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Indiana driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Move Over law & emergency vehicles

A 3-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
56, 26

Indiana's Move Over law (IC 9-21-8-35) protects people working at the roadside. When you approach a stopped vehicle with flashing lights, you must yield, move over, or slow down.

Know the rule

The Move Over law requires you to yield the right of way, move over to the right and stop completely, or change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing.

Handbook p. 56 ↗

Move Over law at a glance

Move Over law at a glance
Stopped vehicleWhat you doIf you don't
Emergency: flashing red, red/white, red/blueChange lanes away, or slow 10 mph underClass A infraction
Authorized vehicle, amber flashing lightsChange lanes away, or slow 10 mph underClass B infraction
Disabled vehicle, hazard flashers onChange lanes away, or slow 10 mph underClass B infraction
Handbook p. 56 ↗
10 mph under

If you can't move over, slow to this far below the posted limit and proceed with caution

Handbook p. 56 ↗

Authorized emergency vehicles (IC 9-13-2-6):

  • Fire department vehicles
  • Police department vehicles
  • Ambulances
  • Emergency vehicles operated by or for hospitals or health and hospital corporations
  • Vehicles designated as emergency vehicles by the Indiana Department of Transportation
  • EMS Commission-approved non-hospital ambulances and emergency medical/rescue vehicles
  • Department of correction vehicles designated as emergency vehicles, responding to an emergency
Handbook p. 56 ↗

Authorized vehicles with amber flashing lights:

  • Recovery vehicles/tow trucks
  • Highway maintenance vehicles
  • Utility service vehicles
  • Solid waste haulers/trash trucks
  • Survey/construction vehicles
Handbook p. 56 ↗
6 points

Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle

Handbook p. 26 ↗

Know the rule

Failing to pull over and stop for emergency vehicles is an automatic failure on the driving skills exam.

Handbook p. 12 ↗

Put it into practice

On a four-lane highway, a tow truck with amber lights is stopped on the right shoulder. Change lanes away from it. If traffic keeps you from moving over, slow to 10 mph under the posted limit and pass with caution.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What must you do if you cannot move over for an emergency vehicle with flashing lights?
  1. Stop completely, right in your lane
  2. Continue on at the posted speed limit
  3. Slow to 10 mph under the posted limit
  4. Slow to 20 mph under the posted limit

Answer: Slow to 10 mph under the posted limit

If you cannot move over, motorists must reduce speed to 10 mph under the posted limit and proceed with caution.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
What violation class applies to failing to move over for an emergency vehicle?
  1. Class B Infraction
  2. Class C Misdemeanor
  3. Class D Felony
  4. Class A Infraction

Answer: Class A Infraction

Failure to comply with Indiana's Move Over law for an emergency vehicle is a Class A Infraction.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
What violation class applies to failing to move over for a disabled stationary vehicle?
  1. Class B Infraction
  2. Class A Infraction
  3. Class A Misdemeanor
  4. Class C Felony

Answer: Class B Infraction

Failure to move over for a disabled vehicle with hazard lights is a Class B Infraction.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
Which vehicles use amber flashing lights and require drivers to move over?
  1. Police cruisers responding to a 911 call
  2. Tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles
  3. Ambulances responding to a medical emergency
  4. Fire department vehicles en route to a fire

Answer: Tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles

Authorized vehicles with amber flashing lights include recovery vehicles, tow trucks, and highway maintenance vehicles.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
What is required when approaching an emergency vehicle with alternately flashing red, red and white, or red and blue lights?
  1. Keep your lane and speed if it is on the shoulder
  2. Change lanes away from it, or slow down if you can't
  3. Slow to 25 mph and pass in your lane
  4. Pass it at the posted speed limit

Answer: Change lanes away from it, or slow down if you can't

Motorists must change lanes away from the authorized vehicle, or reduce speed if they cannot move over.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
Which of these is an authorized emergency vehicle under Indiana law?
  1. A tow truck with amber flashing lights
  2. A department of correction vehicle responding to an emergency
  3. A school bus with its red lights on
  4. A utility truck with amber lights

Answer: A department of correction vehicle responding to an emergency

Vehicles of the department of correction designated as emergency vehicles and responding to an emergency are authorized.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
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