We hear a siren behind us and know an ambulance is coming our way. We all know that it is important to pull over and give way to the vehicle since any delay could be deadly to the person needing aid. However, emergency vehicles can encounter problem in passing especially at a busy intersection. Emergency vehicles never know exactly how the cars in front will react or if they even know they are coming.

Last Thursday April 5, 2012, two EMT’s passed a red light trying to cross the intersection of Hurstbourne Parkway and Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. The emergency vehicle collided with a pickup truck that was not aware that they are coming. It was a severe impact that pushed the truck smashed into a pole.

Most people say that it is not difficult to notice a vehicle with flashing lights and a blaring siren. Some people may get confused on what to do. Others find it difficult to deal with it because they come very fast.

Bardstown and Hurstbourne intersection is one of the busiest in the city according to authorities. Louisville Metro EMS Maj. Michael Will said that, “It’s just a confusing intersection, especially at that point. It’s difficult for opposing traffic to hear or even see. Distraction of drivers can be a big problem to deal and also some drivers aren’t sure on what to do in dangerous situations.

After the crash, two paramedics and two people in the truck were hospitalized. No charges have been filed in the accident.

What are the rules when you hear an emergency vehicle approaching?

In the state of Kentucky, emergency personnel said that drivers in the left fast lane should veer toward the median and not to the right when ambulance approaches. You should pull off the shoulder in the right lane. It is also a protocol to paramedics to come to a complete stop before passing through a red light.

To avoid incidents like this, it is important to increase people’s awareness on what to do when encountering emergency vehicles.

Over the last week I have seen a lot of bicycles out on the roads in Louisville as well as the Prospect, Kentucky area. I am not talking about all of the athletes that were in town training for and competing in the iron man competition. What I saw were people riding their bicycles through downtown Louisville that either do not know the law or are ignoring it. I was probably conscious of bikes since I had interviewed three potential clients in the last few weeks that were injured while riding a bicycle and were hit by a car.

The one common thread in these bicycle/automobile accidents was the fact that the bicycles were being ridden on the sidewalk. This is against the law and very dangerous. Local Louisville regulations apply to the operation of bicycles. This is defined in the local Traffic Code chapter on Bicycles and Motorcycles. The Traffic code states that: No person 11 years of age or older shall operate a bicycle on the sidewalks located within the geographical boundary limits of Louisville Metro.

There are a lot of other interesting rules, laws and safety considerations that all bicyclists should read, but that discussion will be for another time.  What this means is unless you are a child 10 years or other your bike is to be ridden on the roadways in Louisville, Kentucky. Not on the sidewalk!

Why can’t adults ride on the sidewalk? In my opinion it is for the safety of walkers as well as the cyclists. All of the accidents that I am talking about had a variation of the fact of bicycle riding on the sidewalk and then traveling into the street crosswalk where they were struck by a car. In most situations a car has no chance of seeing a bicycle entering the street from the sidewalk. The driver is not looking for anyone other than a pedestrian.

Know the law and protect yourself. If you are 11 years of age or older ride your bike on the road obey the rules of the road and use appropriate safety equipment such as reflectors and helmets. Protect yourself. Know and obey the law. Don’t find out after an accident that you were in the wrong. This will make all of us safer and prevent accidents.