You are driving on the roadway and hear a siren behind you. You should:
- Stop where you are.
- Pull over to the right and stop. ✓
- Speed up to get out of the way.
- Slow down.
Answer: B. Pull over to the right and stop.
Pull over to the right and stop — move to the right edge of the road when an emergency vehicle is sounding a siren behind you.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says you must yield the right-of-way to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles that are sounding a siren, bell, or flashing red light. When traffic allows, the driver should pull to the right edge of the road and stop. If pulling right is not possible, the handbook says to slow down and leave a clear path instead. Getting to the right edge and stopping is what clears the lane so the emergency vehicle can pass.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Stop where you are. — Stopping wherever you are can block the lane the emergency vehicle needs, so the handbook points you to the right edge instead.
- C. Speed up to get out of the way. — Speeding up does not clear the lane and the handbook never tells you to outrun an emergency vehicle — it tells you to yield.
- D. Slow down. — Slowing down alone is only the fallback the handbook gives when you cannot pull over to the right; it is not the main action.
Remember it
Siren behind you: ease right, then stop — make the lane empty before the ambulance gets to you.
Official handbook: Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), Chapter 4: Right-of-Way , p. 22