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MOVE
RIGHT FOR SIRENS AND LIGHTS
If you or someone you love is in need of emergency assistance,
 you want help to arrive immediately. Did you know that there’s one
simple thing everyone can do to help firefighters, ambulances, and
law enforcement officers provide emergency assistance as quickly as
possible? Just Move Right for Sirens &
Lights.
Every year in the United States there are 16,000 collisions
involving fire
department emergency vehicles responding to or returning from
incidents. These collisions result in over 1,000 firefighter
injuries and 50 deaths. Many, if not most, of these accidents would
be avoided if everyone would just Move
Right for Sirens & Lights.
Why, then, doesn’t everyone just pull to the right? Many people
panic. Some don’t know or understand the law. Others simply don’t
adhere to the rules of the road.
The law is very specific: Drivers must yield the right-of-way to
an emergency vehicle. Firefighters work hard to avoid vehicle
collisions by driving slowly when traveling against traffic, coming
to a complete stop at intersections, etc. However, the cooperation
of ALL vehicles on the roadway is essential.
SIMPLE RULES
There are some simple rules to follow when you’re on the road and
encounter an emergency vehicle whose lights are flashing, whether
the siren is sounding or not.
DO pull to the right and come to a complete stop. If
you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if there is no room to
stop, slow down as much as possible.
If you are in the left lane, DO pull over into the right
lane as traffic in the lane to your right moves over.
If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or
obstacle, just stop. Your action will let the driver of the
emergency vehicle know what you are doing and allow the driver to
anticipate where to drive.
When an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind while you
are stopped at an intersection, DO stay where you are unless
you can pull to the right.
On a two or four-lane highway or street without barriers, both
sides of traffic should pull to the right
If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the opposite direction
of a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over.
If you are on a divided highway where traffic in front of you is
at a standstill and you see emergency lights behind you, move to the
right if you can; stay where you are if you can’t. NEVER move
into the center divide—you could be moving into the path of an
approaching emergency vehicle.
DO stay at least 500 feet behind any emergency vehicle.
DO be extremely careful when driving by or around a motor
vehicle accident or any situation where emergency vehicles are
parked and the firefighters are working.
DO NOT move to the left—ever.
DO NOT play your radio so loudly that you are unable to hear
sirens.
DO NOT stop in the middle lane when there is room to pull to
the right.
DO NOT pull to the left into the center lane, the center
divide, or left turn lane.
DO NOT race ahead to make the green light or turn before the
emergency vehicle gets there.
DO NOT turn quickly to the left onto a street or driveway.
DO NOT drive through a red light or stop sign when an
emergency vehicle approaches from behind.
DO NOT disregard the presence of the emergency vehicle by
continuing to drive.
Following these simple rules will help everyone involved in an
emergency: those who desperately need help and those who are
hurrying to help them. Every emergency responder—firefighter,
ambulance driver, police officer—will appreciate it when you
Move Right for Sirens & Lights.
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