Headlines & Announcements

You are driving in your car when suddenly you hear a siren…and see flashing red lights. What do you do? Hopefully you’ll make the “Right Move.”

According to State Law, upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle displaying a visible flashing, revolving, or rotating blue, white, or red light, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer. (Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle is a $50 fine and two points on your license.)

In other words, when an ambulance, fire truck or police car is approaching with its emergency lights on, pull to the right and stop, without stopping in an intersection, until the emergency vehicle has gone by, unless a police officer directs you otherwise.

While many drivers do pull to the right and let the emergency vehicles pass, others have been seen doing the wrong thing. Some have even been known to slam on their brakes in front of the officer’s vehicle, stopping traffic altogether.

It is unknown why some drivers respond the way they do. It may be that they do not realize the emergency vehicle is behind them, they panic when they see the lights and siren or think they are in trouble themselves.

10 Simple Rules to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle:

DO

1. Stay calm.
2. Move as far to the right side of the road as possible and stop.
3. If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or obstacle, just stop.
4. Look for other emergency vehicles that may be following.
5. Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind emergency vehicles using their lights and sirens.

DON'T

1. Don’t stop in an intersection.
2. Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left turn lane.
3. Don’t try to beat the traffic light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there.
4. Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.
5. Don’t disregard the presence of the emergency vehicle by continuing to drive.

When you hear a siren or air horn while driving in a congested area and you DO NOT SEE the emergency vehicle’s flashing lights:

• Slow down.
• Turn your radio volume down.
• Check your mirrors frequently.
• Stay focused and anticipate the emergency vehicle.
• DON’T enter an intersection until it's clear.

Emergency vehicles that can travel quickly and safely to an emergency situation are very important to our community. Time lost by an emergency vehicle stopped in traffic could be the time needed to save a life. Please, remember not to panic, but to pull your vehicle to the right and stop, allowing emergency vehicles using their emergency lights, to pass safely.

For other information about the Bismarck Police Department, visit us at http://www.bismarcknd.gov/police.