What should you do if an emergency vehicle approaches in heavy traffic?

Move your vehicle away from the approaching emergency vehicle, toward the side of the road and stop. If the emergency vehicle is directly behind your vehicle in heavy traffic, keep moving slowly until you have enough space to get out of the way.

What vehicles are considered emergency vehicles?

Some examples of emergency vehicles include:

• Law enforcement. Mobile communications vehicle. Police bicycle. Police car. Police motorcycle.
• Firefighting. Fire engine. Fire car. Light and air unit. Water tender.
• Medical. Air ambulance. Ambulance. Motorcycle ambulance.
• Other. Rescue vehicle. Hazardous materials apparatus. Tow truck.

Do ambulances have speed limits?

Police, fire and ambulance services are already allowed to exceed speed limits in the course of their emergency response duties and this is not changing. Police, fire and ambulance service drivers are highly trained individuals who are at times required to exceed the speed limit in order to save lives.

Is it illegal to follow an ambulance on the road?

As already said, it isn’t illegal to follow an ambulance. But if the ambulance is running lights and sirens and speeding, you will be breaking traffic laws trying to keep up, and can get stopped and cited for it.

Is it illegal to tailgate an ambulance?

Since most ambulances running code are running in excess of the law (with legal exemption), you would be most likely violating the law. Even if not, tailgating the ambulance could be interpreted as reckless driving in most states, and be probably cause enough for a stop and subsequent (well deserved) ass chewing or ticket.

Is it legal to run a red light without an ambulance?

No and No. It is not legal, you’re still running red lights, crossing double yellows to be opposing traffic, driving recklessly weaving across lanes etc. If you were driving like that without an ambulance, police, fire or other emergency vehicle running lights and sirens in front of you, you’d be pulled over in a heartbeat.

What’s the difference between an ambulance and a regular vehicle?

Regular vehicles can’t do that, whereas ambulances are allowed to do so, trained to do it safely, and riding in a highly visible emergency vehicle. A big ambulance lit up like a Christmas tree with a blaring siren can safel… We often have to give concerned family members and friends the “meet us at the hospital” talk. It usually goes like this: