What should you do when an emergency vehicle is approaching while displaying flashing red or blue lights?
- See if you can reach your destination before the emergency vehicle catches up to you.
- Continue driving but try to stay out of its way.
- Pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop. ✓
- Stop in the middle of an intersection.
Answer: C. Pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop.
Pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop, provided traffic allows.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says you must yield to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles that are sounding a siren, bell, or flashing red light. When traffic allows, the specific move is to pull to the right edge of the road and stop. If you cannot pull to the right, the handbook says to slow down and leave a clear path. That makes pulling over and stopping the expected response, not simply continuing on your route.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. See if you can reach your destination before the emergency vehicle catches up to you. — Trying to reach your destination before the emergency vehicle catches up is wrong because the handbook directs you to yield by pulling to the right edge and stopping when traffic allows.
- B. Continue driving but try to stay out of its way. — Continuing to drive while trying to stay out of the way is wrong because the handbook's normal instruction is to pull to the right edge and stop, with slowing down and leaving a clear path only if you cannot pull over.
- D. Stop in the middle of an intersection. — Stopping in the middle of an intersection is wrong because the handbook tells you to pull to the right edge of the road and stop, not to stop in an intersection.
Remember it
Think right edge, then stop: make yourself a clear, predictable space for the emergency vehicle to pass.
Official handbook: Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), Chapter 4: Right-of-Way , p. 22