What to Do When You See or Hear an Emergency Vehicle

Emergency response should be quick and on time to make a difference. That’s why the driving laws state that drivers must give way to emergency vehicles whenever they encounter one. Time is always of the essence with emergency vehicles as they try to save lives at great personal risks. Hence, our civic and moral duty is to give them as much aid as possible. So, when you encounter an emergency vehicle when driving, you should respond correctly to save their time and energy. Driving schools often have a separate section for emergency response in their driving lessons to teach their students the laws and the right ways to respond when encountering emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles are identified by their sirens or flashing lights indicating they need a clear way. If you hear a siren or see flashing lights when driving, here’s what you should do:

Stay Composed and Aware:

It’s a sad fact that emergency vehicles usually mean difficult news. The call of the siren and the flashing lights also mean that the drivers on the road need to make way for the emergency vehicles. As a new driver, you may feel anxious or pressured to give way to the vehicle without breaking any other road laws or causing any other damage. This is a natural and expected reaction. But it is also something you should learn to control and handle. Panicking in such a situation can lead to poor decision-making and cause more harm. Instead, drivers should stay calm and fully aware of their surroundings so that they can decide how to quickly give way to the emergency vehicles.

Give Them a Clear Path:

What the emergency vehicles need most when on the road is a safe and clear path to their destination. But in the middle of traffic, this is a bit difficult to achieve. So, as a driver, you should try your best to make way for them quickly and efficiently. When you notice an emergency vehicle approaching, the first thing to do is reduce the speed. If the approaching vehicle is in your lane, move as far to the right as possible. If you are on a road with multiple lanes, change your lane to give the approaching vehicle a clear path.

Pull Over If Possible:

Giving emergency vehicles an unobstructed path is not just our moral duty, it is also the law. So, it makes sense to do the most that you can to give them a clear way whenever you encounter an emergency vehicle while driving. While slowing down and changing lanes is okay, you should also consider pulling over and coming to a complete stop whenever possible. However, that does not mean you should pull over even if doing so obstructs other drivers. Pullover only if you are in a position to do so without creating unnecessary traffic or hindering other vehicles in the process.

Wait Till the Vehicle Passes:

If you are pulling over for an emergency vehicle, wait till the vehicle or vehicles have passed completely. Sometimes, more than one vehicle are responding to an emergency. In such cases, you will have to wait till all the vehicles have passed before you resume driving. It is important to keep a safe distance from the emergency vehicles so let them pass completely before you rejoin the traffic to maintain a safe distance.

Be cautious When Rejoining Traffic:

Most drivers are in such a hurry to rejoin the traffic after letting an emergency vehicle pass that they often forget to signal and end up causing an accident. Staying safe and following proper traffic rules when rejoining the traffic is just as important as when pulling over. When re-entering traffic, make sure to use your indicators and check for other vehicles first before entering a lane.

Final Words

When responding to an emergency vehicle passing you on the road, giving them a clear way is essential. If you are swift and timely in giving way to an emergency vehicle, you might aid them in responding quickly to an emergency and saving more lives. Patience, awareness, and safe driving practices can go a long way in helping you stay ready and alert on the road. Driving schools like Onroad Driving Education always emphasize the need for swift, calm, and correct responses to encountering emergency vehicles when driving. Your correct and prompt actions on the road can contribute to a safer and more efficient emergency response in your community.

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