Tailgating for a faster drive

NST: KLANG: Some Malaysians have a dirty habit: moving in behind a passing ambulance with its siren blaring so they can take advantage of the freed-up space for a faster, smoother drive.
What these people do not realise is that their bad habit could cause a problem.
An average of two Malaysian Red Crescent Society ambulances are involved in accidents every month in Selangor alone because of the actions of these motorists.
It is taking a huge toll on the resources of the charitable organisation.
Selangor Red Crescent Society deputy chairman Venu- kopalan Chellathurai said more than half of the organisation’s maintenance bills for the six ambulances it operates were for “body work” after being hit from behind.
“Of the RM29,000 spent on repairs last year, almost RM15,000 was used for body work. That’s a huge sum for a non-governmental organisation.”
Inconsiderate motorists who tailgate ambulances responding to emergencies were the main culprits.
“They are oblivious to the danger to themselves, the ambulance crew and patient either in the ambulance or at the scene, due to the delay any accident will cause,” said Venukopalan.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Noel Silas Savarimuthu said in most instances, the culprits did not even bother to stop.
“There is little we can do if we are responding to an emergency; people’s lives are at stake and every second counts.”
He said there had been instances of EMTs being injured when their ambulance was hit from behind by other vehicles.
The society also bemoaned the fact that motorists did not follow the rules when it came to emergency lanes.
The fact that motorists used the emergency lane as “just another lane” during traffic jams, coupled with some who ignored sirens on emergency vehicles, added to the response time for EMTs.
The society believed the problem was in education and enforcement.
Venukopalan said the right response to an ambulance with its siren blaring and beacons flashing was not addressed in the syllabus of local driving tests or current road laws.
“Even the use of sirens and beacons, once reserved for the police, Fire and Rescue Department and ambulances, seems to have been extended to commercial vehicles such as hearses, trucks and buses.”
Venukopalan said the subject should be introduced to future generations of drivers while they are in school.
“The subject should be broached during primary school, reinforced while they study for driving tests and enforced strictly by the enforcement authorities.”