Try to remember that when you see an emergency vehicle racing down the road with lights flashing and siren screaming, that they're on their way to help someone who desperately needs it.  It may be someone whose house is on fire and someone is trapped inside unable to escape the horror of the smoke and flames.  It may be someone whose wife or husband is having a heart attack or someone whose infant child has stopped breathing. 

Try to remember when you're on the road and see an emergency vehicle headed your way to give them just a moment of your time and allow them the right-of-way.  Someone's life may depend on the few seconds it takes for you to pull over and let them pass by.

Try to remember that in an emergency every second counts.  Try to remember that someday that someone could be you or someone you love.

A Few Friendly Reminders

You are driving along the road and an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind, what should you do?

As quickly and safely as you can pull as far over to the right as you can and come to a complete stop allowing the emergency vehicle to pass you on the left.

You are stopped on a two-lane road waiting to make a left turn.  An emergency vehicle approaches you from behind, what should you do?

Remain stopped and DO NOT turn left.  If traffic has cleared in the oncoming lane the emergency vehicle may pass you on the left.  If traffic is congested in the oncoming lane, the emergency vehicle may attempt to pass you on the right.

You are in the left turn lane waiting to make a left turn.  Oncoming traffic has cleared but you see an emergency vehicle approaching in the oncoming lane but is far enough away that you can quickly turn in front of it before it reaches you.  What should you do?

Remain in the left turn lane until the emergency vehicle passes.  The biggest fear of driving an emergency vehicle is not knowing what other motorists will do.  We have seen cases where a motorist will think there is enough time to turn, but then realize that there isn't and come to a dead stop directly in our path.  There are other cases where people will quickly turn in front of us causing us to heavily apply the brakes in order to avoid a collision.  Remember, we may have a sick or injured patient with us or there may be fire fighters on-board that are getting dressed in their protective gear.  Sudden stops may cause them serious injury.

You are stopped in traffic or are stopped at a red light at an intersection and an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind, what should you do?

Once you are stopped, remain stopped.  If the traffic is clear in oncoming lanes the emergency vehicle may pass you on the left.  If traffic is congested in oncoming lanes, the emergency vehicle may attempt to pass you on the right. 

You are approaching a green light at a busy intersection and hear the siren of an emergency vehicle but cannot visually see it.  What should you do?

Safely slow down to approach the intersection preparing to stop if needed.  Once you see the emergency vehicle, do one of the following: 

• If the emergency vehicle is approaching from behind you, quickly and safely pull over as far as you can to the right and stop allowing it to pass by on your left.
• If the emergency vehicle is approaching in oncoming lanes, safely and quickly come to a complete stop prior to entering the intersection and allow it to pass by.
• If the emergency vehicle is approaching from either the left or right, safely and quickly come to a complete stop prior to entering the intersection and allow it to pass by.