# How do you know whether to pull over for an ambulance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055 "2007-10-17T17:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/41 "2007-10-17T21:19:58Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] \>it is that simple Well, I feel kinda silly, posting such a dumb question. It’s settled, then - you pull over for any flashing lights. Unless they’re not red. Or not red or blue, depending on state. Or unless they’re yellow. Or green. Or red but facing backwards. Or they’re on the other side of a highway that’s divided. That is, unless the divider is actually one you could drive over. [/QUOTE] There is nothing confusing about pulling over when you see the following: 1. immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle; 2. sounding a siren; and 3. which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible . . . from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/42 "2007-10-17T21:27:09Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] Does anybody have a cite showing that construction vehicles have different legal rights than landscape trucks? [/QUOTE] I admittably phrased it poorly. From the Illinois State Vehicle Code: _(625 ILCS 5/11‑908) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑908) Sec. 11‑908. Vehicle approaching or entering a highway construction or maintenance area or zone. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to any authorized vehicle or pedestrian actually engaged in work upon a highway within any highway construction or maintenance area indicated by official traffic‑control devices. […] (b) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to any authorized vehicle obviously and actually engaged in work upon a highway whenever the vehicle engaged in construction or maintenance work displays flashing lights as provided in Section 12‑215 of this Act._ Construction vehicles engaged in roadwork (or maintenance) must be yielded to. A dumptruck driving out of a private construction site does not. They’ve been doing roadwork all along my commute lately so I was mentally linking “construction” with “highway work”, thus my poor wording. Mea cupla. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/43 "2007-10-17T21:28:54Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] There is nothing confusing about pulling over when you see the following: 1. immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle; 2. sounding a siren; and 3. which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible . . . from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle. [/QUOTE] If no.1 was always obvious, 2 & 3 are redundant. It’s clear to everyone here that a siren may not always be sounding (or be audible - could better sound insulation in cars be one reason they’re not used as much, because they’re simply not going to be heard?). Which leaves the ‘single red light’. You stop driving every time you see one? Any red light? Anywhere? Just in case? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/44 "2007-10-17T21:33:19Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] These must be regional, because I’d estimate that half the tow trucks I see have blue lights. Never red, though. [/QUOTE] Oh, I forgot to add that, around here, blue flashing lights without any red indicates a “Community Service” vehicle. Such as parking patrol, village traffic control for school zones, etc. It’s an official municipal vehicle with the authority to ticket you, but not an actual police car/officer. As you said, your milage may vary by region. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/45 "2007-10-17T22:26:09Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] If no.1 was always obvious, 2 & 3 are redundant. It’s clear to everyone here that a siren may not always be sounding (or be audible - could better sound insulation in cars be one reason they’re not used as much, because they’re simply not going to be heard?). Which leaves the ‘single red light’. You stop driving every time you see one? Any red light? Anywhere? Just in case? [/QUOTE] Is everybody in this thread being needlessly pedantic, or is there _really_ confusion about _what police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances look like_? When I was a little kid, my mom would point and say, “Look! Firetruck!” Anybody need a refresher course? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/46 "2007-10-17T22:30:46Z")
Since we have a couple of ambulance type people here, can I ask a few other questions? Do ambulance drivers get reimbursed for gas and maintenance? Or are there special places you go? Do you work for a certain hospital? There’s a house near me that has three ambulances (I don’t know if its a family or a bunch of roommates) and they always seem to head for the next town. (Yes, I suppose I could ask them, but somehow that seems rude. And I’m cowardly.) