A proposal to get rural motorists in Mountain View County to brake for firefighters responding to fire calls in their personal vehicles has come to a screeching halt.
Mountain View County council unanimously opposed first reading of a bylaw on Sept. 10 that would have allowed volunteer firefighters to install flashing green lights on their private vehicles for use when responding to fire halls for call-outs for service.
Jeff Holmes, director of legislative services, told council the area's chief administrative officer group “didn't see a lot of benefit in it,” and that area fire departments, other than Didsbury, “weren't prepared to implement a full plan” for flashing green light use.
The Town of Didsbury already allows its firefighters to use the lights and requested Mountain View County consider implementing the program county-wide -- which would include fire departments in Sundre, Olds, Carstairs, and Cremona/Water Valley.
The flashing green light is used only as an identifier to drivers of other vehicles so that they may give up their right-of-way and allow the firefighter to get to the emergency unimpeded, Holmes reported.
Administration recommended Mountain View County council not proceed with the proposed Green Light Bylaw first suggested by the county's policies and priorities committee on May 7.
“In rural areas traffic volumes are typically less and the need for flashing green lights not as prevalent. Due to the significant cost of signage and advertising that would be required to notify the public, it is recommended that this bylaw not be considered until there is greater interest in use of flashing green lights by the other fire departments,” Holmes said in his report to council.
Council agreed, unanimously defeating first reading of the bylaw.
