Editor’s note: Chief Adam K. Thiel looks at how driving too fast adds little to our response time, yet carries heavy consequences.
What a tragic story. So many lives, including the involved firefighter and his family, changed forever.
And for what?
I’ve been in this business long enough, as both a volunteer (with a lights-and-siren equipped POV) and career emergency responder, that driving fast isn’t a thrill. In fact, it’s pretty scary so I usually drive the speed limit.
I certainly understand the importance of response time, and I’m also aware of research studies that suggest driving emergency vehicles faster than posted speed limits has only a marginal impact on reducing overall response times.
As the judge in this case correctly describes, and whatever is burning, the risk-benefit calculation is rarely on the side of drive faster.
Like so many things we do, I think the answer to my earlier question goes back to the mantra we were taught in day one of EMT class: “First, do no harm.”
Drive safe.
(And by the way, have you given up texting while driving, yet?)
