In an effort to keep first-responders safe, Montgomery County, Maryland, firefighters are positioning their trucks to block traffic at crash scenes.
“A lot of times people are confused,” Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Capt. Richard Triplett said. “They don't know which way to go.”
That confusion, along with bad decisions, has led to 12 Montgomery County fire engines being struck in the past year compared to four crashes in 2015.
Maryland State Police troopers patrolling Montgomery and Prince George's counties encounter similar situations.
“Since the beginning of 2016, I've had 12 troopers on our Capital Beltway here in the D.C. region struck, and most of them are a result of failing to mover over or slow down,” State Police Capt. Daniel Pickett.
Because drivers weren't paying attention or didn't move over, two Maryland troopers may not return to the force because of their injuries, Pickett said.
So firefighters are using their trucks as a barrier on emergency calls to try to save lives, while troopers do what they can to do the same.
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“Here in this region we are running an initiative,” Pickett said. “And we’re targeting move over violations and distracted driving.”
