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Oregon driving lesson · Buses, Railroads & Special Situations

Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops

A 3-minute lesson from the Oregon 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
Buses, Railroads & Special Situations
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
66

Fire trucks, police cars and ambulances using lights or sirens need a clear path. The law tells you exactly where to go: right and stopped, but never in an intersection. A police stop has its own routine that keeps you and the officer safe.

Know the rule

Yield the right of way to emergency vehicles — fire trucks, police vehicles and ambulances — approaching from any direction with a light or siren.

Handbook p. 66 ↗

When you see or hear an emergency vehicle warning

  • Immediately drive as close as you safely can to the right side of the road and stop
  • Do not stop in an intersection
  • Don't drive or stop in a way that interferes with the emergency vehicle
  • Stay stopped until it has passed or an officer tells you to move
Handbook p. 66 ↗
500 feet

Minimum distance to stay behind an emergency vehicle after it passes

Handbook p. 66 ↗

Know the rule

Police signal a stop by turning on flashing lights or a siren.

Handbook p. 66 ↗

If you are stopped by police

  • Pull as far right as you safely can, stop and turn off the engine — not in an intersection or center median
  • Limit your movements and those of any passengers
  • Keep your hands on the steering wheel; passengers keep hands in plain view
  • Show your driving privilege and/or registration only when requested
  • Stay in your vehicle unless asked to get out
  • If it's dark, turn on the interior light after stopping and before the officer approaches
Handbook p. 66 ↗

Know the rule

Don't argue with the officer at the scene. Traffic violations and traffic crimes charged against you are decided in court.

Handbook p. 66 ↗

Put it into practice

You've just started through an intersection when an ambulance with its siren on appears behind you. Don't stop in the intersection. Drive through it, then pull to the right and stop until the ambulance passes.

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 or hear an approaching emergency vehicle, you must:
  1. Speed up to clear the way
  2. Pull as far right as you safely can and stop
  3. Stop immediately wherever you are, even in an intersection
  4. Pull to the left side of the road

Answer: Pull as far right as you safely can and stop

Pull right and stop for approaching emergency vehicles.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
After an emergency vehicle passes you, how far behind it must you stay?
  1. At least 100 feet
  2. At least 1,000 feet
  3. At least 500 feet
  4. At least 50 feet

Answer: At least 500 feet

Stay at least 500 feet behind after it passes.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
You are starting through an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches behind you. You should:
  1. Stop immediately in the intersection
  2. Pull to the right in the intersection and stop
  3. Turn left to get out of the way
  4. Clear the intersection, then pull right and stop

Answer: Clear the intersection, then pull right and stop

Do not stop in an intersection; drive through it, then pull as close as you safely can to the right side and stop.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
When a police officer signals you to pull over, you should first:
  1. Pull as far right as you safely can and stop
  2. Drive on until you reach a gas station
  3. Pull into the center median
  4. Stop immediately in your current lane

Answer: Pull as far right as you safely can and stop

Pull to the right side of the road as soon as safely possible.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
During a police stop at night, you should:
  1. Turn off all your lights to avoid glare
  2. Turn on your hazard lights only
  3. Turn on your interior light
  4. Keep your interior light off for safety

Answer: Turn on your interior light

Turn on the interior light so the officer can see inside.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
During a traffic stop, when should you show your license and registration to the officer?
  1. Immediately, before they ask
  2. Before the officer reaches your window
  3. After you step out of the car
  4. Only when requested

Answer: Only when requested

Show documents only when the officer requests them.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
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