Driver's Ed refresher...

In school, everyone goes through driver's ed...and is taught the same manner in which to yield for emergency vehicles. However, it is apparent that most (if not all and on the rare ocassion) forget the one "to do" when they are the sole block in the road.
One afternoon my moving buddy and I had just left the ER and got our next call quite a ways away...that had been holding already for 5 minutes. We were no where close but the closest of all the available units. The Voice in the Sky told us to go so, lights on & sirens blaring- we're off. Taking the main road makes the most sense...I'll use the suicide lane. Everything seems to be going fine; no one stopping right infront of us...no braking required...YET. Speed limit is 35mph. We get 10 over. Solid, I'm using it! People on the streets watch us drive past with a grimace and furrowed brow while plugging their ears...(like it isn't loud for us on the inside- but that's a different post in itself). Cars pull right (yay you for remembering!). We are now passing Safeway- and THIS is where we meet our "oblivious to my surroundings weekday grocery shopper". Thinking that all traffic stopped for you, you pull into the roadway- looking the opposite direction from where you are actually turning and failing to see (or hear) the code responding ambulance you just pulled into the direct path of. PA in hand; parnter bracing self while holding their breath...we brake and swerve. Over the loud speaker, all that is able to be heard? "Aaaaaargh Aaaaa..." Which was the attempt to remind you to yield and move right...INSTEAD you pull all the way across 2 lanes of traffic and stop dead infront of us, leaving me only able to see your eyes widen in disbelief while expecting me to hit you. Wrong. As I avoid your bumper and keep driving to my call, you sit...now blocking everyone else who yielded, from moving about their business...and will most likely become my next call. See you soon. A few minutes later we arrive on-scene, like nothing happened and without a thought about the fact you almost took our lives because your world didn't include a "look both ways". We get out. We grab our stretcher and continue to our patient...there is no moment to pause and take a breath for us. Our job is to take care of others and respond regardless. No one knows or asks how our drive was or what happened to cause a delay in our response...just resentment for "taking too long". We survive each and every call with people like you putting us in danger. All part of the job. We only hope it can be for a truly sick patient...not a sprained ankle from last week like this one :-/