Sharing the road with emergency vehicles
Police, fire and ambulance vehicles are emergency vehicles.
If an emergency vehicle is coming towards you and is sounding an alarm or showing flashing red or blue lights, you must move out of the path of the emergency vehicle as soon as you can do so safely.
You should:
- slow down
- move left to give the vehicle a clear run down the middle of the road. If you cannot move left safely, stay where you are and let the emergency vehicle overtake you
- not move your vehicle suddenly
- not drive into the path of the emergency vehicle.
Emergency vehicles at intersections
Emergency vehicles often stop or slow down when they enter intersections to check if they can pass through safely. You must give way to, and not drive into the path of, an emergency vehicle that is sounding an alarm or showing flashing red or blue lights, even if you are facing a green traffic light or arrow and the emergency vehicle appears to have stopped or slowed down.
Watch out for emergency vehicles by looking ahead and in your rear vision mirrors regularly.
Last reviewed: 18 May 2012
