Driving Tips > Safety Columns
What to do when you hear sirens
The lights and alarm of an emergency vehicle may signal a life-or-death situation for somebody. A few seconds delay can prove fatal.
You must yield right of way
Make way when an emergency vehicle – fire, ambulance, or police – is approaching from behind with its alarm on and/or lights flashing. If you’re on a two-way street, carefully pull over to the right hand side of the road and come to a stop. On a one-way street, pull over to whichever side is safest: left or right.
Emergency lights come in different styles
Emergency vehicles may use a flashing red light, flashing red and blue light, or flashing alternating headlights. Any of these lights means “yield the right of way.”
What about traffic lights?
Even if you have a green light, you must yield the right of way when an emergency vehicle is trying to cross the intersection. If you’re stopped at a red light and an emergency vehicle is trying to get past you, it’s legal to pull ahead and let the vehicle pass. Just make sure that it’s safe and the traffic is stopped.
Listen for sirens
If you hear a siren, be prepared to yield the right of way to a vehicle coming from
an intersection on your right or left.
Turn down the stereo
If your car stereo is so loud that you can’t hear an emergency vehicle’s siren, it’s too loud for safe driving.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV and check out the following section on our website:
- Emergency Vehicles in Driving Tips
- You can access the 60-Second video on Emerency Vehicles directly
