https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOfulAyFtVU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlc6tYJz6To

Do you think the tilllertrucks were doing wrong? I think tillers are harder to steer/maneuver than most apparatus like an engine. 

I'm not 100% sure! but most states have laws on emergency vehicles speeds. I live in Indiana, and I don't believe there is a law on how fast we go. I was told that as long as the driver has proper control of the apparatus, then they are ok.

Yes you want to get to the emergency as quick as you can, but the safety of you and your crew comes first. So yes I think the driver was going a little too fast.

P.S.

Tillers aren't that hard to control, since there a steering wheel in the back of the trailer to help maneuver in sharp and tight turns. But I'm not sure, since I don't drive the big red trucks:)

Edited November 20, 201411 yr by ThatOneHick

Its a yes and no anwser, yes they are going pretty fast for a ladder truck and then again they need to get there.

I clicked on this thread because I thought it would be about people complaining that the trucks are arriving on scene too fast.


But...I understand that you do need to get to your destination ASAP, and that literally every second is precious, But on that same note, you can't drive reckless and ending up causing a fatality.

The first one was close, but that second one. Man! I never sen one driving so fast before. Got to get to the scene safely or it will only cause more trouble sending another truck to your scene then a third to the original. 

Emergency service personnel receive extensive training on response driving (lights & sirens). If I respond to a call of a burglary I am automatically allowed to exceed the speed limit by 30mph (50kph?), going faster than that it is up to me to justify.

 

How much do those sky-lifts weigh? I'd imagine 5 tonnes or so - either way they're not particularly manoeuvrable.
 

When responding to a call the driver has to drive with 'appropriate speed'. In the first situation the road was fairly clear, with good road conditions so the driver could justify the speed. Nonetheless it was somewhat careless to go round a corner and veer onto the wrong side of the road - you're going to help people, why kill someone on the way?

The second can't be justified. What that driver of the sky-lift did, in my eyes, was entirely illegal (in UK response law/guidelines anyway). Approaching a junction you should reduce speed so you can stop if you have to. The junction the truck went through was congested and busy making it even more dangerous.

 

Ultimately, it's up to the driver of the emergency vehicle to make decisions on speed - in such a high pressure situation it's easy to make the wrong decision.

 

EDIT: All of this relates to UK law, US State will probably be different.

Edited November 20, 201411 yr by Stripe

The first video, he was speeding a bit.. but then again his truck is going to be slow so that speed might make up the response time, as for him nearly hitting a car.. Yes he was on the wrong side of the road, but that car was in a different lane altogether, the camera angle makes it look like he was almost hit.

 

as the for the second video, i didn't exactly see any speeding, just remember he is driving a truck that has an attached trailer to it (i don't know the technical terms for those things, i'm not a fire fighter) so he needs to drive a bit faster than the rest just to keep up. 

 

my opinion is that he was speeding, but was still able to control his vehicle, he needs to speed to get to a scene urgently, but he also needs to watch out for the safety of himself, his crew and everyone else around him.. although i could be wrong, he might have actually going the appropriate speed, didn't states and countries have different laws regarding emergency vehicles.. i haven't been to LA, i don't know the laws of LA.. so i can't really agree or disagree to if he was speeding or not.

In that second video, it looks like the TDA's rear left wheel is about to come off the ground.

 

I would hope they dont do that when the traffic light is red.

I don't think they were going that fast in the second video, it's looks like that since all traffic is stopped. And they do have an emergency call to get to plus I think tiller trucks are heavier as they're pulling a trailer so it takes a tiny bit longer to get up to speed, if that makes sense.

 

As for the first video I don't know, perhaps they turned into the wrong side since they probably have to make wide turns.

There is no happy medium with people, response times too long, now they're going to fast, WTF?!

Teenagers driving skateboards on my driveway too fast?

 

But I agree with some of the above replies. Fast response is usually good, but not every car stops for emergency vehicles, you can cause another incident and put the truck out of service.

I'll show you a Firetruck responding too fast.

 

The second video, It seemed a little faster then most fire trucks responding, specially the way It was bouncing. If that thing hit a good size pothole wonder what the outcome would be :/ 

I'll show you a Firetruck responding too fast.

 

 

There must be a massive fire somewhere!

I'll show you a Firetruck responding too fast.

-snip-

You know what that reminds me of?

That song from Driver: Parallel Lines,  "MOVE B*TCH! GET OUT OF THE WAY, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" :D

There must be a massive fire somewhere!

There must be, they have to justify their actions.

I'll show you a Firetruck responding too fast.

 

ROFL

That was too funny. I can't stop laughing...

On a serious note: since when do firetrucks respond, I thought only ambulances can do that and how did 2 spawn?

Edited November 20, 201411 yr by starcraftguy1

There must be, they have to justify their actions.

ROFL

That was too funny. I can't stop laughing...

On a serious note: since when do firetrucks respond, I thought only ambulances can do that and how did 2 spawn?

 

I don't mean to thread hijack here, but absolutely no clue! I was just so shocked the first firetruck, and then when I saw my cruiser rolling down the hill and the second one right behind it I was like nope I'm outta here. 

 

Seriously though, both firetrucks in LA (those videos) and Liberty Respond too fast. Do these people not realize they couldn't stop in time if a kid walked onto the road or a distracted driver made a turn? It may not even be their fault (Lights and sirens are going) but you have to realize the reality of driving such a heavy vehicle with such mass moving at a high velocity. I think that's very dangerous. 

That firetruck driver is a man on a mission.... literally