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What's the proper procedure for yielding to emergency vehicles?

G

GigaCluster

Golden Member
If I am driving and hear/see an emergency vehicle far behind me, what should I do? Pull over and stop? Change to the outermost lane but keep driving? What if I am approaching an intersection? What if I see an emergency vehicle approaching the intersection on the perpendicular road? Do I stop in front of the intersection at a green light?
 
Pull over to the side (whichever is closer to you) and go to a complete stop! Wait until the vehicle passes then resume your fun.
 
Slow down and pull as close to the right shoulder as you can until the vehicle passes you on the left; then you can hit the gas and follow along to get a free ride through traffic.
 
OK, so if the ambulance or wahtever is approaching from behind and you are approaching an intersection, should you pull over before or ever the intersection?

This happened to me one night and I pulled over (to the right) quite a bit before the intersection and the vehicle made a right turn. I didnt realize it was doing that, but I am sure that even if I did notice and I tried going through the intersection before the emergency vehicle turned then it would have had to wait for me or something.
 
Two lanes, funeral procession and the cop on a trike has stopped an intersection.... then the cop starts zipping up the opposing lane (the one you're in) to try to get ahead in the procession. I know there's not much to do other than try to yield... but it's not like you can get far enough off the road to let a trike through either... who's in the wrong ?
 
You can usually wait until they get somewhat close to where you are. You can base it on the other cars around you as well.

If you are on the other side of the street and there's a median, then you don't have to stop at all.

If there's an intersection and the vehicle is approaching it and so are you, you should stop at let it go through.
 
Generally stop or slow way down, but it depends; on a three-lane highway without much traffic, for instance, you should be fine just moving over to the right lane if not already there. (right lane assuming US roads where you drive on the right).
 
Yes, you're supposed to stop over on the right.

If you're already stopped in a lane with traffic at an intersection (like at an intersection with a non-preemted traffic light), do what you can to get the hell out of its way.
 
Generally on the freeway you just slow down and move to the right. Stopping would destroy traffic flow and create all sorts of problems.
 
Authorized Emergency Vehicles
21806. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following:

(a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.

(b) The operator of every street car shall immediately stop the street car, clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(c) All pedestrians upon the highway shall proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety and remain there until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: MacBaine
Generally on the freeway you just slow down and move to the right. Stopping would destroy traffic flow and create all sorts of problems.
Click to expand...

That's true. It's not "by the book", but it's true. Do make sure you get out of the way long before its anywhere near you, and do be aware that they may be trying to exit if you're near one. If it looks like that's the case, it may be appropriate to pull over to the side and slow way down or stop to let them by.
 
floor it and get in front of the ambulance!

put on your emergency flashers, and flash your high-beams to alert oncoming traffic.

roll down your window, stick your head out, and make a whistling siren sound as loud as you can!
 
I had to go through a red light when an ambulance came up behind me..

The drivers' manual you studied for the license test should cover this.. 😉 😛
 
Originally posted by: CadetLee
I had to go through a red light when an ambulance came up behind me..

The drivers' manual you studied for the license test should cover this.. 😉 😛
Click to expand...


Yup, I'm amazed how many people don't know this, considering they claim to be such good drivers.
 
Originally posted by: iliopsoas
Originally posted by: CadetLee
I had to go through a red light when an ambulance came up behind me..

The drivers' manual you studied for the license test should cover this.. 😉 😛
Click to expand...


Yup, I'm amazed how many people don't know this, considering they claim to be such good drivers.
Click to expand...

Well, what do you expect? Nobody ever reads the f--king manual (RTFM). 😉
 
Generally, the best rule of thumb is to do what's best to keep the emergency vehicle moving while not causing a hazardous situation yourself.
 
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