Having to deal with an emergency vehicle that is behind you at a red light can be very scary‚ but there are some simple things you can do to help ease the situation. The first thing you should do is remain calm‚ and not try to jump out of your car or get involved in any physical activity. The second thing to do is to change lanes to the left and follow the traffic laws.
Changing lanes to the left
Changing lanes to the left if an emergency vehicle is behind you at a red light can be a dangerous maneuver. When you are changing lanes‚ you should make sure to use your turn signal‚ and you should be aware of the blind spots in the lane you are in.
If you are not sure about the blind spots in the lane you are changing into‚ you should check your mirrors. You should also check for traffic ahead of you. In a multi-lane highway‚ you will turn into the closest lane to the direction you are going in. If you are in a two-lane road‚ you will stop for emergency vehicles in the opposite lane.
Changing lanes to the left if you are in a residential district will be legal. However‚ you must stop in a safe spot and signal. You must also look in all directions and not panic.
If you are in a city‚ you should also slow down and look for emergency lights. You should never try to outrun emergency vehicles‚ and you should never attempt to drive through a red light. You should be prepared to react quickly and calmly.
If you are changing lanes to the left if you are on a two-way road‚ you should slow down and make sure that you are at least 500 feet behind an emergency vehicle. You should then slowly and carefully merge into the lane behind the emergency vehicle.
Stay calm
Whether it’s a fire‚ a crash or an emergency‚ staying calm and being prepared can help prevent disasters. But how do you react when an emergency vehicle is coming up behind you at a red light?
The first rule of thumb is to look out for the siren‚ but don’t panic. Look around you to make sure there are no pedestrians‚ cyclists or other road users. Also‚ don’t listen to your radio so loud that you can’t hear the siren.
Using your mirrors can also help. If you’re on a narrow road‚ make sure you can see all the way across the road. If there’s no space‚ slow down to let the emergency vehicle pass.
Another rule of thumb is to drive on the right side of the road. It’s not uncommon for emergency vehicles to go the wrong way‚ so make sure you’re in the right lane.
Using mirrors can also help you see the emergency vehicle in the first place. If you’re on a single lane road‚ you should indicate left to let the emergency vehicle pass.
The other rule of thumb is to stay at least 500 feet behind the emergency vehicle. You’ll want to give the driver plenty of room to pass‚ but don’t try to overtake them. This is illegal‚ and can lead to a crash or worse.
Violate laws requiring you to yield
Getting a ticket for violating laws requiring you to yield when an emergency vehicle is behind you at a red light can be costly. Even if you have a valid reason for failing to comply‚ a ticket can still cost you.
Failing to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle is a Class 2 misdemeanor in most states. Drivers who violate this law can expect to receive $150 or $300 in fines. They could also be subject to a county jail term of 10 to 90 days. In addition‚ they could also have their driving privileges suspended. Depending on how many points are on their license‚ they could face an additional fine.
Emergency vehicles include fire trucks‚ police cars‚ tow trucks‚ and ambulances. They must give audible and visible signals before passing. They also must be in a position that is parallel to the curb or edge of the road. This can be difficult to determine‚ so drivers should take some time to study the traffic around them.
There are also “move-over” laws in most states. These laws require drivers to slow down and to move over to the farthest right lane when they see an emergency vehicle.
