Yellow lights, Red lights

[WFD999]

As a sidebar to the legislation in proposed in AB. I thought it would be interesting to see how the public in your responce area acts when faced with yellow wide load or transportation lights in comparison to our emergency lighting. From what I have seem the public seems to show more respect for a truck running yellow becons hauling a piece of heavy equipment to fire truck in a hot responce. Not saying that all the public is bad. But some days it sure seems that way. In our department we are working in conjunction with the RCMP and reporting the twits that pass us cut us off etc. Who else has a policy such as this. OKay long winded enough

Have a great one folks.

[Whitewater_419]

We've been working with groups in our community with regards to raising awareness of the importance of pulling over and letting our vehicles pass during a response.

Given that we're a volunteer hall, it's also been important to let people know that the green rotators or flashers mean a firefighter responding to a call in their personal vehicle.

The Lyons Club has been great about including this information in their newsletters and meetings and we're thinking about asking the local churches to spread the word amongst their congegations, too.

[TiSme]

As sad as it sounds I have noticed that similarity also. We look after a section of Highway 2 in AB and when it comes to responding to a call on the highway. Half the time we might as well not have lights and sirens on for the lack of notice and l leigh way we get.

We have been looking at some of the visibility studies of including amber lighting on our trucks in conjuction with the traditional red. We are also working on a reporting method in relation to traffic and our scene saftey.

Let's be safe out there!!

[Leafs Fan]

The amber lights are now a "standard" requested by the NFPA
for the rear corners of fire apparatus. Our Dept. recieved a new ladder truck last year with amber rotaters on the rear corners, everyone was a little shocked by this , but management told us that it was this new standard. The rationale we were told was that the yellow flashing lights as seen by motorists from a distance or from a main street looking down a side street would make them think it was a utility truck and would reduce the rubberneckers doing drive bys. Sounds like a lot of BS to me, i would rather have red flashers instead.

[WFD999]

Yellow lights on our rigs. How isthat going to fit in with the hwy safety act. Here in AB red and clear are ems fire, green for volly's responding in personal rides'police has blue red clear, and DOT and transport have yellow. The act also states that we must have 360 deg of our specific lighting. when at a incident. AH the the great glorious NFPA has spoken agian.

[Leafs Fan]

I don't know about Alberta, but in Ontario the NFPA is a standard that is recognized when convenient. It has no legal authority to require Fire Depts to follow it here in Canada but it is a recognized standard that will be used in any court proceedings such as inquests and lawsuits. SO as i understand it you can choose not to follow it but be prepared for some lawyer to throw it in your face if something goes wrong.


By the way. GO FLAMES GO!!!!:)

[WFD999]

I hear what your saying leafsfan. I know that maybe one dept in north american with a huge budjet is totaly NFPA. Its just that every time we turn around we all get another helpful hint from the NFPA. To nigt #7 Go Cagary

[Michael13]

i was at a muster the other weekend and one pump i saw had one red rotator and one amber rotator on the rear corners. looked kind of neat and it was eyecatching. me personally i think their arent enough flashing lights on the back of some trucks. when you do major highway calls thats where you need the lights the most. we now have directional arrows on all our trucks now too. those help bigtime.

[TiSme]

Inrelation to highway calls ..... as a curious side note. What are your departments SOP's on vehicle placement in relation to traffic. ie parallel with traffic relying on the lighting in the rear or 30 degrees with traffic allowing for additional coverage and lighting?

We have been parellel with traffic but are looking at adopting Calgarys style of 30 degrees with traffic.

Just wanted to see others views and policies on that.


Let's be safe out there!!

[colin911]

Our dept's SOP states that any call on a highway, be it medical, MVC, car/truck fire, fuel spill or any other emergency, we send a minimum of two trucks. The first responding unit will park the apparatus in the "fend off" position, and all crew members (except for the driver) will exit on the non-traffic side, meaning that the truck will be at about a 30 degree angle towards traffic. The second responding truck will block the lane about 100m from the incident. All trucks utilising bright orange pilons. If the call is significant enough that warrants the whole highway to be shut down, then police and City Works will respond and block all lanes with large barriers and vehicles.

Colin

[WFD999]

We also use the 30 deg stand off. If possilbe with the pump panel to the incident. then set a line of flares, cones 50 m up with personell doing traffic until law enforcement arrives. I personally think using the 30 off is the only way to go for safety's sake there nothing like a pumper as metal road block to protect those working a incident.

[racerrescuebc]

We use the same idea on the racetrack (not that different from some highways, huh). We use the vehicle to block us from the cars and have the cornerworkers ( the guys with all the flags) let us know if there is any cars coming too close to the scene.

[RESQTEK]

The rigs in Calgary that respond to the Deerfoot idiot express have large amber arrow boards mounted on the rear for warning motorists. The aerials are used for this and are sent to any roadway where the posted speed limit exceeds 70km/h. The pumpers that typically respond to the deerfoot also have these arrow boards.

[TiSme]

Thanx for the post folks. Sounds like alot believe in the benifitof the 30 degree position. It definately provides better visibility and protection for the team.

[firefighter316]

I have noticed lately that all new trucks have both a red and amber rotator on the back of the apparatus. I'm hoping someone can shed some light as to why this is.

[Roadwarrior]

I understand it is part of an NFPA standard. Don't ask me which one...I think I just picked that tidbit of information up along the way sonewhere...

