Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Watch out for the firetrucks!

I had to drive up to a nearby city today for a meeting. When I was waiting for a red light on a three lane road, a firetruck, sirens blasting, approached from behind. This means (of course) "get out of the way". But here it also means "stop".

Meaning, if you are passed by a firetruck (with lights flashing) you should pull over and - stop - while it passes. The first time I was passed by a firetruck here was on a three lane residential road, mid day, no other cars around. I thought I could drive on in the "slow lane" and the truck had a lot of nice space to pass in the "fast lane". There would even be a lane in between us.

That's how I learned that firetrucks have speakers. Loud speakers.

"PULL OVER AND STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY", someone from the firetruck yelled.

Oups.

Since then I'm kind of nervous when I hear firetrucks (the rule is the same for other emergency vehicles I think). Maybe they'll remember me, the alien who didn't stop. So today when I was standing STILL already at the intersection, but had to MOVE in order to get out of the way, I got all sweaty.

I think I did the right thing. At least the speakers didn't yell at me... Phew.

4 comments:

Annika said...

Jag vet vad du menar...jag blir också svettig så fort ngn vrålande brandbil kommer i full karriär bakom en när man är ute på vägarna, eller en ambulans för den delen...

Fia said...

Jag vet aldrig om jag ska köra åt sidan eller inte - tänk om det var just den luckan de har spetsat in sig på?

Fast här i galna Atlanta så "roar" sig ungdomar med att åka bakom i den lucka i trafiken som bildas. Det värsta jag sett är vår motsvarighet till "Henning Penning" dvs en kändisadvokat som jag vid ett tillfälle passade på att utnyttja detta downtown under rusningstrafik. Han är ju så anonym "not" ute i trafiken. Knallblå jaguar med registreringsskylt som säger MONEY...ööööörk.

Berit said...

Advokater kallas ofta för "ambulance chasers", eller hur?

Cissi said...

*asg* herregud jag skulle bli dödsnervös!!! Tur att det gick bra så de slapp skrika på dig ;)