Is this really the way it is in New York?

[LittleMissEMT]

I just watched this video on youtube:

am i seeing things? or are people actually HONKING at the firetruck!!? I didnt see anybody slowing down or pulling to the right, one car even drove in between the two firetrucks and the ambulance! Is this how it is there?

[HERBIE1]

I just watched this video on youtube:

am i seeing things? or are people actually HONKING at the firetruck!!? I didnt see anybody slowing down or pulling to the right, one car even drove in between the two firetrucks and the ambulance! Is this how it is there?

Happens in most big cities. Getting flipped off, cussed out, raced, etc. These would also be the first people who complain that it took so long to get the help they requested. Sign of the times...

[Richard B the EMT]

The video is somewhere in Midtown Manhattan area of NYC. Traffic is usually clogged, but we seem to bring out the nastiest folks sometimes.

In the combined Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Bronx counties that make up New York City, we got about 8 Million people, and an additional 2 million transients each 24 hours who work there, or are just passing through.

I've been yelled at for blocking a street with my ambulance. Hey, it's only a truck with red rotating, flashing and strobing lights...

Someone actually asked me what I was doing, blocking a street, and didn't like the answer that I was blocking the street as it was necessary.

[HERBIE1]

The video is somewhere in Midtown Manhattan area of NYC. Traffic is usually clogged, but we seem to bring out the nastiest folks sometimes.

In the combined Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Bronx counties that make up New York City, we got about 8 Million people, and an additional 2 million transients each 24 hours who work there, or are just passing through.

I've been yelled at for blocking a street with my ambulance. Hey, it's only a truck with red rotating, flashing and strobing lights...

Someone actually asked me what I was doing, blocking a street, and didn't like the answer that I was blocking the street as it was necessary.

I've actually told people I would be happy to move the rig for them-but only if they so go sit with the guy having the heart attack until we get back. That usually does it.

[Jeepluv77]

On my third ambulance ride we were running L&S and preparing to make a right turn onto a road that tends to be busy. We came to a complete stop before turning on the red. A guy behind us apparently decided we weren't going fast enough(I'm guessing he's the type to make a "California stop" and charge out there) so he actually cut to the left around the ambulance and turned right onto the road directly in front of the ambulance. Thankfully, the driver saw this idiot just in time to avoid plowing through him. I was dumbfounded. Since then, I've been more observant of how other drivers react to emergency vehicles with lights/sirens running. It really is pathetic how many will refuse to move, trail them through red lights, cut them off, etc. Add to that the fact that everyone pulls all over the place instead of everyone to the right and it's a disaster.

[tskstorm]

Considering some of the things I've seen in NYC that video is pretty mild...

[LittleMissEMT]

I think they should have mandatory classes for the public every couple of months or so on what to do when you see an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens on. And also people who dont comply with the rules, the ones that honk or cutt off in front of emergency vehicles should be fined and even facve jail time! lol

[Kiwiology]

damn that's mild alrite compared to what i seen wanderin NYC (err .. "transiting" as Richard said lol) but then again NYC is crazy