Salt Lake City Fire Department Captain Cary Turner has seen it all from the front right seat of fire engines and trucks — drivers stopping in the middle of the road, pulling to the left, and some even putting their vehicles in reverse when emergency vehicles approach.
This week is dedicated to bringing awareness to the importance of protecting first responders on the road, and Turner’s observations highlight a troubling pattern that puts lives at risk.
For first responders, every second counts when racing to an emergency. “It’s extremely frustrating because we want to get there as quickly as possible. We have a goal to get to every call within the city within five minutes,” said Bob Silverthorne, Community Relations Division Chief with Salt Lake City Fire Department…