Legally, are you supposed to pull to the side of the road when an emergency vehicle has its sirens on? (gated, law)

[Womanofsubstance]

In GA in some cities it is the law.

[Slc964]

I moved to the Sunshine State from Pennsylvania and even the local police cannot show me a law or statute stating that when an emergency vehicle is coming toward you on a two lane road you must pull off the road and stop. The drivers training manual says that you must yield but it doesn't elaborate. I think it is dangerous to pull off the road....especially at night. I am still researching this issue. This is not an issue in Pennsylvania where I have been a licensed driver for almost 50 years. Wouldn't you think it would be the same nation wide???

[KurtAZ]

Yes, it is the law: ARS 27-775

You also must move over if there is an Emergency Vehicle stopped on the shoulder of a road.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Yes, it is the law: ARS 27-775

You also must move over if there is an Emergency Vehicle stopped on the shoulder of a road.

Good info, Kurt.

Confusion seems to happen when some drivers panic, because they seriously don't know what to do. Too many variables, but...

. Other vehicles permitting... if I'm already in the right lane, I pull as far right as possible and stop.
. If I'm in the left lane, I pull as far left as possible and stop.
. If I'm caught in the middle lane with no way to move right or left, I'll stop and see which way the emergency vehicle will go (sometimes the emergency vehicle will drive around the cluster of vehicles by finding an opening wherever they can).
. If the emergency vehicle is right behind me, I will pull either right, left, or straight forward across an intersection -- if possible!

Other confusion comes from emergency vehicles coming from the opposite side, but not knowing what to do because of concrete medians all ready dividing the highway. Usually, just be aware of what the emergency vehicle is doing/where it's headed.

It can be confusing, but it's best to remain calm, and leave yourself an out when possible.

[KurtAZ]

Well...just be aware that the driver of the EV is expecting you to pull right...not left. That is why you will see them closest to the middle of the road. If you are on divided highway...the oncoming traffic need not pull over. There is probably NOT an instance an EV driver would hop a median.

[Ponderosa]

Not on divided highways. I pull right and slow down, but don't stop for obvious cases where the emergency vehicle is continuing the other way. That's the way I learned in Europe and it sticks with me (I also treat rural stop signs as yield signs).

[azsportpilot]

Originally Posted by lyzzard

Yes, if an emergency vehicle is coming with lights and sirens on you have to pull over to the side of the road. Even if you are the only vehicle on the road, other than the emergency ones.

The only time you do not have to pull over is when there is a median in the middle of the road blocking the two lanes from each other and you are on the opposite side of the median.

this varies from state to state

like most laws, there are 50 different versions

[InchingWest]

I'll bet this is the type of guy who doesn't wear his seat belt either, but expects others to pick up the hospital tab.

Doubt he stops for school buses too. What a jerk.

Of COURSE you're supposed to make way for emergency vehicles. If an Ambulance is barreling down the street I want them to get to their patient or get to the hospital, depending on their direction, as fast as they can. Ditto for fire trucks, you don't know how fast those flames are spreading or how much someone else is inhaling smoke or burning and where seconds could matter.

[Bummer]

Just one question on this topic . . .

Why would anyone NOT want to yield to an Emergency Vehicle in any and every way possible?

[wit-nit]

Slc964 the Sunshine State is Florida, this is the Arizona forum the Grand Canyon State. Are you confusing the 2.