Circumspection: This is a word we learned in the military. We didn’t use it often, if at all. Certainly, no drill sergeant barked at us, “Be circumspect, soldiers, or you’ll lose your life!” He didn’t have to use such a term…we knew what he meant through much more coarse language not fit for this family friendly page.
I encourage you as an automobile driver on Knoxville’s streets to be circumspect. That is, literally “look around” at all times, be fully aware when behind the wheel. Both hands on the steering wheel. No texting. Not even talking on a cell phone, not even through a Bluetooth device. Why? Because if you are, you’re being less than circumspect. And, as the drill sergeant warned, you’re likely to lose your life.
On July 13th, a 91-year-old driver was apparently being less than circumspect. He had turned directly into the path of a speeding police cruiser with its lights and siren on as required by law. His lack of circumspection cost him his life.
Conclusion: Every time you get behind the wheel of your car, think about that drill sergeant. He’s trying to keep you from dying at the hands of the enemy. Enemy? Yes, because every other driver on the road is potentially your enemy…out to get you. Be circumspect, fully aware of all that is going on around you. It just might save your life.
The ability of emergency response vehicles to respond to the scene of an emergency call quickly and without incident cannot be overstated. When every second wasted has the potential to endanger lives or property, it is imperative that emergency response vehicles respond quickly, and that other drivers on the road are able to allow those vehicles to pass quickly and safely. As such, this article will convey the best practices for allowing emergency response vehicles to pass efficiently and without incident.
If an emergency response vehicle is traveling through an intersection with the purpose of responding to an emergency call, it is important to stop at the intersection and allow the vehicle adequate time to pass safely before resuming travel. if the emergency vehicle is traveling perpendicular to your own vehicle. In the case that the emergency vehicle is traveling parallel to your own vehicle, it is recommended that you pull over to the right side of the road and stop before the intersection, in order to allow the emergency vehicle safe passage.
If you are on a highway, and an emergency response vehicle is attempting to pass, it’s recommended to move to the right-most lane, and stop completely, or to slow down as traffic allows, waiting until the emergency vehicle has safely passed to resume normal travel. This will allow the emergency vehicle to quickly and safely respond to an emergency car and will prevent both the emergency vehicle and your own vehicle from causing an accident.
In general, it’s always best to move to the right side of the road and to come to a complete stop whenever an emergency vehicle is approaching with its sirens and warning lights active. These actions will allow the emergency response vehicle to pass you quickly and without causing any major incident, which, in turn, will allow the emergency response vehicle to quickly and effectively respond to any emergency calls.
These practices apply to all emergency response vehicles, which includes, but is not limited to any police department vehicles, fire engines, and ambulances. All of these vehicles rely on the other drivers on the road to allow them to pass safely and quickly in order to respond to often life-threatening emergency calls. Any practices you are able to employ in order to allow these emergency vehicles to pass safely and quickly are encouraged.
After spending his secondary years of study at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, G Turner Howard III earned his BA at Tulane University. A member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he earned a Master’s and Doctor of Divinity at Andrews Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of experience, his firm has helped clients receive millions of dollars for personal injury, and in many cases, much faster than they ever expected.
