You are driving on a city street and see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights behind you. What should you do?
- Drive to the right edge of the road and slow down.
- Drive to the right edge of the road and stop. ✓
- Stay in your lane, slow down, and let it pass.
Answer: B. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop.
Pull over to the right edge of the road and come to a stop until the emergency vehicle has gone past.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says to give the right-of-way to any law enforcement vehicle, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle that is using a siren and red lights. It tells you to drive to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle or vehicles have passed. So it is not enough to slow down or just keep rolling along in your lane; the expected move is to get right and stop. If you are already in an intersection, you finish crossing it first, then pull right and stop when it is safe.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Drive to the right edge of the road and slow down. — Going right and only slowing down leaves you still moving in the emergency vehicle's path, while the handbook says to stop and stay stopped until it has passed.
- C. Stay in your lane, slow down, and let it pass. — Staying in your lane and slowing down keeps you in the way; the handbook directs you to the right edge of the road, where you stop.
Remember it
Right edge, then stop, then wait it out: the siren and lights mean get out of the way, not just ease off the gas.