What to do when you see or hear a 911 vehicle

When an ambulance, fire truck, or police car with lights and sirens approaches, you need to move out of its way quickly and safely. The driver of that emergency vehicle is heading to someone who needs when ready help, and delays can cost lives. Your job is to clear the path without causing an accident.

The basic rule is straightforward: pull to the right side of the road and stop. Turn off your music or lower the volume so you can hear the siren clearly. Do not speed up, do not try to follow the emergency vehicle, and do not assume the driver can see you. Emergency vehicles are heavy and take longer to stop than regular cars.

Key Takeaways

  • Move to the right side of the road and stop completely when you hear a siren or see flashing lights, even if the light is still far away.
  • Keep your foot on the brake and do not move again until the emergency vehicle has passed and the siren sound has faded.
  • At a red light, pull into the intersection only if it is safe and you have a clear path; otherwise stay stopped where you are.
  • Never follow an emergency vehicle closely or try to use its slipstream to speed through traffic.
  • If you are in a tunnel, on a bridge, or in heavy traffic, move as far right as you can and stay alert for the vehicle's actual location.

How to hear and spot an emergency vehicle before it reaches you

Modern cars are well insulated, which means you might not hear a siren until the vehicle is very close. Keep your music at a volume where you can still hear outside noise. On the highway, check your mirrors frequently and watch for flashing lights in your peripheral vision or reflected in other cars' windows.

Emergency vehicles use different light patterns depending on their type. Police cars often use red and blue lights. Fire trucks and ambulances typically use red lights, though some ambulances use white or amber. The pattern of flashing lights is often visible before you hear the siren, especially on a highway or at night. If you see any flashing lights behind you or approaching an intersection, assume it is an emergency vehicle and prepare to move.

Moving to the right and stopping safely

The moment you hear a siren or see flashing lights, check your mirrors and blind spots, then signal right and move toward the right edge of the road. Slow down gradually and pull over completely. Your goal is to create as much space as possible between your car and the emergency vehicle's path.

If you are in the right lane already, move further right or into a shoulder if one exists and is safe. If you are in the middle or left lane, move right across lanes if traffic allows. Use your turn signal so other drivers know what you are doing. Once you have moved right, stop completely and keep your foot on the brake. Do not roll forward, do not shift into neutral, and do not turn off your engine. Stay stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed and you can no longer hear the siren.

If you are at a red light when an emergency vehicle approaches, the situation depends on your position and visibility. If you are in the intersection or very close to it, stay where you are and do not move. If you are several car lengths back from the intersection and you have a clear view of the cross traffic, you may carefully pull into the intersection to the right to let the emergency vehicle pass. Only do this if you are certain no cross traffic is coming. When in doubt, stay stopped.

What to do on highways and multi-lane roads

On a highway, move to the right lane when ready when you hear a siren. If the right lane is full, move as far right as you safely can and slow down. Other drivers around you should also be moving right, creating a corridor for the emergency vehicle. Do not try to speed up and change lanes aggressively; smooth, deliberate movements are safer for everyone.

If you are already in the right lane and there is a shoulder, pull onto the shoulder if it is paved and safe. Unpaved shoulders can be unstable, so use your judgment. On a divided highway, the emergency vehicle will use the same direction as you, so moving right is always correct. On a two-lane road, move right and slow down; the emergency vehicle will pass when it is safe to do so.

Situations where moving right is difficult or impossible

In heavy traffic, you may not be able to move right when ready. Do what you can: slow down, signal, and move right as soon as a gap opens. Other drivers should be doing the same, so watch for vehicles around you also pulling over. In a tunnel or on a bridge where there is no shoulder, move as far right as possible within your lane and slow down significantly. The emergency vehicle will navigate around you.

If you are turning left or in a left-turn lane when a siren approaches, complete your turn if it is safe to do so, then pull over to the right. Do not stop in the middle of the intersection. If you have not yet entered the intersection, stay in your lane, do not turn, and let the emergency vehicle pass first.

What not to do when an emergency vehicle is near

Do not speed up or try to outrun the emergency vehicle. Do not follow it closely to use its path through traffic; this is called drafting and it is dangerous and illegal in most places. Do not assume the driver can see you; emergency vehicle drivers are focused on the road ahead and may not notice a car in their path until it is too late. Do not panic or make sudden movements that could cause other drivers to crash.

Do not stop in the middle of the road or in an intersection. Do not turn around to follow the emergency vehicle out of curiosity. Do not honk your horn or flash your lights at other drivers to make them move; this creates confusion. straightforward move right, stop, and wait.

After the emergency vehicle passes

Once the emergency vehicle has gone past you and the siren sound has faded completely, check your mirrors and blind spots, signal left, and merge back into traffic when it is safe. Do not rush back into the flow; make sure the lane is clear and other drivers see you moving. If multiple emergency vehicles are responding to the same call, more may be coming, so stay alert for a few more seconds after the first one passes.

If you were pulled over on a shoulder, wait until traffic has returned to normal before re-entering the road. If you were stopped at a red light, the light may still be red when the emergency vehicle passes; wait for the signal to change before proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I do not hear the siren until the emergency vehicle is right behind me?

Move right when ready, even if it means crossing lanes quickly. Signal, check your mirrors, and pull over. Do not brake suddenly or swerve; make smooth movements. The emergency vehicle driver expects you to move right and will adjust their speed accordingly.

Can I follow an emergency vehicle through a red light?

No. You must obey traffic signals. Only the emergency vehicle is permitted to proceed through a red light. If you follow it, you are breaking the law and creating a hazard for cross traffic. Stop at the light and wait for it to turn green.

What if there are two emergency vehicles coming from different directions?

Move right and stop, just as you would for one vehicle. The drivers of both vehicles are trained to navigate around stopped traffic. Your job is to get out of the way and stay still. Do not try to predict which direction either vehicle will go.

Do I have to pull over for a police car with lights but no siren?

If the lights are flashing, treat it the same way: move right and slow down. The officer may be responding to a call and using lights without the siren to avoid alarming the neighborhood, or they may be signaling you to pull over. Either way, moving right is the safe choice.

What if I am in a parking lot or residential area when I hear a siren?

Move to the side of the road or parking lot and stop. In a parking lot, move to the edge and stop to let the emergency vehicle pass. In a residential area, pull over to the right just as you would on any road. The same rules explore everywhere.