Caution: Patience urged when traffic comes to a stop
A collision between a Fannin County Fire Department vehicle and a driver tired of waiting in line has officials urging patience and caution on area highways.
Friday afternoon, June 28, both lanes of Blue Ridge Drive (Highway 5) were blocked by deputy sheriffs because of a car fire near Tree City at Gravely Gap.
A fire department rescue truck, with lights, siren and air horn operating, was headed north in the southbound lane to reach the fire. Northbound traffic was blocked and at a standstill.
Chief Deputy Major Keith Bosen said a small SUV turned across the southbound lane from the northbound line of traffic in an attempt to turn around. The SUV stopped and was struck by the rescue truck.
Fire Chief Larry Thomas said neither the driver of the rescue truck nor the female driver of the SUV was hurt, and the rescue truck was not damaged.
But what was about to be another five minute wait for northbound and southbound traffic to flow in both directions turned into a alternating, one-lane backup that was estimated to last as much as another hour.
Bosen and Thomas agreed that what happened was a perfect example of a lack of patience and lack of caution.
And all the elements are more present every day in Fannin County for similar situations to happen. Blue Ridge Drive between Blue Ridge and McCaysville is perhaps the worst spot.
Thomas called the time of the June 28 incident, shortly after 5 p.m., “The rush hour on Highway 5.”
At the same time, the two-lane highway has been recognized as one of the most heavily traveled in Georgia.
Bosen said law enforcement officers have seen many times when traffic gets backed up because of a crash drivers turn around to get to another route.
Whether or not this really saves time is debatable.
“As soon as we can move traffic, we’re going to move it,” Bosen said.
Reaching this goal includes emergency vehicles being able to reach the scene as quickly as possible, being able to safely work the scene, and then getting out of the way of traffic in both directions.
Friday’s incident interfered with all three steps.
Bosen urges every driver who finds them self sitting in line to wait and be patient. Chances are traffic will begin to move fairly quickly.
The chief deputy urges extreme caution “if you feel you must turn around.”
Emergency vehicles use the open lane to reach the scene of an accident. When a driver turns around, he or she not only risks an accident but the emergency vehicle’s response can also be slowed.
“Just think how you would feel if an ambulance was trying to get to your family member and someone got in the way,” Thomas said.
Both warn Blue Ridge Drive is not the only place these situaitons can happen, and neither are two-lane roads.
Where a situation is taking place that requires emergency personnel, they both urge patience and caution.
“We want to make sure people are safe,” Bosen said.