Capt Jack sir... I think you hit the nail on the head! Made the joke heaps of times, but never put 2 and 2 together... duh..
Ive had folks tail gate, block us (and yes the patient we were going to nearly died as a result.) The person driving the obstructing vehicle was charged.... her excuse... "I thought they were just going to dinner and they shouldnt be driving that fast..."
Wonder if it were her kid we were going to, would she have to same opinion.
There is an effect called wake effect, potentially behind every emergency vehicle on a lights a sirens run. Same as wake turbulance from an airframe. Everything is tossed out of order to mix the smart alecs with the stupid and the innocent alike. Occasionally there will be a prang as a result. But you ask any of these idiots... are you good enough to react appropriately if someone chucks a panic in front and we have to stop suddenly.. they never stop saying yes they are until picked out of the back of a truck...
An Woomera.... my humblest appologies... I side tracked the thread