Cape Coral driver captures disturbing moment of drivers ignoring ambulance on the road

THAT WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE THAT NIGHT. >> NEW VIDEO AT 11, A DASH CAMERA CAPTURES CARS FLYING PAST THIS AMBULANCE HERE IN CAPE CORAL. THIS IS ALWAYS HARD TO SEE IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN EVER WITNESSED THIS YOURSELF. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT MULTIPLE CARS. THEY JUST SPEED BY THIS AMBULANCE WITHOUT EVEN SLOWING DOWN. IS THAT AMBULANCES TRYING TO GET THROUGH? WE KNOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. EVERY SECOND MATTERS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP SAVE LIVES WITH THESE AMBULANCES. NOW, ABC SEVEN'S MADISON ADAMS TALKS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO SAY IF YOU DON'T STOP, YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW. >> SIRENS ON THE ROAD IS OUR CUTEST ACT AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. BUT DANIELLE MARTIN SAYS WHILE DRIVING DOWN SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD SOUTH IN CAPE CORAL THURSDAY, HE WITNESSED SOMETHING ALARMING AT THE 20ST STREET INTERSECTION. AND AMBULANCE TRYING TO GET THROUGH TRAFFIC. BUT NO ONE WAS LETTING IT PASS A LITTLE MOTION BECAUSE IT'S JUST I SEALED TIME. I KNOW THAT THESE GUYS ARE WORKING SO HARD. >> JUST TO PEOPLE'S LIVES. NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR JUST TOO BUSY ON THE PHONE. >> WHATEVER. THAT'S HOW ACCIDENT HAPPENED. BUT AS 9 TO 10 CARS SPEED PAST THE AMBULANCE WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN OR MOVING OVER, THIS WAS ALL CAUGHT ON MARTIN'S GOPRO. THE MEASURE, IF IT WAS YOU ON THE OTHER END ON THAT 9-1-1, CALL AWAY FROM THE ENDLESS TO SHOW HOW WOULD YOU WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO ACT ON THE ROAD? >> LET THEM COME THROUGH. FHP SAYS DRIVERS NOT MOVING OUT OF THE WAY FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. >> IT'S SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM THEY SEE WITH DRIVERS NOT MOVING OVER FOR CARS, STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, EVERYBODY TO FOCUS. >> 5,000 POUND CAR BY BUS TO LIMIT SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE ANGELES'S HAVE. OKAY ON THEM. THEY'RE QUICK TO WHERE SHE LIGHTS NUMBERS. THE SIREN IN A Q. PAY ATTENTION, PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN. >> IN 2022, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS OVER 170 CRASHES WERE CAUSED BY DRIVERS WHO DIDN'T MOVE OVER IF LAW ENFORCEMENT CATCHES YOU BE PREPARED TO RECEIVE

Several drivers sped past an ambulance that was heading to help someone in need in Cape Coral on Thursday. The incident was captured on Daniel Martin's GoPro. Martins was driving south on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral when he saw something deeply concerning at the intersection with 21st Street. An ambulance was struggling to maneuver through traffic, but, as Martins noted, no one was yielding to allow it to pass."It's just a little emotional because I see it all the time," Martin said. "These guys are working so hard to save lives, and nobody else cares. They're in their own little world, not paying attention — just too busy on their phones, whatever. And that’s how big accidents happen."In the footage, nine to 10 cars can be seen speeding past the ambulance without slowing down or moving over. According to Martin, the drivers continued on as if the emergency vehicle wasn’t there at all."Imagine if it was you on the other end of that 911 call waiting for the ambulance to show up," Martin said. "How would you want somebody else to act on the road? Let them come through."What these drivers failed to do is something required by law: moving over or slowing down by at least 20 miles per hour when approaching emergency vehicles, law enforcement, utility service vehicles, or any vehicle stopped on the side of the road. This law, known as the Move Over Law, is designed to protect emergency responders and prevent accidents.Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Greg Bueno emphasized the importance of adhering to this law for safety."We need everybody to focus 100% on their 5,000-pound car, abide by the speed limit, set a proper following distance, and move over," Bueno said.The law is serious. In 2022, the Florida Highway Patrol reported 170 crashes caused by drivers failing to move over. If caught, violators face fines and points on their licenses. In fact, more than 14,000 drivers were ticketed in 2022 for not obeying the Move Over Law.However, the drivers seen in Martin's video will not face penalties unless they are caught in person by law enforcement.As Martin reminded everyone, being aware and respectful of emergency vehicles is not just a legal responsibility — it’s a matter of public safety."Put your phones down and pay attention. These people are out there trying to save lives," he said.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Several drivers sped past an ambulance that was heading to help someone in need in Cape Coral on Thursday.

The incident was captured on Daniel Martin's GoPro. Martins was driving south on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral when he saw something deeply concerning at the intersection with 21st Street. An ambulance was struggling to maneuver through traffic, but, as Martins noted, no one was yielding to allow it to pass.

"It's just a little emotional because I see it all the time," Martin said. "These guys are working so hard to save lives, and nobody else cares. They're in their own little world, not paying attention — just too busy on their phones, whatever. And that’s how big accidents happen."

In the footage, nine to 10 cars can be seen speeding past the ambulance without slowing down or moving over. According to Martin, the drivers continued on as if the emergency vehicle wasn’t there at all.

"Imagine if it was you on the other end of that 911 call waiting for the ambulance to show up," Martin said. "How would you want somebody else to act on the road? Let them come through."

What these drivers failed to do is something required by law: moving over or slowing down by at least 20 miles per hour when approaching emergency vehicles, law enforcement, utility service vehicles, or any vehicle stopped on the side of the road. This law, known as the Move Over Law, is designed to protect emergency responders and prevent accidents.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Greg Bueno emphasized the importance of adhering to this law for safety.

"We need everybody to focus 100% on their 5,000-pound car, abide by the speed limit, set a proper following distance, and move over," Bueno said.

The law is serious. In 2022, the Florida Highway Patrol reported 170 crashes caused by drivers failing to move over. If caught, violators face fines and points on their licenses. In fact, more than 14,000 drivers were ticketed in 2022 for not obeying the Move Over Law.

However, the drivers seen in Martin's video will not face penalties unless they are caught in person by law enforcement.

As Martin reminded everyone, being aware and respectful of emergency vehicles is not just a legal responsibility — it’s a matter of public safety.

"Put your phones down and pay attention. These people are out there trying to save lives," he said.

Cape Coral driver captures disturbing moment of drivers ignoring ambulance on the road

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