Right-hooked by an EMT vehicle
 

I was nearly right-hooked by an EMT on my morning commute this morning. I was riding on a 4-lane road with wide lanes that happens to be a designated bike-commute route and one of the only east-west routes in my part of the city. As I approached the top of a hill, a vehicle behind me started honking, which I assumed was the usual stressed-out commuter upset that I was slowing them down by 15 seconds. Next thing I knew, an EMT vehicle passed me, still honking, and immediately turned right across my path. It didn't hit me, but I had to sit up and slow down and alter my path. The EMT did not have sirens or flashers on, so I don't think it was responding to a call. Just your usual impatient driver. Unfortunately, I didn't get a license or any identifying information because I was trying to avoid two other cars at the intersection. Grrrr ...

I was ready to say you should have stopped if he had his lights on.. but he didn't. I got nothing.

report it

Yes, report it. There can't be too many services operating at that time and place.

If the police ask you what you want done about it, just say "I don't want retribution or punishment - I just want the driver to know honking at a cyclist and then cutting them off isn't okay." Tell the police you trust their judgment about what type of action is appropriate - especially since they may consider EMT's to be on the same team.

I pretty much class emergency vehicles as the poster children for distracted drivers. They're driving vehicles with really complicated dashboard controls, they must talk on the phone while they drive, they're usually going to be pretty stressed, and they are legally allowed to do a lot of things that are otherwise illegal. They've also got pretty much the highest accident rate of any group of drivers. Their already sky-high accident rate goes up higher once the lights and noise start going.

I also live within about 4 blocks of a major trauma center, just short of two of the biggest roads out of town. I see a lot of emergency vehicles most days. I just assume that at any given moment, they may need to put on some serious speed... because I've lost count of how many times I've seen the lights and sirens go on as an EMS vehicle hits one of the 4 stoplights close to my apartment. If I'm not positive they're just driving around, I stop and get the HELL out of their way. I'm also not in a big hurry to get moving... if the call was for anything serious, there will be other emergency vehicles coming along shortly.

In most states, an emergency vehicle's horn is gonna count like a siren.

Maybe they were trying to drum up some business. j/k

That's pretty bad, if anyone should know better, you'd think they would.