Allamuchy firefighters urge drivers to keep I-80 shoulders clear for emergency vehicles
ALLAMUCHY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — After responding to a series of serious crashes on Interstate 80, the Allamuchy Fire Department is pleading with drivers to stop using highway shoulders as shortcuts, saying the dangerous behavior is putting lives at risk.
In a strongly worded post on the department’s Facebook page, firefighters said they’ve repeatedly encountered vehicles blocking the shoulder — the lane designated for emergency vehicles — while responding to crash scenes where “every second matters.”
“We’re going to be blunt — we’ve had enough of this,” the post said. “These are the kind of calls where every second matters — cars flipped, people trapped, heavy traffic, chaos. And every single time, we’ve run into the same problem: the shoulder — the lane that’s supposed to be for emergency vehicles — is packed with cars trying to ‘beat the traffic.’”
Firefighters said blocked shoulders have forced them to exit their trucks and walk along the interstate in full gear to move vehicles out of the way so they can reach crash victims.
“While someone’s trapped in a mangled car up ahead, we’re wasting precious minutes moving cars that shouldn’t even be there,” the department said. “If you’re sitting in traffic, you’re not the victim — the people we’re trying to reach are.”
The department’s message included a simple plea to drivers: stay in your lane, keep the shoulder clear, and move over for flashing lights and sirens.
“We’re out there risking our lives for this community every single time those tones drop,” firefighters said. “The least we ask in return? Don’t make our job harder — or more dangerous — than it already is. We all want to get home safe. Please help us make sure everyone does.”
The Allamuchy Fire Department said it has responded to multiple serious incidents along I-80 in recent months, including crashes involving overturned vehicles and people trapped inside. Officials said keeping shoulders clear allows first responders to reach victims as quickly and safely as possible.
