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Below are simple rules to follow when you are on the road and encounter an emergency vehicle:

DO:

  1. Stay calm.
  2. Drive at once to the right side of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.
  3. If you are traveling on a high-speed road or if there is no room to stop, slow down as much as possible.
  4. If you are in the left lane, pull over into the right lane as traffic in the lane to your right allows.
  5. If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or obstacle, just stop. Your actions will let the driver of the emergency vehicle know what you are doing and allow the driver to anticipate where to drive.
  6. When an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind while you are stopped at an intersection, stay where you are unless you can pull to the right.
  7. On a 4-lane highway or street without barriers, both sides of traffic should pull to the right.
  8. Be careful when driving by or around a motor vehicle accident or any situation where emergency vehicles are parked and firefighters are working.
  9. Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.

DON’T:

  1. Don’t panic.
  2. Don’t play your radio so loudly that you are unable to hear sirens.
  3. Don’t stop in the middle lane when there is room to pull to the right.
  4. Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left turn lane.
  5. Don’t race ahead to make the green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there.
  6. Don’t turn quickly to the left onto a street or driveway.
  7. Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.
  8. If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the opposite direction of a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over.
  9. Don’t disregard the presence of the emergency vehicle by continuing to drive.

Alabama Code - Section 32-5A-115

(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp and audible signal as is required by law, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with regard for the safety of all persons using the highways.

(c) Authorized emergency vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a colored light as hereinafter provided visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle and a siren, exhaust whistle or bell capable of giving an audible signal. The color of the lighted lamp exhibited by police vehicles may be red or blue and the color of the lighted lamp exhibited by the fire department and other authorized emergency vehicles, including ambulances, shall be red. No vehicle other than a police vehicle will use a blue light. An amber or yellow light may be installed on any vehicle or class of vehicles designated by the Director of Public Safety, but such light shall serve as a warning or caution light only, and shall not cause other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. This provision shall not operate to relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway nor shall it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of such right-of-way.

 
 

Copyright © 2011 The City of Huntsville, Alabama       Last Updated  11-08-2011