What to Do When an Emergency Vehicle Approaches

The people inside emergency vehicles, from police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, put their lives at risk to help those in need. When you see these vehicles in your rearview mirror with their warning lights flashing and sirens blaring, getting in their way doesn’t help anyone at all. These vehicles need the road cleared to respond to emergencies quickly, and so every driver on the road must clear a path for them. Below are the good driving practices you must uphold if you see an emergency vehicle approaching behind you.

Stay alert

Even without emergency vehicles on the road, staying alert is something you must actively do at all times while driving. This means avoiding distractions such as cellphones and loud music, and being attentive to your surroundings so that you can hear the siren or horn of an emergency vehicle even at a distance.

Investigate

Once you hear these distinct sounds, look to see where the emergency vehicle is on the road. Check your rearview mirror and side mirrors if it's behind you or look ahead if it's in front of you and try to estimate how fast it is traveling so you can plan your next move.

Respond

After you've confirmed the emergency vehicle's location on the road, slow down, avoid making any sudden maneuvers, and calmly and safely yield to your right. Be sure to activate the appropriate signal light before you do so to let the driver of the emergency vehicle know your intentions. After clearing a path, bring your vehicle to a full and complete stop and allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Look out for other emergency vehicles behind you as there may be more on the way.

Return to driving

When all emergency vehicles have passed and it is safe for you to get back on the road, signal to your fellow drivers behind you, and then carefully re-enter the roadway and merge with traffic. Again, remain alert at all times.

What not to do

There are a few things that you should never do in an emergency situation. Never follow an emergency vehicle too closely. In fact, you should never come within 300 feet behind a traveling emergency vehicle that has its lights and siren on. Also, don’t ever try to pass one. Remember to drive defensively, avoid distractions at all times, and buckle up. You certainly don't want the next emergency to be yours.