Providing information about how to safely move your car from the travel path of the emergency vehicle and how to quickly get back on your way is one way to keep emergency personnel and you and your family safe in the event your paths ever cross. Please practice the following safety measures when encountering an emergency vehicle:

If emergency vehicle with lights and siren on is approaching from behind your vehicle:

If you are traveling on a two land road, slow your vehicle to a safe speed, usually 25 MPH, and gradually pull off the road and as close to the right hand curb or shoulder as possible and stop your vehicle. Staying parallel with the road, allow the emergency vehicle to pass to your left. After the emergency vehicle has passed, be sure and check for additional emergency equipment (fire engines normally travel with a ladder company, rescue truck, chief or medic unit) and other traffic before slowly pulling back onto the road and proceed with the normal flow of traffic.

1. If you are traveling on a four lane highway or interstate, or any road where there are two or more lanes of travel in the same direction:

1. If traveling in the left (inside) lane, proceed with the normal flow of traffic and pull right to the farthest (outside) lane away from the emergency vehicle and slow to 25 MPH. When the emergency vehicle has passed, proceed with the normal flow of traffic.
2. If traveling in a middle or outside lane pull right to the farthest (outside) lane away from the emergency vehicle and slow to 25 MPH. When the emergency vehicle has passed, proceed with the normal flow of traffic.

When an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any visual signal is parked on or near the highway, the driver of every other vehicle, as soon as safe, shall proceed as follows except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer:

• When driving on an interstate highway of other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as the emergency vehicle, slow to a speed of 25 MPH until it is safe to proceed at the posted speed limit and merge into the lane furthest from the emergency vehicle.

• When driving on a two-lane road, slow to a speed of 25 MPH or the posted speed limit, whichever is lower, until it is safe to proceed at the posted speed limit.

These recommendations are not only for the safety of firefighters and law enforcement officers but for the safety of citizens and their families as well. Additionally they are also the law: Louisiana Criminal Code, R.S. 32:125, and failure to comply could result in arrest, fine and imprisonment.

As already mentioned those who drive fire apparatus and ambulances are thoroughly trained and tested. They are taught first to drive with due regard for the safety of others.  Drivers of emergency vehicles know that they cannot help anyone if they don't get there!  Generally, emergency drivers will move left, since other drivers are supposed to move right.  Sometimes, due to traffic conditions, they may have to travel in opposing lanes.  This is why it is so important for drivers to respect response vehicles by moving out of the way and stopping.  That will provide the space needed and ideally give an escape route if something goes wrong.  When you or someone you care about needs the help of an emergency responder, you will be thankful for the drivers who didn't impede response and allowed their safe and prompt arrival.

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