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.

Aw I have a picture of my grandparents, myself and my then 4 year old sitting on a wall with an ice cream cone each and his ice cream top is mid fall off and his face looks shocked and confused. The perfect picture.

I’m the same - just the sound of the siren chokes me - someone’s life is being ruined by what’s happened (even if it’s only short term)

I feel a mix of things ranging from thinking ‘move out the way ffs to cars’, to ‘hope they’re treated in time’ to perspective and someone’s life is about to change to thinking about someone close to me who an ambulance once rushed for but didn’t make it in time. I like that people tend to respect the need for priority to ambulances and sometimes wonder if any of the people driving had a hand in the chain of events e.g. Tim’s school puts attendance above health of children, staff and their families. Tim passes covid onto Mia. Mia’s grandma picks her up from school, catches covid and has a stroke a few weeks later as a direct result.

unfortunately people don't pull over like they used to; at least that is my experience in London. so many foreign drivers whom i suspect learned to drive overseas & don't know the rules of the road. i once had an unpleasant incident with an angry (African?) man when i stopped in front of his car in this situation in Camberwell. and on a few occasions there i have had drivers barge past me to gain a few feet of road when i had pulled over waiting for the ambulance to pass, actually doing so directly in front of it.

Absolutely, and the more tricky the route the more I weep. Nice to know its not just me I've never mentioned it to anyone.

DH pulled aside in a yellow box to allow an ambulance get through and he got a TICKET 😡. The photo even showed the ambulance, the idiot paid the fine within 2 weeks so it’s cheaper.
i told him he should have appealed but he thought he’d lose out on the cheaper fine.

Thank you @Sprinklesandsprinkles ! So relieved to know I'm not the only one... I do feel ridiculous though being all teary eyed about something that should be normal behaviour.

I love your reaction. Think it’s very sweet. Completely agree with the other numsnetters about people who don’t pull over. My ex brother in law used to just drive faster - had an ambulance behind him once and went 60mph instead of pulling over. Utter wanker.

@EmuFaceI get the school bus feeling too, my friends think I’m mad

I’ve never admitted to it in real life… but I’m sure my friends would have the same opinion as yours! 😂

I get this too.

glad I’ve come across this thread I don’t feel so abnormal now ! I feel exactly the same ! X

I feel the same. Particularly a gridlocked motorway where all
lanes are blocked. Yet they still manage to provide a way through …

I didn't want to read and not say I hope your little one is better soon ❤️

Yes, totally get you. Last week, not long after I’d pulled over for an ambulance, another came from the other direction which had Neonatal Transfer Ambulance on it. That really made me well up. I’m a vet nurse, I see some awful things that I have to try and harden myself too, but apart from ambulances, I find people clapping for things also randomly emotional. Even if it’s just some sort of parade, though a good example is last years Dave Day near where I live - big parade of thousands of bikers in memory of Dave Myers. We went to watch them go past, was not prepared for that 😭😂

It's just basic courtesy, OP. But I suppose morality and masculinity in the UK have broken down to such a massive extent that it now seems surprising when people do the tiniest act of kindness or show the tiniest bit of compassion.

I've always felt emotional seeing this though - it's not a recent thing.

He’d most likely have lost. It’s the same reason you stay where you are when sat at a red light and don’t cross the stop line to let an emergency vehicle through.

For me it's the ambulances and people slowing down to go past horses and riders. Don't know why, I can see horses in a field and appreciate and love them. But I just get really emotional when they're out being ridden and drivers are giving them space and being considerate!!! I've always wondered if I'm a bit odd!!! Glad I'm not the only one!

I definitely choke up at blue-light ambulances; and at little school children queuing up and crossing a busy road with teachers; and at Nessum Dorma (sung professionally); and at witnessing a stranger performing a really kind act to a vulnerable person; and when cars pull over at a roundabout to let a funeral cortege pass intact. In fact, I choke up at a lot of things these days.

I think it’s a normal reaction but have a think about if your stress bucket is already almost full and this is just it spilling over. It might be your brain warning you that you can’t take a lot more onboard idk

As a horse rider who needs to ride a short distance on the road to access bridleways I am so grateful to everyone who is considerate.

Emergency services don’t want to cause another emergency

I’m not sure to what extent that ‘breakdown’ is the case in real life as opposed to some noisy corners of the Internet. It’s certainly not something I’m observing.

I get like this too,also police and fire service.I have to pretend to look for something in my bag when a funeral procession drives by especially if its horses leading the way, I just find it very upsetting and if I didn't distract myself I would sob loudly!

I say a prayer, too, for the person for whom the ambulance is rushing. Brought my children up to do the same from being little. We’re not church-goers but I think it can only help to think of the person and the paramedic team and send them all love and good wishes.