A 3-minute lesson from the Kentucky course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Emergency vehicles use sirens, flashing lights and special horns to move through traffic. When one approaches, get out of its way. When one is stopped at the roadside, give its crew room—officers, EMS and fire personnel are being struck at a frightening pace.
Know the rule
Kentucky law requires you to yield the right-of-way to any vehicle displaying a flashing red or blue light or sounding a siren. Avoid blocking intersections.
When you see flashing red or blue lights or hear a siren, immediately drive to the right side of the road or curb, clear of any intersection, and stop. Stay stopped until the emergency vehicle passes, unless a police officer or firefighter directs you to move.
Approaching an authorized emergency vehicle stopped at the roadside: slow down and move into a lane not next to it, if safety and traffic allow. If a lane change is unsafe, slow down and proceed with caution.
State law: move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicle
Put it into practice
On a four-lane highway, a state trooper is stopped on the right shoulder with lights flashing. Slow down and, if it's safe, move into the left lane before you pass. If traffic won't let you over, slow down 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.
When you see flashing red or blue lights or hear a siren approaching, you must:
Pull to the left side of the road
Speed up to get out of the way
Pull right, clear of intersections, and stop
Stop immediately wherever you are, even in an intersection
Answer: Pull right, clear of intersections, and stop
You must drive to the right side, clear of any intersection, and stop until the emergency vehicle passes.
