Chief Steven J. Wojnar

Dudley Chief of Police

             Emergency vehicles respond to calls each day.  With increased traffic volume on the roadways, this response can be hampered or delayed.  I was recently asked to clarify the distance vehicles are supposed to travel behind emergency vehicles.  The person was aware there is a minimum distance to keep between your vehicle and the apparatus, but they were unsure what it is?
            The laws controlling response to emergency apparatus are contained in Chapter 89 of the Massachusetts General Laws.  Section 7A contains the "Restrictions upon approach of fire apparatus."  This section applies to emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, and other "disaster vehicles."  When these vehicles approach, while they are responding to an emergency, all vehicle operators are to pull to their vehicles to the right-hand curb of the roadway and keep the vehicle at a standstill until such emergency vehicle has passed.  After resuming operation or if you are following behind one of these emergency vehicles which have their emergency systems activated, you are to follow no closer than 300 feet.  Most fire trucks and some other emergency vehicles have this information posted on the rear of their vehicles for other drivers to see.
            Penalty for violation of this section is a one hundred dollar civil infraction.  Emergency vehicles are watching for other traffic and hazard situations which may develop.  They may be required to stop quickly.  By maintaining a safe distance in following, you should have sufficient time to stop or take evasive action in order to avoid an accident and prevent injuries.

Once again, the Dudley Police Department, along with many other state and local agencies throughout the Commonwealth, will be participating in the “Click It or Ticket” and “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” campaign sponsored through a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Bureau.  There will be designated patrols on the roadways focusing on erratic or aggressive operators.  Please be aware of these additional officers out on patrol and remember to buckle up and drive defensively.

The Dudley Middle School sixth grade DARE students attended the Ringling Brothers Circus on Sunday May 21^st.  This is one of the annual field trip events organized by DARE Officer Sergeant Poplawski to promote positive experiences for the students of the program.  All in attendance enjoyed the show.  Sergeant Poplawski and I extend our thanks to all the students, and especially the chaperone’s who volunteered their time to supervise this event.  I thank Sergeant Poplawski for his efforts in this program and I also thank all who donated to DARE in the past.  Your contributions make this program possible and provide our young people with some valuable information.

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