The vast majority the collisions between light rail vehicles and motor vehicles are clearly the fault of the drivers of the motor vehicles. It is customary for traffic planners and light rail advocates to dismiss such accidents as being due to inattentive drivers. A subset of these accidents involving emergency vehicles is more difficult to dismiss. Many ambulances and fire trucks carry equipment to give them priority at traffic lights. Many light rail lines utilize the same equipment. Conflicts are inevitable when emergency vehicles and light rail vehicles cross paths with both expecting to have the right of way. |
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Denver, Colorado, January 2005. Ambulance knocks light rail train off the tracks. |
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Hillsboro, Oregon, January 2005. Light rail train demolishes fire truck. |
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Bloomington, Minnesota, July 2006. Ambulance collides with light rail vehicle. |
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Los Angeles, California, December 2006. Light rail trains collides with fire truck. |
