Yielding to Emergency Vehicles

Fire TruckI wonder if you would mind commenting on stopping at the side of the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass? So many times when I pull off to the edge of the road and stop, people either don't pull off or else they just pull onto the shoulder and travel at a low rate of speed.

Also, please comment on what is to be done on a double lane highway both directions, with and without a divider. I see many things happening there too.

This was always a subject near and dear to my heart when I was working. As this reader suggests, few drivers manage to deal with this situation correctly, possibly because they don't often get to practice.

When an emergency vehicle approaches that is showing a flashing red light and sounding a siren you must immediately drive to a position parallel to the nearest edge of the road that is clear of an intersection and stop. You must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed by.

It does not matter which direction the emergency vehicle is approaching from.

For all highways except a divided highway, the nearest edge is to the driver's right. On a divided highway, if you are in the left hand or fast lane, the nearest edge is to the left. Otherwise, it is to the right as well. In any case, use your signal lights so the driver of the emergency vehicle knows where you are going!

Beware! Emergency vehicles often travel in packs. Never pull back onto the highway to proceed without checking to be sure that all emergency vehicles have passed by.

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