Concerned Caller: “There’s a CHP unit ‘zigging’ and ‘zagging’ back and forth all over the road. He has his emergency lights on and he is causing traffic to back up. I’m trying to pass him.”
Unfortunately, there are some motorists that have never heard of or understand why the California Highway Patrol runs traffic breaks (Round Robins) to slow traffic to a stop on an active freeway. We run traffic breaks to essentially create a barrier of vehicles behind a traffic hazard such as a pedestrian on a freeway, a disabled vehicle stuck in traffic lanes, to protect freeway workers, and safeguard major traffic collisions blocking lanes.
A traffic break consists of a CHP unit, with emergency lights activated, maneuvering back-and-forth across lanes of traffic, while gradually slowing down to protect the hazardous situation ahead. The California Vehicle Code (CVC 21706) requires all motorists to maintain a safe distance of at least 300 feet back anytime an emergency vehicle has emergency lights activated. Additionally, anytime an emergency vehicle approaches your vehicle from behind with emergency lights and sirens activated drivers shall pull their vehicle to the right as soon as it is safe, clear, and legal to do so (CVC 21806).
CHP – Contra Costa would like to thank our driving community for driving safely and yielding the right-of-way to all emergency vehicles.
Information and photo provided by CHP-Contra Costa
7 comments
I saw this on golden gate and always wondered. Thanks for the info 🙂
Was that a real 911 call? If it was, that person is an idiot and should be ticketed.
Saw this happen eastbound on the 4 near Briones two weeks ago with a CHP motorcycle unit. The reason? Large sheets of plastic in the middle of the road. He swerved back and forth with emergency lights blinking, and stopped twice to remove the debris off of the road. It wasn’t until he got to the debris that I figured out what was going on. Thanks for getting this word out.
This is basic driving people, instead of asking this question on a “DRIVING” test they ask “when is it ok to smoke in a car with someone under 18 in it”? Need to get our priorities right!!!!
I think it is ridiculous that you should even have to remind people of this. People do not even really need to understand the traffic break. Those pretty red and blue lights on the top of a police car mean pull to the right and slow down.
Are people really that clueless?? ATTENTION TO ALL THAT DON’T KNOW THIS!!!! If you don’t know what the flashing lights are for on a emergency vehicle for then please for the sake of all of us STOP DRIVING, HURRY TO THE NEAREST DMV AND RETAKE THE TESTS ( driving and written ), and meanwhile DON’T DRIVE PERIOD!!!!
Did any of you happen to notice in the picture that there was a trailer that was left on the freeway before you posted your comments about calling 911? Oh, and just think what might have happened if the CHP didn’t slow you all down to a stop to remove that trailer?
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