When driving and an ambulance has its lights on?

Question

are you supposed to pull over and stop or do you just have to pull over??
I am wondering because the lady who I car pool with never pulls over and I always wonder if she is supposed to. I asked one day just to see what she would say and so that she would actually do it the next time but she said she didn't know. She is 65 and has been driving for about 50 years. You would think she would know the rules. I dont drive by the way so I am not 100 percent sure what the rules are.

Answer 1

If the emergency vehicle is traveling in the same direction as you. You pull over and stop.
If the emergency vehicle is traveling opposite direction as you, and the median is less than 5 ft and there is no barrier. You pull over and stop.
If the median is greater than 5 feet, or there is a barrier, you continue with caution.
If at any time the emergency vehicle must cross into your lane, they have the right of way.

When in doubt, pull over.

Answer 2

Emergency vehicles ALWAYS have the right of way. Unfortunately, there are many people like your friend.

I often wonder how those people who do not move out of the way would feel if the ambulance was carrying a loved one of theirs and that loved one had more problems or maybe didn't make it because of the few moments wasted by those drivers who are oblivious or those who just don't care.

I know in my state, the law is you move over and stop. Sad it has to be a law... it should just be something that people do no matter what.

Answer 3

If you are on a surface street, you are supposed to pull over and stop. It is only common sense. You do not know where the ambulance is going...it may intend to pull into a driveway or street just in front of you, and if you kept going, you may cause an accident. If you are on a highway between off ramps, I believe it is acceptable to keep moving.

Answer 4

You do not have to pull over to the side for emergency vehicles. You ARE required to yeild the right of way to emergency vehicles. Some times this would require pulling over. For example and ambulance approaching from the rear on a two lane road, pull over to let them by. Conversly if it is approaching you and there is nothing impeding it;s progress, there is no need to pull over as you would not actually be yeilding anything.

Answer 5

You don't stop unless your on a 2 lane road and can pull off. You can cause a jam stopping on expressway, etc. Get over in slow lane til they pass. Just because she is 65 doesn't mean she knows the rules. She probably has her own rules LOL.

Answer 6

yea you pull over. It is still on an emergency call. It may not have it's lights on for a few reasons. 1. Noise, if it is in a residential area it may not want to announcement its presents due to patient privacy or the hour 2. It may be on a status 2 call meaning they need to get to the house or hospital very soon but it is not life threating that they can drive a bit saver and take a few extra minutes.

Answer 7

yes, you are supposed to move to the farthest left lane available and come to a stop... if there are vehicles between you and the left margin... do what you can to get out of the way(without speeding in front of the ambulance)

if a Police Officer sees somebody not even attempt to get out of the way, or interfering with the ambulance, you can be issued a rather financially painful ticket.

Answer 8

You have to pull over and give the ambulance room to pass. If it's not safe to completely stop you have to at least slow down considerably.

Answer 9

The best way is to pull over, and stop. If that's not possible, then at least give them room to get by.

Answer 10

You are suppose to yield to emergency vehicles and let them pass.

I don't stop unless it is needed. I don't move over unless it is needed. The main thing is that the emergency vehicle continues to the place it is needed with minimal effort.

Sometimes people over react to these things and make traffic worse.