I've been driving fire trucks and ambulances for over forty years and I always instruct newly trained operators that if you have an accident on the way to a call, then you don't get there and you're of no help to anybody.
Also, the fire dept. I belong to on Long Island has an iron-clad rule that all of our units must always stop and look both ways at the two crossings in our district even if the gates are up and lights are not flashing, even when responding to a life threatening emergency. We have had incidents of crossing protection failing to operate, so better safe than sorry.
Also, the fire dept. I belong to on Long Island has an iron-clad rule that all of our units must always stop and look both ways at the two crossings in our district even if the gates are up and lights are not flashing, even when responding to a life threatening emergency. We have had incidents of crossing protection failing to operate, so better safe than sorry.