Emergency Vehicle Approaching From Behind at a Green Light
You are stopped at a red light in the rightmost of three lanes on a six-lane urban arterial. The light turns green and you begin to move at about 30 km/h. In your mirror you see an ambulance with lights and siren approaching from behind, about 80 m back, in the centre lane. Ahead, the intersection is 40 m away and the light is green. To your right is a curb with a bus stop; to your left is the centre lane the ambulance is using. A row of vehicles is in the left lane. The ambulance is closing quickly and its siren is clearly audible.
1. What must you do when an emergency vehicle with lights and siren approaches from behind, and where should you go here?
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You must yield the right-of-way to the emergency vehicle: pull as far to the right as is safe and stop, clearing a path. Here, the rightmost lane with a curb and bus stop gives you a place to pull over to the right edge and stop, letting the ambulance pass on your left in the centre lane. Do not stop in the middle of your lane, do not move left into the ambulance's path, and do not block the intersection. Pulling to the right and stopping is the correct response; continuing at 30 km/h while it closes on you is not yielding.
2. The light ahead is green and you are 40 m from the intersection. Should you clear the intersection first or pull over before it?
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Pull over before the intersection if you can do so safely, rather than racing to clear it. Entering an intersection while an emergency vehicle is closing behind you risks blocking its path if it needs to turn or proceed straight through. The safer choice is to move to the right edge and stop short of the intersection, clearing the lane so the ambulance can pass. Only if you are already inside the intersection should you continue through and then pull over. Do not stop in the intersection box, and do not make a sudden swerve - signal and move right smoothly.
3. After the ambulance passes, what should you check before rejoining traffic, and what is a common mistake at this moment?
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Before pulling back out, check that no second emergency vehicle is following - ambulances, fire, and police often travel in sequence, and a following unit may be hidden behind the first. Also re-check your mirrors and blind spot for vehicles that moved during the commotion. The common mistake is to pull out immediately behind the passing ambulance, either tailgating it to 'follow it through' traffic or drifting back into the lane without looking. Give the emergency vehicle room, confirm the lane is clear, signal, and rejoin at normal speed. Never follow an emergency vehicle closely - it may stop suddenly or make an unexpected turn.