Move Right

Every year in the U.S., there are almost 16,000 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles while responding to or returning from incidents. These collisions result in over 1,000 firefighter injuries and almost fifty deaths.

Here are some simple rules to follow when you’re on the road and encounter an emergency vehicle:

DO:

· Stay calm.

· Pull to the right and come to a complete stop.

· If you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if there

is no room to stop, slow down as much as

possible.

· If you are in the left lane, pull over into the right

lane as traffic in the lane to your right moves

over.

· If you cannot move to the right because of

another vehicle or obstacle, just stop. Your action

will let the driver of the emergency vehicle know

what you are doing and allow the driver to

anticipate where to drive.

· When an emergency vehicle approaches you

from behind while you are stopped at an

intersection, stay where you are unless you can

pull to the right.

· On a 4-lane highway or street without barriers,

both sides of traffic should pull to the right.

· Be careful when driving by or around a motor

vehicle accident or any situation where

emergency vehicles are parked and the

firefighters are working.

· Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind

emergency vehicles.

DON’T:

· Don’t panic.

· Don’t play your radio so loudly that you are

unable to hear sirens.

· Don’t stop in the middle lane when there is room

to pull to the right.

· Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left turn

lane.

· Don’t race ahead to make the green light or turn

before the emergency vehicle gets there.

· Don’t turn quickly to the left onto a street or

driveway.

· Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign when

an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.

· If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the

opposite direction of a divided highway or street,

you do not need to pull over.

· Don’t disregard the presence of the emergency

vehicle by continuing to drive.