The Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol have teamed up for a new campaign to educate South Carolina Drivers on the proper actions to take when encountering emergency vehicles while on the road. At the Goings Law Firm, LLC we want to help spread the word about this new campaign in order to increase safety on the road for both drivers and pubic safety officers.
Generally, when driving if you see emergency lights in your rearview mirror, the rule is to slow down and move to the right when you are able. Many drivers feel panic when they see lights in their mirror, especially when the emergency vehicle is a police officer. Yet, the campaign emphasizes the importance of remaining calm. It is important to keep your focus on the road and surrounding traffic.
Another instance when many drivers encounter emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks, or law enforcement is when the emergency vehicles are pulled over on the side of the road assisting with an accident. In this case, slow down and move over when you are able. Even if you are not able to change lanes, slow down and keep your focus on the road and traffic conditions. One problem that troopers have reported on major highways is the “rubber necking” effect. This occurs when onlookers slow down to look and see what happened on an accident scene. Again, the campaign emphasizes the importance to focus on the road and traffic conditions, not on the accident scene.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact a Columbia Personal Injury attorney today.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, we are here to help you. Or, if you are a part of emergency services personnel and you have been injured while assisting on the scene of accident, please contact us today. This firm has represented first responders, such as paramedics, who were injured by a negligent driver while assisting in a traffic collision. The attorneys at the Goings Law Firm, LLC in Columbia are highly experienced in auto accident cases and will work to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (803) 350-9230 today for a free case consultation.
