The fire chief says in some cases people are reacting to the noise of the vehicle, not the speed.
BETHEL – In response to recent incidents and complaints from residents about emergency responders zipping through town to calls, selectmen aired concerns.
Selectman Don Bennett, who requested the discussion between the board and fire, police and ambulance department heads, said he was just passing on residents’ complaints.
“They like what you do and want you to get there … but you need to stop and think, and use that rush of adrenaline (wisely) and not channel it to your right foot,” Bennett said at Monday night’s selectmen meeting.
Decreasing speeds through town by as little as 10 miles per hour would “not ruin a rescue, or stop them from saving a burning Dumpster,” he added.
When asked by Board Chairman Harry Dresser Jr. about the legality of emergency response speeding, police Chief Darren M. Tripp recited state law.
“In a nutshell, it states clearly that responders must drive with due regard for safety,” Tripp said. “If you go down a street and run a red light, and get in a wreck, you are done.”
Responders can only run a stop sign providing they decrease speeds, and ensure that it’s safe to do so, he added.
“People can voice their concerns. They have every right to be concerned, but it’s a judgment call,” Dresser said.
Fire Chief Jim Young said it’s a matter of perception for many people who spot a firetruck or responder racing through town, and wrongfully conclude from all the racket that they must be speeding.
In one recent incident, Young, who witnessed the response, didn’t believe the vehicle was speeding excessively.
“I’ve had a lot of people tell me we’re going too fast, but it’s just the noise” that they’re reacting to, especially when it reverberates between Bethel village buildings, Young said.
Tripp said he’s addressed the problem before with his officers.
“It is a problem. I’m always reminding my officers to get there as fast as you can, but do not go as fast as you can to get there,” he said.
Selectman Al Barth concurred with Young, saying the blaring sirens can make it seem like vehicles are going faster than they are.
Ambulance service Director Dustin Howe asked Bennett if the complaints he’s heard from residents singled out his vehicles.
When selectmen didn’t appear to respond, Howe said he’s fielded four speeding complaints from residents concerning ambulances. Subsequent investigation revealed they were Pace ambulances not Bethel ambulances, Howe added.
Bennett said excessive speed has come up repeatedly in the past. That’s why he expected it to surface every two to three years on into the future. He wanted an opportunity Monday night to voice concerns, he said, if only to get drivers to think about what they’re doing before they do it.
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