Yield to Emergency Vehicles

Our unique community is well served by its many neighbors who volunteer as emergency service volunteers on the volunteer Fire Department and volunteer Ambulance Corps. It is a love for community that takes much time and dedication and should be appreciated by all who live and work in this area.

We have all had the opportunity to be out on the road and see firsthand an emergency response in progress. The flashing blue lights on our volunteers’ cars and the red and blue flashing lights of actual emergency vehicles can be recognized as they respond to a fire, accident or other emergency. Not only is it a matter of courtesy to pull over, we have a legal responsibility to pull over. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Laws require that “the driver of every vehicle shall immediately drive to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right hand edge or curb…shall stop and remain until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

So, when you are driving around Wyckoff and you hear the sound of sirens, alert yourself; you will probably see our volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance corps members responding to someone’s call for help in their time of need. Remember to yield to fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles when they are responding to an emergency call as well.

Keep in mind that in an emergency response time is critical. While we may not all be able to serve as volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance corps members, we can provide a measure of assistance to our dedicated volunteers and police by pulling our car over to the side of the road and letting them pass. Such a small effort can mean precious seconds in the protection of life and property in someone’s time of need.

Remember, courtesy benefits us all.