Do we need to drive a non-essential vehicle this way??

[Rheems1]

Alright, I am not normally one to start a rants and raves topic but I feel the need to write one for this. Let me start off by saying I am an 18 year member of the volunteer fire service currently serving as Lieautenant at my department. This rant revolves around a video found on Youtube (go figure), there was a video posted recently of Providence, RI Canteen 1 going to a fire call posted from inside. In this video the canteen truck with lights and sirens going, goes into the wrong lane and runs red lights on several occasions. Now, I am not throwing stones at people for things I am not guilty of.. I have driven the engine on the wrong of the side on occasion (just like this unit, my lane of traffic was clear and no one was harmed)... I think my problem with this comes from the fact that it is a canteen truck, I understand the need for rehab and I can understand that dehydration is a huge problem but I am not so sure that this unit needed lights and sirens and I am very sure that they had no need to be in the other lane. I applaud them wanting to get there quickly and I am sure that they do a great job... but some prudence might be required when responding in a canteen truck... watching this video fascinated me and also dissapointed me...I think the actions were unsafe, the driving.. while no one was harmed were uncalled for and I am dissapointed by watching it. Just my 2 cents, maybe I am starting with my period that this got to me...but it struck me as bad and I wanted to share.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8JJw9JtaI[/media]



Dave Fritz