A 3-minute lesson from the Montana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
When sirens or flashing lights approach, clear a path. When an officer pulls you over, calm, predictable actions keep you, your passengers and the officer safe.
Emergency signals you may see
Police vehicle: siren and/or red or blue flashing or rotating lights, or flashing or rotating amber lights
Authorized emergency vehicle: siren and/or flashing or rotating red or amber lights
When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction using signals, yield and immediately move parallel and as close as possible to the right edge or curb, and stop when possible and safe.
Follow any instructions from the emergency vehicle's loudspeaker and stay stopped until it passes. If you're in an intersection, drive through it before you pull over and stop.
On highways posted 50 mph or more, if you're in the lane next to a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying signals, slow to at least 20 mph below the limit — and move to a lane farther away when possible.
Getting out without being told increases your risk of being hit by passing traffic and can make the officer feel threatened; most violent acts against officers involve a person's hands.
On I-90, where the limit is 80, a trooper is stopped on the right shoulder with lights flashing. Move to the left lane if you can; if you can't, slow to 60 mph or less as you pass.
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.
You see an ambulance approaching with its siren and lights on. What must you do?
Speed up to clear the intersection first
Pull to the left and stop
Continue at normal speed if you have the green light
Pull to the right edge of the road and stop
Answer: Pull to the right edge of the road and stop
You must yield to emergency vehicles by pulling to the right edge of the road and stopping until they pass.
On a highway posted at 50 mph or more, how must you adjust your speed passing a stopped emergency vehicle displaying signals in the next lane?
Slow to 20 mph below the posted limit
Maintain the posted speed limit exactly
Reduce speed by only 5 mph
Come to a complete stop in your lane
Answer: Slow to 20 mph below the posted limit
On roads posted 50 mph or higher, you must slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit when passing a stationary emergency vehicle in the adjacent lane.