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Waterloo Chronicle (Waterloo, On1868), 12 Aug 1992, p. 35

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phone no.) um mae ome en IPON AT... j PLAZA 1 3977 1 ONE: ONTH.* CC Powrs 410 12 123 cle confident you know what you should do. According to Ontario‘s Highâ€" way Traffic Act, (section 159, 1), on a twoâ€"way roadway with two or more lanes of traffic, drivers must bring their vehicle to a stop as near as possible to the rightâ€"hand side of the road and clear of any Every day, emergency vehicles across Ontario respond to urgent calls from the public. The call could be in response to an armed robbery in pl:'om'eu, a baby who has stopped breathing, or a house fire. Each of these calls requires a minimum response time. And any time that is lost getting to the scene of the emergency can be the difference between life and death. How would you react if you were driving and the flashing lights of an ambulance or fire truck appeared in your rearâ€"view mirror? Chances are, if you‘re like most drivers, you would panic. And part of that panic can be caused because you aren‘t Seconds can save someone‘s life Emergency response By Rita Cicero _ Getting to an emergency through heavy rushâ€"hour traffic Hawkes advises motorists to reâ€" main calm when they see flashing lights and hear a siren approachâ€" ing. "It‘s important for drivers to use good judgment â€" slow down gradually, and when it is safe to do so, pull to the right so the emergency vehicle has a clear path." intersection. On a oneâ€"way street with more than two lanes for traffic, drivers should stop their vehicle as near as possible to the nearest edge of the road, again, without blocking an intersection. "The worst scenario," says Richard Hawkes, district superâ€" visor with Metro Toronto Ambuâ€" lance Services, "is when the driver of the car in front of the ambulance slams on the brakes and doesn‘t move out of the way." Not only does this slow down the emergency vehicle from getting to the scene, it can also cause a collision, _ possibly requiring another ambulance. Remain Calm "Too often drivers will just make the turn rather than pullâ€" ing to the right," says Pakkidis. "‘This can cause an accident." turn. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind, a moâ€" torist should not try to complete the left turn but must proceed straight through the intersection and then pull to the right and Be Observant It‘s also important to be obserâ€" vant when you are going through, or making a turn at an intersecâ€" tion. Motorists are requi;ééâ€"s-yr law to check what is happening behind them before making a left It‘s also the law. Traffic in both directions must pull to the right and stop. Mike Pakkidis who is also with Metro ambulance says motorists shouldn‘t assume the ambulance going in the other direction doesn‘t affect them. "The more space it has to get through traffic, the easier and safer it is." MsmE d nia eR emaiy : "Even if the ambulance or fire truck is travelling on the other side of the road, you still have a responsibility to get out of the way." can be a big problem. "It‘s not so much speed that an emergency vehicle needs, but rather a clear passage way so it can get through without any problem," he says. (Comer of Weber & Columbia Streets) _ \ â€" As« Asour Our Naowvwine Guarantees mmmwfi::‘munqn‘nnnu- mm OPEN MON. â€" SAT. 8 AM TO 6 PM smm 22,, ) _ Dh Ne e me of cctimate. 0 355 Weber St., North 746â€"1070 Copyright © Meineke 1992 Waterloo o 2 stt en 4T * Bell Cellular Rita Cicero works in the Minis try of Transportation‘s Communi cations branch. Drivers should always be alert and aware of their surroundings so that when an emergency vehiâ€" cle does show up, it‘s not such a big surprise. \mumsvmww Northdale cemtlbttcoo"iflaonddv WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, August 12, 1992 â€" PAGE 35 ""You‘re Not Gonna Pay A Lot!" Cellular Plus Centre Fits Many Small Domestic Cars Additonal parts and services are often needed at extra cost. One Year Nationwide Warranty Muffler Sale JOSSLIN INSURANCE BROKERS# Something To Think About 23.

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