services vehicles, and also highway maintenance, tow trucks and official motorist aid vehicles displaying amber emergency lights. Where possible, drivers are required to move over to create an empty lane next to the emergency vehicle. When safely changing lanes is not possible, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit prior to passing emergency vehicles. Drivers should also be prepared to stop, if necessary"
Let's hope for our sake that a family member of ours is not in an ambulance when you are driving around!
WhtgJohn
1:19 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I certainly hope someone in Manchester PD and in the New Jersey MVC reads these posts. It is obvious to me that two people posting on this article (CM and Margie) do not know or understand that Title 39 states that all Emergency Vehicles have the right of way and all other vehicles must yield to them when they are responding to an emergency. When I took my driver's exam in Trenton, it was a question on the test!
As for blowing through a Stop Light, if the flashing lights are ON and/or the ambulance used its siren, the ambulance has the right of way! If no emergency equipment (flashing lights or siren) is ON to warn other motorists or the emergency vehicle is not responding to an emergency call, then the ambulance (police vehicle or fire vehicle) is required to follow all traffic laws. These are very basic common sense rules of the road.
CM
3:02 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Right of way or not, I still check an intersection to see if it's safe when the light is green! Speeding through a red light, is plain reckless, regardless if you got lights flashing and sirens blowing.
Mark Wendell
4:14 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
PA is strong in forcing the move over law, NJ is not. Coming out of the 1970 s most pulled over and stopped but now its rare, hmmmmm wonder what changed?
Laura Anderson
7:46 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The article said the driver of the explorer made a left turn in front of the ambulance, so why are we making this an argument about the move over law.. maybe we should be arguing the fact that senior citizens should be retested
CM
9:15 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Yep, this is a perfect example as to why ambulance drivers need to drive cautiously, whether they have right of way or not. Every intersection is a hazard, especially in Ocean County.
bhavaja
10:13 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Some of these posts are flat out scary. Yes there is law about moving over if siren or lights are on! This article does not say if ambulance had them on- could just have been driving- maybe jumped light- maybe senior had left turn arrow etc- stop blaming the senior- we dont know enough details to assume driver of Ford was at fault! At least no one was hurt!
Mark Wendell
6:08 pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Who is assuming? The article clearly says the Ford, that was in fact driven by a senior, pulled in front of the ambulance. Lights on or off it does not matter but since it was in use and not referred to as medical transport one would also assume it had the lights on.
Tony1493
11:01 pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The move over law is relative to a vehicle (authorized emergency or service) on the side of the road, that for instance is stopped on the shoulder, you are to, if safe, slow down and move your vehicle over to the next lane to put space between you and them, for their safety.
Emergency vehicles, ambulances and fire apparatus, can only proceed through a red light or stop sign after coming to a stop and ensuring that the other vehicles are going to yield to them. They can not just blow through a stop sign. I don't think police vehicles are emergency vehicles. The vehicle that is exempt from the traffic lights and stop signs is the United States Postal Service.