EMERGENCY CREWS SAY MORE IGNORING WARNING SIRENS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Some of the roads in Valencia are wider than many major freeways, yet firefighters and paramedics are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate their way to emergencies on traffic-clogged streets.

While the tried-and-true rule hasn't changed - pull to the right and stop for blaring sirens and blazing lights - emergency response teams now encounter motorists who react by changing lanes, slowing down or simply stopping - in the middle of the street.

``I've seen people pull to the left, pull into oncoming traffic, you name it,'' said Capt. Joe Romero of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. ``There are a lot of contributing factors for this, but often it's just that people are too busy doing other things while they're driving.''

When Fire Station 111 in Saugus was summoned Friday afternoon for a car crash on the Golden State Freeway, navigating traffic on Bouquet Canyon Road proved challenging.

Heading toward Newhall Ranch Road, Firefighter/Paramedic Ken Johnstone found it easier to snake the truck into oncoming traffic than wait for the vehicles in his path to yield.

``You see how they really don't even react,'' said his partner, Firefighter/Paramedic Frank Garcia. ``Some people just tend to panic, but a lot of the time they're on the cell phone or doing something else. And when a driver just stops in front of us, we can't just go around.

``The second we go around, the car usually ends up turning into the same spot. If they hit us, it's our fault. That's why the best thing to do is pull over to the right and stop.''

Advancements in the auto industry have led to better insulated cars, which can make it more difficult for drivers to hear the sirens over the radio or air conditioner, Romero said. But that's only a small piece of the problem.

Distractions such as eating or grooming while driving contribute to the problem, but emergency responders realize there are some motorists who simply treat rescue vehicles and patrol cars like any other car on the road.

As Johnstone drove down a sparsely populated Newhall Ranch Road with his lights and sirens activated, a white pickup truck continued on without even a tap on the brakes. As other vehicles slowed or pulled to the right, the pickup maintained its speed in the center lane as the rescue truck passed it on the left.

Lt. Mike Dunkle of the county Sheriff's Department in Santa Clarita said he has noticed - both professionally and in his off-duty hours - that many motorists have become nonchalant about yielding to emergency vehicles.

``I was with my son the other day on Newhall Ranch Road and a (fire) truck went by,'' Dunkle said. ``We pulled over, along with the car in front of me. But as we watched the truck go by there were three people within 50 feet of the truck's bumper, all going the same speed'' as the emergency vehicle.

Romero, a 32-year veteran of the Fire Department, said it would take a minimal effort from motorists to allow rescue teams to get to an emergency as quickly and as safely as possible.

``It's just like we all learned when we learned to drive: When you hear the sirens or see the lights, slow down and move to the right. We used to be better at it. Everyone just needs to pay more attention,'' he said.

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) County paramedic Tom Federico, with the lights and siren on his emergency vehicle blaring while responding to a reported heart attack, has to honk his horn at a motorist on Valencia Boulevard who has failed to yield.

(2) Paramedics arrive at the scene of a traffic collision on Lyons Avenue. Motorists in the Santa Clarita Valley are increasingly failing to pull over to let emergency vehicles pass.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer