Passage of Ashley's Law Requires Sirens for Emergency Vehicles Responding to Calls

A new Virginia law requires emergency vehicles to use both sirens and lights when proceeding through intersections.

2011-05-13

May 13, 2011 (Press-News.org) A law inspired by the 2008 death of 33-year-old Ashley McIntosh now requires that Virginia police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances responding to emergency calls not only have their so-called "blue lights" flashing but that they also activate their sirens and use their horns while crossing intersections. McIntosh was fatally injured by a Fairfax County officer on February 12, 2008 when Perry's police cruiser went through a red light -- with emergency lights flashing but without the siren turned on -- along U.S. Route 1 in Hybla Valley and struck McIntosh's car.

McIntosh's mother, Cindy Colasanto, has been on a mission ever since she learned that although it was common policy for emergency vehicles to have both lights flashing and sirens blaring when responding to calls it was not required by Virginia law. She began lobbying shortly afterwards to have a statute passed to ensure that sirens are used and that if a police vehicle is crossing through a red light they are required to yield to other vehicles in their path. Her crusade led to "Ashley's Law" being passed by the legislature in March of this year -- the law just awaits Governor Bob McDonnell's signature.

Tragically, Ashley McIntosh was not the only innocent bystander to die in Fairfax County in recent years after being struck by emergency vehicles at intersections. A study performed by a graduate student at Virginia Polytechnic University several years ago showed that 49 percent of all emergency vehicle accidents occurred at intersections, and that a whopping 75 percent of those occurred along highways in Fairfax County -- the same location where Ashley McIntosh was killed.

While Ashley's Law is certainly a step in the right direction towards preventing fatal accidents between emergency and civilian vehicles, it does not guarantee that such accidents will not occur. If you or a loved one is injured in a crash with a Virginia police, fire or medical service vehicle, contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area who can give you more information about your legal rights and options.

Article provided by Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC
Visit us at www.kffjlaw.com

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