What should you do if you encounter an emergency vehicle with flashing lights?

When you encounter an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, the correct action is to pull over to the side of the road and stop. This is crucial for several reasons. First, pulling over creates a clear path for the emergency vehicle to navigate through traffic without delay, ensuring that it can reach its destination—whether it’s responding to a fire, medical emergency, or police situation—quickly and safely.

Stopping also contributes to overall traffic safety by helping to prevent accidents that could occur if the emergency vehicle needs to maneuver around other cars that remain in motion. It is a legal requirement in many states, including Florida, to yield to emergency vehicles, and failing to do so could result in severe penalties, including fines or points on your driving record.

Meanwhile, speeding up to get out of the way can create a hazardous situation for both you and other drivers. Ignoring the emergency vehicle entirely could lead to serious legal consequences and potentially endanger lives. Simply changing lanes without stopping does not guarantee that the emergency vehicle will have an adequate path to proceed, as it may still need a clear area to navigate through traffic safely. Thus, the proper course of action is to pull over and stop, ensuring the safety of everyone on the road.