Emergency vehicles and the move over law

When an emergency vehicle approaches with red or blue lights flashing or its siren sounding, Kentucky law requires you to yield, pull over and stop. When you approach a vehicle stopped on the roadside with warning lights flashing, you must move over or slow down.

Yielding to an approaching emergency vehicle

Drive at once to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the edge or curb of the road. Stay clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed, unless a police officer or firefighter directs you otherwise. Emergency vehicles include police, fire, ambulance and rescue vehicles, among others. Their drivers may exceed speed limits and go through red lights and stop signs when responding to an emergency with lights and siren on, but they must still drive with due regard for everyone’s safety.

The move over law

The move over rule applies when you approach either of these while it is stationary:

• An emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle displaying flashing yellow, red, red and white, red and blue, or blue lights. Public safety vehicles include tow trucks, utility repair vehicles, highway equipment and government service vehicles.
• A disabled vehicle displaying a warning signal, such as emergency flashers, flares or reflective signals.

On a highway with at least four lanes, with at least two going in your direction, you must move into a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle if you can do so safely. If the road has fewer than four lanes, or changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, you must slow down to a speed that is safe for the road conditions. Either way, proceed with due caution.

Following and blocking

Unless you are on official business, you may not follow an emergency vehicle that is responding with lights or siren closer than 500 feet. You also may not drive into or park in the block where it has stopped for an emergency, unless a police officer or firefighter directs you to. Driving over an unprotected fire hose is prohibited without the consent of the fire official in command.

Penalties

A violation of any of these rules is punishable by a fine of $60 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both. A conviction for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle also adds four points to a driving record.