Blue Courtesy Lights

Imagine you’re driving on the road, and out of the corner of your eye, you see a blue flashing light in your rear view mirror.  What would you do?  Pullover?  Speed ahead of it? Continue driving?  Well in New York State, a blue flashing light signifies a volunteer firefighter responding to an emergency.  New York State suggests drivers move to the right and let the volunteer pass.   While it’s not the law, volunteer firefighters request the right away.  When the lights are activated, they are responding to an actual emergency.  You never know, it may be your house we are responding too. 

When we are dispatched to a fire, we have to respond to the fire station and pick up a fire truck before we can actually go to the scene of the fire.  The flashing blue lights are our way of requesting the right of way.  We can lose our job if we use them inappropriately, so we do take it seriously.   Every year, we try to educate the public on what to do, and what not to do.  The New York State laws  involving blue flashing lights can be read in Article 9; Section 375 (41) of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws (VTL).    

 This above news segment was produced by WTWO to share the thoughts of volunteer firefighters on the blue courtesy light.  This video was posted on YouTube.   

So, I hope by now you have gained a greater understanding of what flashing blue lights mean. We risk our lives to save yours so please give us the courtesy and let us pass.  I do want to warn my non-new York readers, laws differentiate by state.  To see what your local laws dictate, contact your state’s department of motor vehicles or local law enforcement agency.