[USA][GA][Stockbridge] Hazards On, Brain Off

[u/Playful_State5887]

So I was driving on Hwy 138, just cruising, when this car suddenly decides to stop dead in the middle of the intersection. She flips on her hazards like that somehow grants immunity from bad driving. I had no clue what she was doing, so I honked.

A few seconds later, an ambulance shows up, lights flashing, sirens wailing, making a left onto our street. Now, according to Georgia Code § 40-6-74, every driver is supposed to yield, pull to the right, clear the intersection, and stop until the emergency vehicle passes. That’s the law—it keeps everything safe and fluid.

I understand why she put on her hazards. The idea was to warn others—including me—so the ambulance could move through easier and prevent accidents. That’s noble in theory. But here’s the problem: not clearing the intersection causes more harm than good. Sitting there frozen in the middle just makes the road tighter and forces the ambulance to navigate around her instead of giving them the space they need.

So instead of helping, she basically turned herself into a traffic cone with flashing lights—well-intentioned maybe, but still completely in the way.

[u/ShowScene5]

I'm with you, dumb move on that driver. They understand the requirement to stop for emergency vehicles but didn't understand the reason: to get out of their way. Should have stopped before the intersection or just have gone through

That said, this wouldn't even rank as a clippable event for me. This is just every day garden variety bad driving. If this ranks for you, I want to live where you live.

[u/Error_404_403 → u/ShowScene5]

There was no safe way for them to "get out of the way." Staying where they were was the best they could do.

[u/ShowScene5 → u/Error_404_403]

Thanks for demonstrating the common nature of the logical error displayed in this video.

The three cars that blew through the intersection (who also should have stopped behind the line) demonstrate that this car could have safely cleared the intersection.

This car stopped right in the path that the emergency vehicle needed to go. This is like stopping in the the middle of the lane you're in when being approached by an emergency vehicle from behind. You need to move over. If you can't move over, but the path in front of you is clear then you need to proceed to get out of the way. Don't stop in their way and become and obstruction.

[u/Error_404_403 → u/ShowScene5]

The cars that blew through demonstrated only disrespect to the emergency vehicles and the road rules of their drivers, nothing more. There is a reason the rules say "get to the curb or stop", not "get to the curb or move wherever you think is better", because your move would only confuse the emergency vehicle driver. If you stop with blinkers on, you are a simple obstacle to go around; otherwise you are a dangerous unknown. Sad you don't know that.

[u/ShowScene5 → u/Error_404_403]

I don't disagree that the other cars shouldn't have entered. This guy stopped in the way. The only thing worse than not stopping is stopping in the way.

Do not enter or if you have, clear an intersection for emergency vehicles.

Directly from the State of Georgia Drivers handbook:

If emergency vehicles are using their emergency lights (blue or red) and sirens, safely maneuver your vehicle out of their way. You should slow your vehicle and move over to the shoulder of the road, or if that is not possible, as far to the right of the roadway or lane as you can, and stop. You should always use caution to ensure that you do not endanger other motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians while doing so. Do not position your vehicle so that it blocks an intersection or otherwise prevents the emergency vehicle from making a necessary turn;