Each year, emergency responders in Canada respond to more than a million emergencies and are often met with pedestrians who fail to take the necessary precautions. This post will go through what you need to know when you hear or come across an approaching emergency vehicle.

The next time you see the lights and sirens of an approaching emergency vehicle, remember these simple steps:

– Stop: Emergency vehicles are trained to avoid collisions whenever possible, and they rely on your cooperation and compliance.

– Pullover: Move to the side of the road and stop your vehicle until all emergency responders have passed. This ensures that you are not hurt in a collision and does not hinder or endanger any emergency workers.

– Proceed with caution: When there is no longer an emergency vehicle approaching, you may proceed with caution and proceed through the intersection.

Use caution when leaving or entering the roadway. If you are at an intersection where you are facing a red light, do not enter the intersection until the lights on the approaching emergency vehicle have turned off and it is safe to proceed. Likewise, if you are facing a green light, do not enter the intersection until all emergency responders have passed by completely.

– Watch for others: Emergency vehicles often travel at high speeds and can pass on either side of you, so be sure to check your mirrors and blind spots before proceeding. In addition, emergency vehicles have a large turning radius and may even have to back up in order to maneuver around stopped traffic or an obstacle. Be cautious when passing emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road.

– When emergency vehicles are approaching behind you, begin to proceed through the intersection or pull over safely at the side of the road. Do not stop in an intersection as this obstructs traffic and endangers others around you. Also, be sure to yield to emergency vehicles at all times, even if they do not have their lights and sirens activated.

– Move to the side of the road and stop if you are on the street. Be careful in parking lots and driveways as you should move to clear space on the road shoulder, not into a parking spot.

– Yield to emergency vehicles with lights and sirens activated. Expect that the driver of an approaching emergency vehicle may take actions such as making sudden stops or turns and expect other road users to behave erratically. A driver who passes a stopped emergency vehicle with lights and/or sirens activated may be subject to fines or other consequences in many jurisdictions.

– Remember that some police vehicles, ambulances, and fire vehicles are used for non-emergency purposes (like transporting prisoners). These vehicles will not have lights or sirens activated.

– Drive defensively at all times: remember that no one is above the law.

– Expect the unexpected and avoid distractions while driving. Remember that it is okay to slow down or stop if you are unsure of what to do in an emergency.

In conclusion, the main way to protect yourself while driving is to remain alert, expect the unexpected, and drive defensively. Follow these steps if you are faced with an emergency vehicle approaching you while on the road, always err on the side of caution so that our roads can be safe for everyone.