People in vehicles across the pond in Britain have recently had to avert their eyes and keep driving or else.
The reason is — first responders have begun taking offense to those that feel the need to stare at or photograph accident scenes without a care for the victims, their families and the people trying to assist them.
A recent social media post demonstrated just how frustrated these emergency crews are — shown in a photo of fire crews spraying the indecent lookie-loos with a stream of water.
A similar issue exists on this side of the Great Divide, although there are a few others who could also be included among the list of things motorists need to heed when approaching and going through accident scenes.
Emergency responders, including tow truck drivers, presently have to put up with vehicles going slow through scenes in order to get a better look at what’s going on, people snapping pictures either from the car or stopping to jump out to shoot one and worse still, the ones who decide to put everyone’s life in danger by refusing to slow down to the mandatory 60 km per hour speed limit when passing emergency vehicles in the adjacent lane.
Too many times has society bore witness to tow truck drivers, police officers or firefighters being struck and either injured or killed because of motorists driving too fast for the conditions, losing control or driving while distracted.
Yet, no matter how many times it happens, things don’t seem to change the behaviours behind the wheel. Even the threat of a large fine has failed to be a deterrent for these individuals.
Granted, how often does one see a vehicle pulled over for violating that particular law? So, if it’s not enforced, how can it help to change behaviour.
Appealing to society’s common sense and decency hasn’t worked either, given the fact many other writers before me at news media with a far broader reach have taken this topic to task in hopes of garnering a bit of self-awareness from those that are committing these acts.
So why am I taking this on as an issue this week?
Because as someone who responds to emergencies and is as frustrated as those British firefighters are at people who either won’t are or aren’t able to comprehend the purpose behind these rules and regulations, I feel the need to vent.
I also don’t really want to wind up facing litigation due to taking things into my own hands — though I applaud the British firefighters’ convictions for doing it.
My hope is that if one person can take something from this and realize the need to make a change for the betterment of society, the safety of everyone and for helping to bring back some common sense then it will be worth the time spent writing this.
All the better if that person can convince someone else among their family and friends, and that in turn gets more to do the same — well, maybe a movement will start and this way of driving will become the societal norm.
Okay, yeah that’s about as much of a dream as someone hitting the big jackpot. But it happens, and it always starts at one.
Be that one and know you’re making a difference.
But that is…just an observation.