quicko: oh, it's just a fire engine making that racket, don't bother getting over

I don't think this is how it's supposed to work on the Australian roads, but I was shocked the other day (as a pedestrian) to witness a fire engine with lights on and sirens blaring, be flagrantly disregarded by zooming cars that had no intention of pulling over and every intention of getting (presumably) to work on time.  Whatever you do, don't get caught in a fire during the morning rush hour.