Emergency vehicles — District of Columbia Permit Test

Authorized emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and fire engines have the right-of-way when giving an audible signal (siren) or a visual one (flashing light).

Someone is waiting on that ambulance or fire engine, and every second it spends stuck behind traffic is a second lost.

Authorized emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances and fire engines, have the right-of-way when they are giving a signal, either audible (siren) or visual (flashing light).

When you hear or see an emergency vehicle approach, immediately drive to the curb and stop, and remain stopped until it has passed.

A car that pulls to the curb and stays put gives the emergency driver a clear, predictable lane to get through.

When you hear or see a vehicle approach, you should immediately drive to the curb and stop, remaining stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.

Do not follow any fire apparatus closer than 500 feet when it is responding to an emergency.

A fire engine can stop suddenly at the scene, and firefighters and hoses come off it into the street right behind it.

Do not follow any fire apparatus closer than 500 feet when it is responding to an emergency.

When does an ambulance have the right-of-way over you?

When it is giving a siren or light signal. Someone is waiting on that ambulance or fire engine, and every second it spends stuck behind traffic is a second lost. DC Driver Manual, p.60: “Authorized emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances and fire engines, have the right-of-way when they are giving a signal, either audible (siren) or visual (flashing light).”