Keep Right When Emergency Vehicle is Behind You

When there's an emergency, saving someone's life boils down to seconds. Seconds, that could be lost if a driver doesn't pull over to let the emergency vehicle by. That's why midland is launching a new campaign called - Keep Right.

“Our message is to remind them, when they see an emergency vehicle, whether it be a fire truck, an ambulance or a police vehicle, pull over to the right," explains Interim Chief for the Midland Fire Department, Jeff Meiner.

Very few instances, should drivers pull to the left.

"Midland Drive and the Loop is a good example because there's that curb in the middle that separates the lanes and a lot of the time, emergency vehicles come up behind you at a red light until one of the vehicles moves away," says Meiner.

That curb blocks a fire truck or ambulance from moving to the left to avoid traffic. So Meiner says, in that case drivers are encourage to move forward with caution and to the left if need be. However, in other intersections without that curb in the middle of the road, Meiner says don't move. Another thing to keep in mind, fire trucks are heavy vehicles. In fact, weigh more than 70,000 lbs and their not designed to make sudden stops if another car pulls in their path. That's why it’s so important to pull right or stay put.

"There's a concern because there's been a lot of close calls," explains Miener, who also says one close call is one too many. Now on many of the emergency vehicles there are decals in the windshield to remind drivers to keep right.