Emergency Vehicles

Emergency Vehicles

You must yield the right-of-way to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles sounding a siren, bell, or flashing red lights. If it is safely possible, pull to the right edge of the road and stop. If you are unable to pull over to the right, slow down and leave a clear path for the emergency vehicle. It is illegal to follow within 500 feet of a fire truck answering an alarm or an ambulance when the flashing red lights are on. You should not drive or park on the street where the fire truck has answered an alarm. You should not park in a location that interferes with the arrival or departure of an ambulance to or from the scene of an emergency.

If you approach a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights activated:

  • Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle if the highway has two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle;
  • Slow to a speed not more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or
  • Slow to a speed less than 5 mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph.