However not when the collision is in progress and it's the best way to
avoid it.

Looks to me as if the driver is failing to KRETP.

People who fail to KRETP should shut up about the driving of others.
-----

- gpsman

I am more  generously inclined than usual toward the drivers in this
traffic jam.

Although the fire per se is nothing much, there's  fire apparatus lined
up at intervals for a long way, and I can't see whether it's on the
right shoulder (which sure looks rather skimpy on that side) or at
least blocking a traffic lane.  For sure there's at least one spot up
the road where two of them are side by side and at least one has to be
in a traffic lane (look for the two space-alien-guacamole-colored cube
vans, which I think are personnel carriers from one of the firefighting
agencies).  Although it's near the resolution limit of the photo, they
might have at least one lane, probably two, coned off as well.

So four lanes' worth of traffic (so say it's an honest three lanes
worth if people would space themselves properly and keep right except
to pass) is getting shoehorned into two lanes --  and on a hill, which
makes it much more fun for the heavy trucks that are involved.

I personally like to give those roadside emergency  scenes generous
lateral room,  and slow down too -- not only for the safety of the
firefighters, but in case somebody around me does something bozoid (not
that THAT would ever happen  on the 5...).  

Cheers,
--Joe

In many states and at least one province of Canada the law
requires you to slow down.

Sometimes a police officer will park by the side of the road
and ticket people going below the speed limit, because the
presence of his vehicle causes the speed limit to go down.