Emergency service vehicles need to be given the right of way immediately, but motorists who are unaware of their surroundings often hold them up, causing valuable time to be lost while responding to emergencies.
Whether it’s an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, emergency vehicles should be allowed to pass without delay, and failing to do so could result in a penalty.
A video from the Netherlands on social media showing a fire engine spraying water at the car in front of it has gone viral, serving as a reminder to motorists about move-over laws.
However, the firefighters’ actions in the video were for an entirely different purpose, even though the footage still serves as a reminder for drivers to stay alert for vehicles displaying emergency lights.
Airport Fire Engine Sprays Water on Car Blocking Its Path
A video posted by AsiaOne on Instagram shows an airport fire engine with its lights flashing and sirens blaring as it follows a hatchback traveling down the middle of the road between two lanes.
At first glance, it appears as though the fire engine is trying to get past the car, but there isn’t enough room on either side for the driver to overtake safely.
Seemingly unable to move forward, the fire engine’s operator activates a front-mounted water nozzle, unleashing a powerful spray that completely drenches the hatchback and briefly obscures it from view.
The footage then shows both vehicles passing the person filming, with the fire engine continuing to spray water at the car as it drives behind it.
A caption in the video reads, “Dutch fire engine water blasts car for not giving way.”
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Comments Expose Fire Incident Reality
Anyone watching the video could easily be led to believe it depicts a real incident. However, users in the comments section suggest that the footage is from a show in which this scene was orchestrated. Some comments are highlighted below:
One user confirmed:
“This was a show. Not a actual incident” [sic]
Another user said it was for a fire department anniversary:
“For context, don’t worry: This fire department celebrated their 80th anniversary and this was one of the various demonstrations that day.”
One more user wrote along similar lines:
“It is a show🤣, it was a 25th year anniversery for the volunteer fire department! Some of these guys work the daytime job on a air base close to the smal town they volunteer. They took the airpland fire engine tk give a show 🤣” [sic]
A user claimed the information provided in the post is false:
“Note: The information is click bait. This was a demonstration and this firetruck was not on it’s way to a real call. The crashtender belongs to Lelystad Airport.”
Still, There is Something to Take Away
Despite it being a show, the message remains clear: allow emergency service vehicles to pass as a priority. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all 50 states in the USA have Move Over laws.
A violation of the Move Over law results in fines and even jail time in some cases. The report reads:
“In 19 states and Washington, DC, laws include moving over for all vehicles with flashing or hazard lights, such as: law enforcement, EMS, fire, highway maintenance, construction, utility, trash, and disabled vehicles.”
If an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is stopped or beside a roadway, motorists approaching the emergency vehicle must take the following precautions:
- Change into a lane not immediately adjacent to the vehicle, or
- Slow down to a reasonable speed if you’re unable to safely make a lane change.