A 3-minute lesson from the Tennessee course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
When sirens sound or you see flashing lights, your job is to clear a path and protect the people working on the roadside. Tennessee law spells out exactly how to pull over and when you must change lanes.
Know the rule
Yield to any police car, fire engine, ambulance or emergency vehicle using a siren, air horn, or red or blue flashing lights: pull parallel and as close as possible to the right edge or curb, stop, and stay until it passes or an officer directs you.
It's illegal to follow a fire truck or emergency vehicle answering an alarm, to drive within the block where it has stopped, or to drive over an unprotected fire hose without permission.
Yield to a transit (metro) bus that has signaled and is pulling back onto the road. Unlike a school bus, you don't have to stop for a transit bus loading passengers and may pass it — carefully.
On highways with 4+ lanes (2+ each way), move to a lane not next to a stopped emergency, utility, maintenance or tow vehicle with flashing lights; if unsafe, slow down.
Vehicle on the right shoulder? Move left. On the left shoulder? Move right. Only when a lane change is unsafe may you just slow down and stay in your lane.
On I-24 a tow truck with flashing lights is working on the right shoulder. You're in the right lane. Signal and move one lane left if it's clear. If traffic beside you makes that unsafe, slow down and pass with extra care.
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.
Which action is required when approaching a police car, ambulance, or fire truck using a siren or flashing lights?
Speed up to clear the area quickly
Yield and pull to the right edge, then stop
Stop where you are, even in the intersection
Move into the left lane and keep going
Answer: Yield and pull to the right edge, then stop
You must yield to emergency vehicles and move to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right curb, then stop.
