It's called clearing an intersection. It's a basic skill learned in EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course). Fire, Medical, and Police learn it all alike. I call it doing a job correctly.
Now when clearing intersections isn't learned, stuff like this happens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3uoVOOlT2s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JapfaI2Qw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHRVEEjSbMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-vnqF-DfvE
Now when clearing intersections isn't learned, stuff like this happens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3uoVOOlT2s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JapfaI2Qw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHRVEEjSbMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-vnqF-DfvE