Chapter 21: Emergency Vehicles
Yielding to Lights and Siren
Any emergency vehicle running lights and siren gets automatic right of way. The correct response is to pull as far right as safely possible and come to a stop, unless a law enforcement officer is directing traffic differently at that moment.
California's Move Over Law
On multi-lane roads, California also requires drivers to move over a full lane away from a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, or other roadside service vehicle with flashing lights, whenever it is safe to change lanes. Where changing lanes is not possible, you are required to slow down significantly instead. This law exists specifically because roadside workers and stopped-vehicle occupants are extremely vulnerable to passing traffic.