Emergency Vehicles
When a police car, ambulance or fire truck approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right and stop until it has passed. If you are in an intersection, clear it first, then pull over.
Washington also has a Move Over law: when an emergency vehicle, tow truck or road-work vehicle is stopped at the roadside with lights flashing, change into a lane away from it on a multi-lane road; if you cannot, slow down noticeably.
Example: you are in the right lane of a freeway and a patrol car is stopped on the shoulder ahead. Move to the left lane if there is room; otherwise slow down as you pass.
Related questions
- An ambulance with lights and siren approaches from behind. You should:
- A tow truck with flashing lights is stopped on the right shoulder of the freeway. You are in the right lane and the left lane is open. You should:
- On a road with a 45 mph limit, a utility vehicle with flashing lights is stopped on the right shoulder. Traffic is heavy and you cannot move over. What is the fastest you may drive past?
- On a freeway with a 70 mph limit, an incident response vehicle with flashing lights is on the shoulder and you cannot change lanes. What is the fastest you may drive through the emergency zone?
- You pulled to the right for an ambulance and it has now fully passed. How should you reenter traffic?
- Which of these stopped roadside vehicles with its lights flashing is also covered by the Move Over law, requiring you to change lanes or slow down?
- A fire truck is coming up behind you with its lights flashing but no siren. What should you do?
- You are driving through a roundabout when an ambulance with its siren on approaches from behind. What should you do?