Ken Striplin

Every day in our community, emergency personnel traverse city streets, rushing to a scene where their skills are needed. Whether it’s a fire, a traffic accident, a rescue or a crime, our well-trained emergency personnel are needed in Santa Clarita on a daily basis.

That is why it is imperative that our community respect and respond correctly to sirens and flashing lights on emergency vehicles.

When an emergency responder in an ambulance or from our Fire, Sheriff or CHP Departments uses these emergency indicator tools on our roadways, it is not a drill! They are being summoned as quickly as possible; many times for life-saving situations.

Your responsibility as a motorist is to pull to the right; even if the emergency vehicle is on the opposite side of the street. You may be surprised to learn that many local motorists simply stop in the roadway, assuming that emergency vehicles will just go around them.

File Photo

Some motorists do not wish to lose their place in a turning lane and just stay put. Both of these things are not only a violation of the law, but they are also a serious impediment for emergency responders.

The precious minutes spent going around vehicles parked in lanes can cost lives. Imagine if that emergency responder were trying to get to your home? Wouldn’t you want them there as quickly as possible? Recently, the City teamed up with the L.A. County Fire Department, SCV Sheriff’s Department and CHP to launch an education and outreach campaign aimed at letting motorists know that they need to pull to the right for sirens and lights.

If you would like more information about the outreach campaign, visit: www.santa-clarita.com/PullRightSCV. Thank you in advance for respecting our emergency responders and pulling right for sirens and lights!

If you would like to email me directly, please do so at: kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

Ken Striplin is the city manager of the city of Santa Clarita.