If you see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, what should you do?

When you see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, pulling over to the side of the road is the appropriate action to take. This maneuver helps ensure that the emergency vehicle can pass through traffic safely and quickly while allowing emergency responders to reach their destination without delay.

By moving to the side, you create a clear lane for the emergency vehicle, which could be responding to critical situations such as accidents, medical emergencies, or other incidents requiring immediate assistance. Staying aware of your surroundings and promptly yielding can be crucial in helping these responders carry out their duties effectively.

Other actions, such as speeding up, continuing to drive at your regular pace, or stopping in place, can obstruct emergency vehicles, potentially leading to dangerous situations. Speeding up may put you in a risky position, while failing to yield could delay emergency response, and stopping in the lane of traffic could create hazards for both you and other drivers. Thus, safely pulling over is the best practice in this scenario.