During my 10-plus years
at KDOT, I’ve seen a lot of close calls where one of our workers has almost
been hit. I’ve also seen a number of close calls as a longtime volunteer
fireman and emergency medical responder in my community.
Too many times when
we’re directing traffic around a crash scene, I see drivers spending more time
rubbernecking at the vehicles involved and what the emergency workers are doing
than paying attention to the road. I’ve had to push people out of the way of an
oncoming driver who didn’t see them because they were distracted by what was
going on. Emergency workers always have to be looking over their shoulders
constantly because you just never know what people are going to do.
I can remember one
incident where a driver passing by the scene was driving entirely too fast.
Luckily, law enforcement was able to pull them over. I’m pretty sure there was
a ticket written that day.
It’s always challenging
when we work crashes on dirt roads. Traffic usually must be stopped for the
safety of the emergency responders because cars coming through and kicking up
dust makes it really hard to see us. Wrecks in places where we can’t park close
to the scene and have to move back and forth across the road are also
difficult. If possible, we always try to park on the same side as the scene.
But if we can’t, we’re constantly watching for passing traffic, especially when
moving the patient from the scene to the ambulance.
The next time you come
up on a crash scene, I hope you will do your part to help keep emergency
workers and first responders safe. Slow down, pay attention and move over.
Lives depend on it.
Jamie Reimer is an Equipment
Operator Senior with KDOT in Phillipsburg.
Thanks Jamie for the work that you do. Close calls like these have become too normal. It's important for every driver to slow down and pay attention for emergency vehicles and maintenance personnel. Move Over!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder Jamie.
ReplyDeleteIt's so scary what first responders and everyone who works along the highways has to contend with. Thank you for your efforts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story Jamie. People need to hear it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jamie for sharing times when other workers and you were doing your jobs and drivers seemed to only be interested in viewing a crash site or some other interest. Examples were provided noting how dangerous it is to be a maintenance worker. Let's hope that readers of this and other blogs will change their driving habits by slowing down, paying attention and moving over. A winning situation for both the driver and the maintenance worker.
ReplyDelete