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I've witnessed the following a number of times lately, and I think it's very dangerous...
I will see an apporaching ambulance with it's lights on but no siren. I gradually slow down and drive toward the right shoulder. The driver of the vehicle behind me apparently thinks I'm trying to make a right hand turn and passes me on the left, often crossing the center line. Another close call for the ambulance driver as he/she has to swerve to avoid an accident.
When I hear a siren, the first thing I do is scan for an emergency vehicle behind, in front or to the side streets and prepare to react.
Why is it that the ambulance drivers don't always use their sirens?
Does anyone know what the laws are in Hawaii for dealing with emergency vehicles?
"What? Me Worry?" - Alfred E. Nueman
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This is worth a Letter to the Editor, actually. The drivers (and the powers-that-be) need to know that this is being discussed...and how much of a life-n-death issue it is for everyone on the road.
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I've heard that, at least with police, there are different levels of emergency where they use lights only, or lights with siren, the higher level. I would think that since you can't drive while being blind that one should see the lights. People don't always hear the siren due to deafness, loud car stereo, cell phones(?)....
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Is it possible that the ambulance was traveling faster than the speed of sound?
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According to HRS, an ambulance to be considered operating in an emergency response mode must be using lights AND sirens.
In many areas departmental regulations do not require the use of sirens at all times, but the sirens must also be activated whenever the traffic situation warrants. That's why you may see an emergency vehicle (usually police) running blacked out, but at an intersection, heavy traffic, or whenever they expect the operators of other vehicles to properly yield, they must use both lights and sirens.
I did not find anything that didn't reference “AND”.
I would suggest an inquiry to the police department so if they need to remind everyone (Police, Fire, EMS, others) of their responsibility to the public, that they can do so.
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Great question.
What is legal for the driver headed in the opposite direction ?
To slow and be cautious is one thing, but to slam on the brakes, pull off of the road and completely stop is another.
When we first encountered this, we thought "What in the world are they doing ?"
Our experience in life, was ( on a road like 130) was to slow, give the emergency vehicle the r/w , but when the emergency vehicle was traveling unimpeded, continue your journey in your lane.
I've also seen police officers ( with all due respect) driving with no headlights well after dusk - and being the only ones on the road doing so.
Actually Greg , this ambulance wjbillock is referring to probably had its siren taken out and placed in one of the defective Tsunami warning systems... 
Greg H.
In California I was taught that all traffic must pull over and come to a stop for an emergency vehicle in response mode. It is not up to the drivers to judge what's enough room for the vehicle ... we don't know what it's doing.
Drivers here are really bad about not stopping.
I pull over, and then the car behind me uses that as an excuse to pass me, which really makes me mad. If everyone pulls over, everyone should return to the road in the same order... it's dangerous to try to get ahead by only slowing down when people have stopped, in my opinion.
Guess I need to pull my Hawaii driver's manual out; I thought it was the same as California, but it was 5 years ago I took my written test.
amazing, I found my manual and the page flipped open to the exact question.
My manual says that If you see a flashing red light OR hear a siren, you are obligated to provide a clear path and to STOP. Don't slam on the brakes, rather slow down, locate the vehicle and the best way to clear a path for it, and then stop close to the curb, but if you are in an intersection you should get across it and then stop. Never stop in an intersection. "Going slowly" is not listed as an option and it doesn't seem to matter whether you're going the opposite direction or at right angles for that matter.
If you are in heavy traffic and the vehicle is behind you, keep moving slowly until you can get out of its way, rather than stopping and blocking it.
This is not very helpful for when you get caught in a left turn lane or the inner lane of a street and can't possibly get to the curb ... I just try to get over as much as I can and then stop.
Edited by - KathyH on 09/10/2007 00:20:23
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It's annoying (and dangerous) to get passed by the driver behind when you pull over to yield for emergency vehicles. They're impaired or not paying attention (the driver behind, not the emergency vehicle, we hope). I find it happens less often if I reach up and flip on the flashers as I pull to the right. Seems to wake them up to the fact that something is going on. Helps too approaching accidents and road hazards. It comes from my trucker days.
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I know the law requires coming to a stop, but often this is impractical and dangerous. I start to slow down and edge towards the shoulder, making sure there is plenty of room for the ambulance to pass (either way). Often it's passed safely by before I reach a complete stop. I've seen people slam on the brakes and pull to a stop with lots of cluless cars behind them, which is legal but dangerous. Common sense is sometimes mo betta than the letter of the law.
Another confession: Sometimes if I'm going to turn and there's no traffic in sight either way, I don't use my turn signal.
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