I was on 199 a few days ago headed east bound about 2-3 stop lights west of 820. Heard and saw an ambulance about 1/4 mile back. Traffic was heavy and several cars in all three lanes at each stop light. Ambulance driver goes over into the opposite traffic lanes and zooms by us, then at the next light gets back on our side of 199.

Not questioning the driver or his emergency, but is this normal practice to go into the opposite lanes when there is heavy traffic at several traffic lights in a row? I wasn't sure if there was a device in emergency vehicles to hold the lights red or turn them green if needed.

Mark Perry drives where Mark Perry wants to drive. That�s how this world works.

I see them do it in Houston all the time. Paramedics wouldn't need to do that if the idiots stopped at the red light would move over and get the hades out of the way. I saw an ambulance stuck behind four or five cars at a red light yesterday. He couldn't get over to the opposing lanes so he just sat there, until the light turned green and all the cars in front of him moved. Then he was able to make a left turn. If I'm at a red light and see an emergency vehicle coming up behind me, I will either look both ways and carefully run the red light or I will pull up on the shoulder or curb so that the paramedics can pass by me.

There is a device called an Opitcom.This allows the emergency vehicles to turn lights as needed. It's on all police,fire and EMS vehicles. Perfectly legal to what you described.

I'm going to see if I can find one on Ebay. I need one of those.

Also it's used on a lot of gated communities to gain entrance. In fact it's a requirement in some areas. I know Corinth and Shady Shores required them to be installed on the gates.

Good luck with that one but if anyone can find it its you.

Emergency vehicles have no special rights. The lights and sirens are there obviously to be noticed by other drivers. By using them we are requesting permission to go around, in front of other vehicles etc. We occasionally go into an oncoming lane but it's a judgement call the apparatus operator better be damn sure of. The thing I always want to tell people when they see that is just imagine if it's you or your family we are trying to get to. I assure you we are not at the station praying for a call so we can go fight traffic and run the woo woo lights and airhorn.
A lot of emergency vehicles have Opticoms. Basically a device that can trigger intersection lights. They are usually near the emergency lights as they are a small strobe. The intersection has to be wired to accept signal and many are not. They are not legal for civilian purchase though.

I see lots of cars these days that are not skeered of breezing right on through red lights and red signs. Apparently there is a way to time reds and yellows that give them an edge over cars approaching from the left and right. Because of this I wait an extra second or two before moving just in case their timing is off a smidge. So far this has worked well especially when I'm towing my boat.

Hey Bob, it�s called an Opticom... I know you no longer live in the great state of Texas and spelling isn�t that big of deal where you live now but come on...

Oh and HOW ABOUT THOSE CHARGERS!!!!!!!

I lived in a small town in high school and the ambulance was often driven by a young man who everyone knew to be .... "eccentric". One evening me and a few friends were riding the main drag and heard the ambulance coming and he was coming on fast. Lights, sirens, blowing his horn. He sped past us and our juvenile curiosity caused us to drive a bit faster to keep him in site. We were all arguing about what kind of emergency had befallen some poor soul. Up ahead maybe an eighth of a mile ahead of us he abruptly slowed down, killed the lights and sirens, and...


Pulled into Sonic.
We pulled in beside him just as the skating girl brought his to go bag to his car.
We all got out of our car where he and everyone else could see us and started clapping.

Yeah typo. Congrats. Chargers might be super bowl bound. Anyone except the Cowboys or Patriots I am good with.

Opticoms are kinda pricey. Think I'll get a train horn instead.

You don't need an Opticom...unless they've updated the technology we used to be able to make it work by flashing the hi beams as fast as we could. Also seen it work with regular strobes.