Emergency lane hogs obstruct paramedics

RISING numbers of impatient drivers are dicing with death and putting other motorists at risk by abusing the freeways’ emergency lanes. What’s more, emergency workers battle to get to accident and crime scenes as motorists, taxis and trucks ‘deliberately’ block the emergency lanes, and are often verbally abused. Paramedics have become increasingly frustrated at motorists in Durban North (on the M4) and on the N2, who hog the emergency lanes and hamper their work.

This was the case recently after a truck driver involved in an accident on the N2 was prevented from getting medical care because the emergency lane was gridlocked.

“With every minute you lose the brain loses 10 per cent of its function, so it’s vital we get to an accident scene as quickly as possible. In this case we had to merge with the traffic just to get around them. I feel we could have gotten to the driver earlier and possibly have saved his life. But we were prevented from doing that.

“Every minute counts when you are trying to rescue someone. We’ve definitely seen a spike in the number of motorists using the emergency stopping lane. It really is quite shocking and alarming that people can make such erratic and reckless decisions that put other people’s lives in danger because they don’t want to be inconvenienced,” said Crisis Medical’s spokesman, Kyle van Reenen.

Van Reenen told the Northglen News that he had been verbally abused on several occasions when rushing to an accident scene.
He added some drivers even trail behind the emergency vehicles and the police, trying to get through heavy traffic.

“This is also very dangerous and illegal. We’ve often been told by law enforcement to charge motorists for obstructing us, but because we are rushing to the scenes we do not have time to stop motorists and fine them, so they take advantage of that,” he said.

While many motorists blame taxis for using emergency lanes, Van Reenen disagrees.

“For the most part, it’s mainly motorists who will not let us through. Yes, there are taxis that use the emergency lane to beat traffic, but it’s a major problem where trucks and motorists are also responsible,” he said.

Haden Searles, chairman of the Durban North & Umhlanga CPF, said this was a common occurrence also for the SAPS.

“People have become so inconsiderate and they impede emergency services from getting to an accident scene. People need to realise it could be their family member or friend that needs urgent medical attention. By impeding emergency services, you are committing an offence and you can be fined,” he said.