Eight European countries are now requiring drivers to create a “safety corridor” to allow emergency vehicles swift access to trapped and injured people at crash scenes on congested roads. This methodology could be a life-saver here in the USA, too.
Now that so many roads are heavily congested it is critically important that rescue teams are not delayed from reaching crash victims. Lives most certainly can be saved if delays are avoided.
I very recently enjoyed the privilege of getting a ride-along with the Dekalb County Police Department, Georgia, as part of which we attended the scene of a serious crash but struggled to get to the scene precisely because of congestion and — frankly — some stunningly selfish behavior by people who tried driving along the shoulder and even the grass, apparently in the belief that they were more important than the crisis that was happening at the head of the traffic jam.
Creating accurate guidelines, together with laws to ensure compliance (similar to the “Move Over” laws which are now spreading around the country), could help this dangerous situation greatly. Here is the article and it is well-worth reading.