Emergency Vehicles

Identifying Emergency Vehicles:

Emergency vehicles – police, fire, ambulance and special public-utility vehicles – are easily identified through their use of flashing red or blue lights, a siren or bell, or alternating flashes of white light from their headlamp high beams. Also, be aware that police, fire and ambulance services use many different types of vehicles, such as bicycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, buses and trucks.

Reacting to an Approaching Emergency Vehicle:

When an emergency vehicle is approaching your vehicle from any direction with its flashing red or red and blue lights, or siren or bell sounding, you are required to bring your vehicle to an immediate stop.

How to Stop Safely:

When bringing your vehicle to a stop, you are required to:

• Bring your vehicle as near as is practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway

• When on a one-way road or divided highway having more than two lanes of traffic, move to the closest curb or edge of the roadway

• Your vehicle should be parallel to the roadway and clear of any intersections, including highway on/off ramps

• Do not move onto or stop on the shoulder of the roadway, as emergency vehicles may be travelling along it

Safety Precautions When Stopping:

Use extreme caution when stopping your vehicle because other drivers may not yet be aware of or are already reacting to the approaching emergency vehicle:

• Look to the front, both sides and toward the rear of your vehicle

• Signal your intention to pull over well in advance

• Begin to adjust your vehicle's speed to merge with any traffic to the side you are pulling to

• Once you have moved your vehicle to the side, brake gradually as required and bring your vehicle to a safe stop

• Avoid any sudden changes in direction or excessive braking

• Be aware of any vehicles approaching fast to the rear of your vehicle

Special Intersection Situations:

If you are in an intersection and preparing to make a turn when an emergency vehicle is approaching, you should abandon the turn and clear the intersection by proceeding straight when safe to do so, then pull to the right and stop. This will clear the intersection and minimize the possibility of a collision with the emergency vehicle should it be passing you on the side you intended to turn towards.

After the Emergency Vehicle Passes:

• Check to make sure the way is clear and signal before merging back into traffic

• Remain vigilant for additional emergency vehicles

• Remember it is illegal to follow within 150 metres of a fire vehicle responding to an alarm

Police Stops:

Police or other enforcement officers may require you to pull over and bring your vehicle to an immediate stop. Typically, the officer may signal this requirement by driving their vehicle with its emergency lights flashing and/or siren on behind your vehicle or by using hand gestures from the side of the road.

When stopping for police, follow the previous procedures, except that you should bring your vehicle to a stop outside of traffic lanes and onto the shoulder of the roadway where possible, or turn and stop on a side street with less traffic if in the immediate vicinity. If the officer gives direction as to where to stop, follow the officer's directions.

Stay Alert Tips:

• When you see an approaching emergency vehicle with its lights or siren on, prepare to clear the way

• React quickly but calmly. Don't slam on the brakes or pull over suddenly

• Use your signals to alert other drivers you intend to pull over

• Check your rearview mirrors. Look in front and on both sides of your vehicle

• Allow other vehicles to also pull over. Pull to the right and gradually come to a stop

• Wait for the emergency vehicle to pass and watch for other emergency vehicles that may be responding to the same call

• Don't drive on or block the shoulder on freeways. Emergency vehicles will use the shoulder of the road if all lanes are blocked

Stopped Emergency Vehicles and Tow Trucks:

When approaching any emergency vehicle that is stopped with its red, or red and blue, lights flashing or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing in the same direction of your travel, you are required to reduce the speed of your vehicle and proceed with caution.

Speed Reduction Requirements:

When reducing your speed, you are required to assess the speed of the surrounding traffic and the condition of the roadway (such as fog, rain, snow). To ensure safety, brake early and gradually to allow surrounding traffic to better adjust to a reduced speed and to ensure you have full control of your vehicle when braking.

If your vehicle has a manual transmission, it is recommended that you use your brakes, versus shifting down to a lower gear, in order to activate your rear brake lights and indicate to other drivers that you are slowing down.

Move Over Requirements:

When the roadway has two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction of your travel, you are required to move into a lane away from the emergency vehicle or tow truck, if safe to do so, in addition to reducing the speed of your vehicle and proceeding with caution.

How to Move Over Safely:

• Look in front and on both sides of your vehicle, and check your rearview mirrors

• Determine the speed of the traffic around you and condition of the roadway

• Proceed to decrease your speed similar to surrounding traffic speed

• Use your turn signal prior to making the lane change

• Double check your rearview mirrors and shoulder check your blind spots

• Ensure no other vehicles are moving into or approaching that lane too fast

• When safe to do so, change lanes well in advance of an emergency vehicle or a stopped tow truck

• Once in the lane, brake gradually and continue to reduce the speed of your vehicle when safe to do so

• Be aware of any vehicles approaching fast to the rear of your vehicle

Additional Emergency Personnel:

Note: Some firefighters and volunteer medical responders may display a flashing green light when using their own vehicles to respond to a fire or medical emergency. Please yield the right-of-way to help them respond to an emergency call quickly and safely.

Important Reminders:

• Stay alert. Avoid distractions. Keep the noise level down in your vehicle

• Remain calm, and do not make sudden lane changes or brake excessively

• Before changing direction or speed, consider road conditions, check surrounding traffic, use your mirrors, look to blind spots, and signal and brake early

• Keep roadway shoulders, intersections and highway ramps clear for emergency-vehicle use

• If your vehicle is being pulled over, bring it to a safe stop on the shoulder of the roadway, away from traffic, following any directions from the officer

Legal Consequences:

Take emergency flashing lights and sirens seriously. Proceed with caution, clear the way and bring your vehicle to a stop, where required. It's the law. If you don't stop, you can be charged and face penalties.