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What are you supposed to do if an ambulance has it’s lights on?

January 8, 2018 Andrew Cherin ,

If an ambulance or any other vehicle has it’s emergency lights on, not a lot of people know what to do in various circumstances. The reason behind emergency vehicle laws is so that emergency vehicles can get by without causing a car accident and get quickly to the hospital or car accident injury scene to get the injured person the care they need as quickly as possible. 

If an emergency vehicle is driving behind you in the same direction, most people know that you are required to pull over to the side of the road and stop. However, on the freeway most people continue to drive in the direction they are going and do not pull over and stop. Some people may pull over but most do not stop.

If an emergency vehicle has it’s lights on and is approaching from the opposite direction, most people do not pull over and stop. They believe that they can continue in the same direction. However, the law requires all vehicles driving in any direction to pull over to the far side of the road and stop. If you don’t you could be subject to a $1,062 fine.

Here is what the law says:

RCW 46.61.210

Operation of vehicles on approach of emergency vehicles.

(1) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.190, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only 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 such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.
(2) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
Andrew CherinWhat are you supposed to do if an ambulance has it’s lights on?

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