I get choked up seeing cars move for an ambulance, anybody else?!

[Sprinklesandsprinkles]

Every time this happens to me I wonder if I am the only one!

Basically as the title says, when an ambulance is moving through traffic with their blue lights and I see people pulling to the side for them, I feel a big wave of emotion. For a few seconds I feel choked up like I'm about to burst into tears!

I very rarely cry and don't have anxiety so it's nothing like that. My only guess is that I feel emotional that the drivers are all pulling together to help the person who's in need of the ambulance.

I'd love to hear whether or not I'm alone! I'd feel stupid asking people in real life.

Is it really, though? Or is it because it's the law?

I've honestly never thought about it as some kind of act of "community" - it's just something you're required to do.

That's not to say people wouldn't pull over for ambulances anyway!

I inwardly get very cross with drivers of vehicles that DON'T get out of the way of emergency vehicles with blues and twos, unless of course they physically cannot move. Thankfully it is a rare sight.

You should move to Luton. Almost no one pulls over for ambulances. You'd have a tear free journey.

I do it automatically because I want to help! Until this thread I didn't think actually about the fact you're required to

No not really but seeing the children’s ambulance on the motorway (does long distance transfers) or Cornish air ambulance going overhead reminds me someone is really sick (live in Bristol under flight path)

People that don't move, i.e. people who steadfastly refuse to get out of the way (rather than those who are in a daydreamy world of their own) why do you think they do it?

Do they not believe the ambulance/police car/fire engine are actually dealing with an emergency? Do they not realise those 2 minutes could make all the difference? Or do they not know how to manoeuvre themselves out of the way quickly? Or are they just complete arses?

I went to Catholic schools and we were taught to cross ourselves and send a prayer if we saw an emergency vehicle.
still do this sometimes even though I no longer practice

As I got older you are aware it could be a wife/husband/parent/child in there and their last moments may be right there in that ambulance. I've been in one myself for a relatively minor thing but I do hope that whoever is in there will be treated and come out safe.

I thought I was the only person this happened to!!!!

I get the idea of what you're saying. I work in a primary school and for me it's when they all sing a song during assembly, chokes me up every single time 😆.

I feel like at the beach. Everyone's there exposing their bodies, it makes me think of how self conscious so many people are, and also it makes me think of childhood, I imagine all these adults as once having been kids, going to the beach with their parents. It makes me feel nostalgic and connected to everyone.

Im like this. I do the same whenever I see something similar, people pulling together to help eachother out. Like the video of the fairground ride almost tipping over and everyone running to stand on the side to keep it steady. I think its a very natural instinct when we see human compassion and just makes us believe in humanity a little more.

Yes yes yes. Exactly this. The pulling together... Your whole post I could have written myself. I just don't really truly know why?

What really moves me is when people stop, remove hats & bow their heads when a hearse goes by.
Cars slow down & at times people haven’t pulled out of a T-junction or once even a roundabout so the funeral cortège can continue intact.
I always stop & bow if I’m on foot.
More people do that than you think, it’s lovely, yet sad, to see.

I don't, however I wish it could be made easier by adequate planning and carrying out of roadworks. This causes congestion at times, and with proper planning and working beyond 4pm and at weekends could be halved.

Where I live people bless themselves when they see an ambulance, it makes me emotional to see. I do the same but I'm not really religious, but the idea of random strangers sending a little prayer to a God they believe in to keep that soul alive is very powerful.

I think I know what you mean. I don’t exactly get choked up, but I do tend to feel a bit moved. I think to myself I hope the person it’s for will be ok and I think the respect and regard for others inherent in the cars moving is also quite moving.
Perhaps it triggers a traumatic memory of some kind for you?
Two ambulances were parked outside a house in my street for hours and it was quite upsetting wondering what was going on outside. I was a bit triggered as well because my mum died four months ago and in her final months an ambulance had to be called six times to take her to hospital with breathing difficulties so seeing them definitely makes me feel quite sombre. My neighbour did pass away and they worked on him for about three hours.
I also sometimes get this (probably irrational) fear when I see an ambulance with sirens that there are going to someone I know.

Yes, I do too. My heart takes a lurch if I hear a siren even on a fairly empty road and goes into overdrive if there’s a lot of traffic.

I’ve also started to get a weird clench in my pelvis if I watch someone feel pain. Usually on videos or tv but also in real life. It’s not a wince, it’s something far deeper.

Yes, exactly this, just people obeying the rules of the road, and when it's me I'm fully focussed on moving over safely, preparing to move forward again, checking there aren't any more emergency vehicles following or dickheads overtaking and wondering if there's an accident ahead that's going to delay me. I assumed everyone else was the same.

It's the norm where I live, quite near to hospitals so it's more like part of every day driving, so I don't get choked up no.

I once had to travel in the front of an ambulance carrying my son so was watching everyone move aside. A cyclist coming out of a side road hit his brakes so hard he was catapulted in front of us. I'm not exactly sure how he did it but as his hands hit the road he pushed up and backwards out of our way and waved to show he was OK. The ambulance driver did radio through to see if anyone could go and check him over! It was many years ago but not forgotten, and.much appreciated!

I like the Belgian approach of the police escort going ahead of the ambulance and hitting firmly gesturing for the red car to stop. 😁

My god, yes there's something about the beach that chokes me up, you put it really well. And then you read all the memorial benches and I just go to pieces 😂

After my dad died I did tear up for a while as the last time he left the house was with blues and twos. Now I just ask the universe to send peace to the person.

I had an ambulance and a fire engine on my driving test plus a woman running out in front of me still sticks with me after 36 years.

I've been pipped a few times for not going through a green light as an ambulance is coming. Pip all they want, the person needing the ambulance is more important at that given time.

I get a similar feeling too OP. I feel it’s nice that people (despite often behaving like idiots!) don’t want to see other people hurt or unwell and want them to get help asap.