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/47 "2007-10-17T22:54:15Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] If no.1 was always obvious, 2 & 3 are redundant. It’s clear to everyone here that a siren may not always be sounding (or be audible - could better sound insulation in cars be one reason they’re not used as much, because they’re simply not going to be heard?). Which leaves the ‘single red light’. You stop driving every time you see one? Any red light? Anywhere? Just in case? [/QUOTE] This makes no sense to me. If you see 1, 2, **and** 3, then pull over. I don’t understand how 2 and 3 are redundant. If you eliminate 2 and 3, that leaves you with 1 only. You do not have to pull over just because you see an authorized emergency vehicle (#1) without #2 and #3. So, 2 and 3 are necessary conjunctive conditions and not redundant at all. It also makes no sense to pull over when you see only a single red light (#3) without an authorized emergency vehicle attached (#1) **and** blaring a siren (#2). It’s not 1, 2, **or** 3. It’s 1, 2, **and** 3. What’s next? You’re going to say that you cannot be certain that a vehicle bearing light and siren is duly “authorized” without the driver providing proof in the form of a notarized certification, stamped with the city seal, signed by the mayor and two witnesses, to be produced from the glove box before pulling over … or maybe the driver can hold the certificate out the window as he drives by? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/48 "2007-10-17T22:56:03Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] Since we have a couple of ambulance type people here, can I ask a few other questions? Do ambulance drivers get reimbursed for gas and maintenance? Or are there special places you go? Do you work for a certain hospital? There’s a house near me that has three ambulances (I don’t know if its a family or a bunch of roommates) and they always seem to head for the next town. (Yes, I suppose I could ask them, but somehow that seems rude. And I’m cowardly.) [/QUOTE] I’m a volunteer EMT with the county rescue squad. No pay or mileage; the squad has it’s own fuel supply for the units. Same for the fire station I belong to. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/49 "2007-10-17T22:56:53Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Is everybody in this thread being needlessly pedantic, or is there _really_ confusion about _what police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances look like_? [/QUOTE] I think so. Lots of ambulances look like small service trucks or vans; from a distance it can be hard to distinguish between an ambulance and a maintenance van, except for the color of the lights. Some private security companies use cars that look very much like police cars, except I believe they use yellow strobes because they aren’t actually emergency vehicles. And unmarked police cars are only distinguishable as such by the color of the flashing lights. Fire engines used to be red, but alternative colors are becoming common. For these reasons, I think it _is_ important to know which color lights indicate “real” emergency vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/50 "2007-10-17T23:19:27Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] I think so. Lots of ambulances look like small service trucks or vans; from a distance it can be hard to distinguish between an ambulance and a maintenance van, except for the color of the lights. Some private security companies use cars that look very much like police cars, except I believe they use yellow strobes because they aren’t actually emergency vehicles. And unmarked police cars are only distinguishable as such by the color of the flashing lights. Fire engines used to be red, but alternative colors are becoming common. For these reasons, I think it _is_ important to know which color lights indicate “real” emergency vehicles. [/QUOTE] In California, that color is a red light to the front of the vehicle. Every security vehicle and other non-emergency service car and truck that I have seen does not have a red light to the front of the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/51 "2007-10-17T23:37:28Z")
As another variation, in New York, a blue flashing light indicates a private vehicle owned by a volunteer firefighter travelling on a call. You’re not required to pull over for this blue “courtesy light”, but many people do. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/52 "2007-10-17T23:48:59Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] This makes no sense to me. If you see 1, 2, **and** 3, then pull over. I don’t understand how 2 and 3 are redundant. If you eliminate 2 and 3, that leaves you with 1 only. You do not have to pull over just because you see an authorized emergency vehicle (#1) without #2 and #3. So, 2 and 3 are necessary conjunctive conditions and not redundant at all. It also makes no sense to pull over when you see only a single red light (#3) without an authorized emergency vehicle attached (#1) **and** blaring a siren (#2). It’s not 1, 2, **or** 3. It’s 1, 2, **and** 3. What’s next? You’re going to say that you cannot be certain that a vehicle bearing light and siren is duly “authorized” without the driver providing proof in the form of a notarized certification, stamped with the city seal, signed by the mayor and two witnesses, to be produced from the glove box before pulling over … or maybe the driver can hold the certificate out the window as he drives by? [/QUOTE] Untrue - often I see emergency vehicles running lights but no siren. I have never seen siren and no lights. I’d suggest that 1 AND 3 are the necessary conditions to pull over. Also, the fifty other people pulling over are a hint. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/53 "2007-10-17T23:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Untrue - often I see emergency vehicles running lights but no siren. I have never seen siren and no lights. I’d suggest that 1 AND 3 are the necessary conditions to pull over. Also, the fifty other people pulling over are a hint. [/QUOTE] So, the legislature didn’t really mean it when it included condition 2 (siren) in the statute? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/54 "2007-10-18T00:10:32Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] Wife of a FF just wants to interject with one of his peeves. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind and you and your fellow motorists are stopped at a red light, it’s OK to drive into the intersection to get out of the damn way! Don’t worry, you won’t get a ticket! [/QUOTE] Not true in the U.K., alas. A man was prosecuted for crossing a red light to allow a police vehicle to pass. [Cite.](http://www.burytimes.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1700710.mostviewed.motorist_fined_for_red_light_good_deed.php) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/55 "2007-10-18T00:14:21Z")