[18atone]

Hello All,
Just finished reading a story in July 2005 FH magazine about a first responder crew (Fire and EMS)getting hit at a MVA in Fort Worth Tx. Scary stuff! They tried to follow SOPs and still took the beating of a clown who wouldn't slow down. Crews parked rigs on the shoulder as close to the grass as they dare with the downpour going on. Amber directional lights where operating yet a hydroplaning car found it's way through the apparatus and hit the crews, and victim, working at the first occurance. A second rig had not yet arrived to stage further back down the Interstate. Training and luck are twin sisters out there my friends. Reading and study with lots of discussion and training at your stations to share what you have heard. It is not sexy and you may never know the life you save but what a difference it can make!

In a case such as this, the tail end of the apparatus will go back across the ditch further then the front end will. Ask one of your crew to stay behind a moment to help direct you, it my be his/her life and limb the step saves.

Life is much better when everyone goes home at the end of a shift!

[five_alarm]

An article from Responder Safety Magazine

How Effective Are Flashing Emergency Lights Stopped On The Road Shoulder - The Case For Amber Emergency Warning Lights

Stephen S. Solomon,

HISTORY

Emergency vehicle flashing light recommendations have passed through several evolutions of NFPA standard changes since the 1970's. With each edition, the number of lights has increased.

But, there does not appear to be any documented decrease in emergency vehicle accident rates. As of this writing there are some serious questions pertaining to the appropriate number, color, and placement of flashing lights needed for safety.

To complicate the issue is the addition of amber to the light inventory. More than three decades ago some police agencies, possibly in California or Illinois started to roof mount a flashing amber light to be used when a working police car was parked on the road shoulder or along a curb. This tactic was in response to a number of collisions involving a civilian driver striking a stationary police car displaying the typical emergency lights......

Source: techrescue.org (http://www.techrescue.org/cms/content/view/346/62/)

[DFCSmash]

As a sidebar to the legislation in proposed in AB. I thought it would be interesting to see how the public in your responce area acts when faced with yellow wide load or transportation lights in comparison to our emergency lighting. From what I have seem the public seems to show more respect for a truck running yellow becons hauling a piece of heavy equipment to fire truck in a hot responce. Not saying that all the public is bad. But some days it sure seems that way. In our department we are working in conjunction with the RCMP and reporting the twits that pass us cut us off etc. Who else has a policy such as this. OKay long winded enough

Have a great one folks.

Nah, the motoring public is just as stupid, or maybe even more so about flashy yellow lights and overdimensional loads.

Trust me!

[Buckster]

Our newest rig has 2 red revolvers in both back corners.....and one of those amber warning bars in the middle.....meets standard from what i understand

[CrazyLadder]

You want a rubber-necker to pay attention, drive a handfull of gravel or a mag-lite at him. Man these people p-ss me off.

[ABFF37]

Honestly, I have to say from experience of standing on some of the busiest roads in the city...we could have red lights, yellow lights, purple, pink, or rainbow lights...there's always going to be people who will pay no attention, and who will speed on by.

I think the answer lies to some extent in public education, but to an even larger extent with enforcement. In Alberta, MLA Richard Magnus, a strong supporter of the fire service (instrumental in his successful and tireless efforts to obtain job related cancer compensation) is pushing for legislation that would cause the speed limit to be cut to half of the posted speed whenever emergency crews are working on a roadway.

This legislation would be linked with other relatively recent amendments to the Higway Traffic Safety Act, which have upped fines for things like failing to yield for a pedestrian, or running a red light to fines of over $500. I hate to say it, but I think a strong campaign to enforce this new law is about the only way to get it to sink in with most people. It's unfortunate, but if we really want to get people to notice us, they need to be hit where it hurts...their wallet.

AB

[DFCSmash]

Our newest rig has 2 red revolvers in both back corners.....

Red revolvers are ok, but I am thinking that a grey Gatling would be more effective. :D
Would make it easier to find a safety supervisor though if the gun was part of the scene safety job. :cool:

[North_of_60]

In the Lower mainland of BC, the new RCMP Cruisers have TOMAR lightbars with an amber strobe in the center rear position. When I asked one of them why this was there, The answer was that people would see the red at night an think it was just taillights untill it was to late. The Amber is not used in the rear of vehicles so it would identify the vehicle as an emergency vehicle. Just thaught I would pass it along for whta it's worth. Up here in the territories there are all sorts of people who get to have different lightbars on thier vehicles.

It's snowing in september....

[hfdfirejr]

Nah, the motoring public is just as stupid, or maybe even more so about flashy yellow lights and overdimensional loads.

Trust me!
give vollys green flashers and jusy up the standards for more flashing red lights on trucks its simple cause for some reason people cant see a big red truck... so make um flash not revolve adn make umbrite

[iamvff]

give vollys green flashers

Did you hear that!!!! he said it out loud...OK...where's the rule book, cause I don't think were aloud to say that out loud!! :confused:

iamvff :rolleyes:

[wilderness]

someone obviously didn't explain them
so here goes nothing..
Welcome first here is a list of things you can't talk about
1st. professional vs volunteer firefighters
2nd. Green lights
3rd. ScubaJude's girl friend..Baaaa
4th. Red Devils negative attitude
5th. Spelling spelling spelling did i mention spelling
6th. don't be a dum ass, and the site has its fill off smart ass's "false alarm" "fire code" to name a few....