Colchester fire engines on 999 calls have had several near misses because of drivers not stopping for them.
Outside the town's station, flashing lights and road markings warn people they need to give way to fire crews as they pull out on to Cowdray Avenue.
But at least three times this year, fire engine drivers have narrowly avoided crashes after drivers have ignored the flashing lights.
Andy Stapleton, temporary assistant divisional officer, said unless things change, it was a case of "when, not if" there is a collision.
He asked people to obey the traffic signals and pointed out that a crash could not only injure or kill the people in the vehicles involved, it would also delay the response to the fire or other emergency that the crews are heading to, putting more lives at risk and stretching resources.
Published Friday January 30, 2004
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