If you really want to get picky, there are eight [California] conditions precedent to a legal duty to pull over, as follows: IF there is… A. immediate; B. approach of; C. an authorized emergency vehicle; D. which is sounding a siren; E. which has at least one lighted lamp; F. exhibiting red light; G. to the front of the vehicle; and H. that light is visible from a distance of 1,000 feet under normal atmospheric conditions THEN pull over. If any ONE of those conditions is not present, then there is no legal duty to pull over. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/56 "2007-10-18T00:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] …If any ONE of those conditions is not present, then there is no legal duty to pull over. [/QUOTE] Yes, the siren technically _should_ be on. However, living near a firehouse, I appreciate that they don’t make all that noise unless they have to. I think it would be unwise of someone not to pull over for an emergency vehicle with it’s lights going simply because the siren isn’t on. They will come up behind you, you won’t move, the driver will put the siren on, you end pulling over anyway. So, what’s the point other than to be a big pain in the ass? ETA: That’s “you” the general you, not you in particular **Bearflag**. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/57 "2007-10-18T00:31:10Z")
[QUOTE=shamrock227] Yes, the siren technically _should_ be on. However, living near a firehouse, I appreciate that they don’t make all that noise unless they have to. I think it would be unwise of someone not to pull over for an emergency vehicle with it’s lights going simply because the siren isn’t on. They will come up behind you, you won’t move, the driver will put the siren on, you end pulling over anyway. So, what’s the point other than to be a big pain in the ass? ETA: That’s “you” the general you, not you in particular **Bearflag**. [/QUOTE] I agree that wisdom and law are distinguishable. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/58 "2007-10-18T00:58:17Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] Wife of a FF just wants to interject with one of his peeves. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind and you and your fellow motorists are stopped at a red light, it’s OK to drive into the intersection to get out of the damn way! Don’t worry, you won’t get a ticket! [/QUOTE] That’s the opposite of my experience. The official line from the drivers of emergency vehicles in Sydney is DON’T BREAK THE REGULAR TRAFFIC LAWS TO GIVE WAY TO AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE. The drivers of those vehicles are trained to break those laws relatively safely. You are not. If you are stuck at a red light, and an ambulance comes up behind you, the ambulance drivers prefer that, yes, you just sit there. That way, you are more predictable, and they can take whatever other action they need (driving on the wrong side of the road, usually). They don’t want scores of cars scurrying like ants and doing unpredictable things when they are trying to do something themselves which is already dangerous. That said, I’m an experienced driver, and I might break the road rules if I think it’s safe to do so and it won’t confuse the ambulance driver. ---
**Author:** ![John\_T.Conklin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_t.conklin/32/3307_2.png) [@John\_T.Conklin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_T.Conklin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/59 "2007-10-18T01:14:53Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] That makes me wonder, are flashing white headlights on a bicycle technically against the law in most places? What about flashing red lights on the rear of a bike? [/QUOTE] The websites for various double century (200 mile) rides, which often start and/or end in darkness, usually list a white headlight and solid red taillight among the requirements for participation in the event, often with the claim that blinking taillights are illegal in California. That being said, I still use mine in blinking mode. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/60 "2007-10-18T01:54:07Z")
[QUOTE=John T. Conklin] The websites for various double century (200 mile) rides, which often start and/or end in darkness, usually list a white headlight and solid red taillight among the requirements for participation in the event, often with the claim that blinking taillights are illegal in California. [/QUOTE] Thanks, that’s what I suspected (though I understand it doesn’t necessarily apply to other states). Solid red taillight plus flashing amber light should be 100% legal though, right? I may go for that, [Dinotte](http://www.dinottelighting.com/Products.htm) makes nice amber bike lights. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055.md?page=4)