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What should you do if an emergency vehicle approaches you with lights flashing and siren sounding?
- Speed up to stay in front of the vehicle.
- Pull over to the side of the road and stop until all emergency vehicles are safely by.
- Let them pass and follow the vehicle to the scene of the emergency.
- Pull over and stop only if the emergency vehicle is traveling in the same direction as you are.
(The correct answer is #2.) |
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According to Section 1144 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law:
- When approached (from the front or rear) by an emergency vehicle whose lights and siren are activated, the driver of every other vehicle must yield the right of way.
- In yielding the right of way, the driver must immediately pull over to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway, parallel to the roadway, and clear of any intersection. (In the case of a one-way divided highway, three lanes or more in width, the driver may pull to the left or right edge of the roadway, whichever is closer for an emergency vehicle approaching from behind only.)
- The vehicle shall stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle or vehicles have passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
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| Safety Tip: When you are starting up from a stop after emergency vehicles have passed you, please look carefully behind you for other vehicles turning back into the roadway. |
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Don't follow that fire truck!
- Following within 200 feet of a fire truck which is responding to an emergency is against the law! (V&T Law, Section 1217)
- Parking within the same block, or if there is no block, within 1,000 feet of a fire truck stopped to answer an alarm is also illegal.
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Did you know?
It is illegal to drive over a fire hose which is in use, unless otherwise instructed by the fire officer in command. (V&T Law, Section 1218) |
