Firefighter Unions Cited for Opposing Car Crash Prevention Reforms

Los Angeles, CA – A recent social media post has drawn attention to a contentious issue in U.S. domestic policy, alleging a "double-standard" where firefighters, who frequently respond to traumatic car crashes, reportedly block reforms aimed at preventing these very incidents. The tweet, from user (((Matthew Lewis))) cults & consequences, stated, "When it comes to actual life or death situations, this is, without question, the biggest double-standard in U.S. domestic policy: Firefighters who spend most of their time responding to traumatic injury/death car crashes ... block reforms that would prevent deadly car crashes."

This claim is substantiated by instances in cities like Los Angeles, where the United Firefighters of Los Angeles Local 112 opposed Measure HLA, a ballot initiative designed to implement the city's Mobility Plan 2035 for enhanced street safety. Firefighter unions argue that street design changes, such as "road diets," bike lanes, and pedestrian bulb-outs, could impede the rapid movement of emergency vehicles, thereby increasing response times. Freddy Escobar, president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, told the Los Angeles Times, “Every second counts. The road diets slow down our firefighters. And it will be so much worse with HLA.”

However, street safety advocates counter that these preventative measures reduce the overall number of crashes, ultimately lessening the demand for emergency services. Data from Los Angeles shows 336 traffic-related deaths in 2023, significantly higher than fire-related fatalities. Proponents of street safety reforms highlight the fire service's historical success in fire prevention and suggest applying similar proactive strategies to street trauma.

The debate extends beyond Los Angeles, with similar conflicts reported in Oakland, San Francisco, Baltimore, and New York City. While concerns about emergency vehicle access are valid, some studies suggest that certain road designs aimed at reducing vehicle speeds have minimal impact on fire and EMS response times. The Berkeley Fire Department has notably launched a "Street Trauma Prevention" program, integrating prevention strategies with emergency response needs, demonstrating a potential path forward.