When on streets designed for two-way traffic, if you hear the siren of an emergency vehicle what does the law require you to do?
- Signal to the driver to pass
- Continue at the same speed
- Pull as far to the right as possible and stop ✓
- Speed up to get out of the way
Answer: C. Pull as far to the right as possible and stop
Pull as far to the right as possible and stop.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says emergency vehicles using flashing lights and sirens have the right-of-way, and traffic moving in both directions must stop. To clear a path on an ordinary two-way street, the usual move is to pull over to the right and stop. The passage notes a left pull-over exception for the left lane of a divided highway or a one-way street, but that does not apply to a normal two-way street. It also says not to stop in an intersection.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Signal to the driver to pass — Signaling the emergency driver to pass is not what the handbook requires; you are told to clear a path by pulling over and stopping.
- B. Continue at the same speed — Continuing at the same speed would leave you in the way, and the handbook says traffic in both directions must stop for an emergency vehicle using lights and siren.
- D. Speed up to get out of the way — Speeding up is not the required response; the handbook points to pulling over to the right and stopping so you do not block the emergency vehicle.
Remember it
Think “clear the path”: move right, then stop.