# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/101 "2011-05-12T14:30:34Z")
I know this is an old thread, but it’s been police policy in Washington DC in recent years that cruisers must have their smaller flashing lights on at all times (usually white, although I think I’ve sometimes seen blue), to increase the visibility of the police presence. No sirens except in emergency, and fire/ambo does not follow this policy. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/102 "2011-05-12T15:09:46Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I hopped dividers in many circumstances, the same light that is blocking traffic ahead of you is usually preventing direct head on traffic the other way. Rule of thumb for us was…one cycle of lights but blocked, shut down and light back up when lights change\*\*, if its going to take 2+ cycles of lights to get through, find a way around, over curbs, through parking lots, whatever.\*\* My mom is a paramedic and that’s similar to what she says. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/103 "2011-05-12T15:28:15Z")
Good rule of thumb. Retired EMT here. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/104 "2011-05-12T17:04:42Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > When can’t you stop a car? > …3. You are on a runway and a _plane_ is coming. You’re laughing (so am I), but [it could happen.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill_Avenue) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/105 "2011-05-12T19:11:23Z")
> [@JMR27](#): > > This isn’t necessarily true, if an emotionally disturbed patient was on board, or an impaired patient, the siren may not have been possible for the sake of the crew’s safety. I’ve had calls where one strange noise may have made the guy jump up and kill us all… A patient in good enough shape to kick your collective asses will probably not be requiring transport with lights and sirens. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/106 "2011-05-12T19:15:52Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > A patient in good enough shape to kick your collective asses will probably not be requiring transport with lights and sirens. With all due respect, I disagree. A handful of times we had either a town cop or NY State Trooper riding with us. The patient was handcuffed to the stretcher. Both hands. One to each side rail. Believe me, this was because they were both in need of medical transport AND in a position to injure or kill the medical crew. Psychological emergency. Drunk. Out of control on drugs. Pick any one, because I’ve either driven or been in the back for all three situations. All three required handcuffs and police presence. ---
**Author:** ![JMR27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@JMR27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMR27)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/107 "2011-05-13T00:18:31Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > A patient in good enough shape to kick your collective asses will probably not be requiring transport with lights and sirens. Not if they’re impaired… In NYS you need to transport if: patient is under 18 y/o without a parent or legal guardian patient is impaired patient is unconscious patient is unable to contest the situation is escalating and there is risk of injury to personnel or patient… And, in the situation of a suicide, which this was, and the person lost a lot of blood, (and was drunk) you need lights, we also believed he may have used PCP, though not sure, and we all know what that does… ---
**Author:** ![JMR27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@JMR27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMR27)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055/108 "2011-05-13T00:22:52Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > Should you pull over for a Zombie? 😃 > > BTW: I do not pull over for lights or sirens, I mean really why should I? > > The fact that I don’t drive, much less own a car has nothing to do with this. In case of zombies, break glass for chuck norris… and in NYC, if you do not pull over for a firetruck with lights and sirens, they are allowed to plow through you… ambulances and police cars don’t, mainly because they will get just as damaged as the car… Unless you’re talking about a swat tank, but don’t even get me started on those… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-know-whether-to-pull-over-for-an-ambulance/423055.md?page=5)