Stories From the Frontlines

The Practical, No-nonsense Reason You Should Adopt and Comply with Driving SOGs Today. 

You’re on your way to an emergency with your lights and sirens activated when your apparatus approaches an intersection that’s controlled by traffic lights.

What do you do next?

This is a scenario that most emergency service organizations face daily, but the decisions you make could have very different consequences. Let’s explore how two different drivers recently handled this situation and the results:

Fire Department A:

INTERSECTION DECISION:

Following her department’s standard operating guidelines (SOGs), the driver stopped at the red light. Then, at less than 5 MPH, she cautiously navigated through the intersection one lane at a time, making eye contact with fellow drivers to make sure she could proceed.

Unfortunately, she was struck broadside by a driver who failed to yield—and that driver went on to take legal action against the department.

THE RESULTS:

Because she followed her department’s SOGs, Glatfelter was able to argue that the other driver failed to yield to an emergency vehicle and, ultimately, to negotiate a favorable resolution.

Fire Department B:

INTERSECTION DECISION:

Knowing that his state allows emergency vehicles special driving privileges during emergency operations, the driver did not stop at the red light nor reduce his speed.

Unfortunately, he was struck by another driver—and that driver went on to take legal action against the department.

THE RESULTS:

Because his department’s SOGs indicated that their drivers should never exceed 20 MPH over the posted speed limit, and he was found to be driving at 35 MPH in excess of the posted limit, the breach of SOG led to an unfavorable ruling and resolution.

Understanding Your Risks

Even if you’re located in a state that grants authorized emergency vehicles special driving privileges during emergency operations, including passing through red lights and exceeding the speed limit, you may not be immune from liability if you act with “reckless disregard for the safety of others.” Many emergency service organizations adopt driving SOGs that are stricter than their state’s traffic laws. While SOGs do not replace these laws, they do promote safety and help drivers operate vehicles with due regard for others in these emergency situations.

Lessons Learned

Not only can driving SOGs provide your members with much-needed operational and safety guidance, but they can also help enable VFIS to defend your drivers and department from potentially opportunistic claimants. Sometimes saving lives comes down to split second decisions. That’s when training and following your SOGs can make all the difference.