Cameras on Ambulances

Last week was rough for my family. My son fell sick and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Thankfully all turned out well and apparently he wasn't seriously ill. But riding in the ambulance gave me a new perspective on unthoughtful drivers.

The ambulance was running with sirens and lights, but many drivers refused to pull over. They just stayed in front of the ambulance, slowing us down. I oculd understand if heavy traffic had blocked the right lane. But this was quite early, before the moring rush, and it would have been easy to move to the right lane and pull over. It was bad enough. What if my son had been more ill, and died because these drivers kept him from getting to the hospital in time? I'm sure it's happened more than once to others.

Obviously too many people care more about getting to their destination on time more than they care about the welfare of others. So let's do something about it. Let's install a camera on each ambulance, like the ones police cars have. Run these while the ambulance moves, but set up the camera so that if the ambulance is blocked by a car the camera will focus on the car's licence plate. Photos of the car, and the plate, could then be transmitted to any police in the vicinity, who would give the ambulance time to move on then find the driver and present him with an expensive ticket.

I realize this would be one more job for our already overburdened police. But hopefully just knowing that they're being watched, and that a considerable fine awaits would make some people take a few seconds to pull over. And something needs to be done. No matter where the driver is going, even if his job is on the line, it's not worth a human life. Especially the life of a child.