Emergency vehicles and the Move Over law

Key points

1. For an approaching emergency vehicle, yield and pull to the right edge, clear of intersections, until it passes.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersections until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 82

2. If you are in an intersection, drive through it before you pull over.

   Source: Handbook p. 89

   “If you are in an intersection, drive through the intersection before you pull over.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 89

3. On a multi lane road, move over a lane from a stopped emergency vehicle until you are safely past.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “Multi-Lane Roadway Move over a lane from the stopped vehicle(s) until you are safely past.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 82

4. On a two lane road, slow down below the posted limit until you have passed the stopped vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “Two-lane Roadway Slow down below the posted speed Limit until you have completely Passed the stopped vehicle(s).”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 82

5. The Move Over law also covers stopped DelDOT vehicles, tow trucks and any vehicle showing warning signals.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “or a stationary vehicle displaying warning signals, including vehicle hazard warning lights, road flares, traffic cones, caution signs, or any non-vehicular warning signs”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 82

6. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, proceed with caution and reduce to a safe speed.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “proceed with caution and reduce to a safe speed if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 82

7. When you see emergency lights behind you, signal and pull off to the side as soon as safely possible.

   Source: Handbook p. 112

   “When you see emergency lights behind you, stay calm, activate your turn signal, and pull off or to the side of the roadway as soon and safely as possible.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 112

3 questions from the Delaware practice test

1. 1. What must a driver do when an authorized emergency vehicle approaches using a siren or flashing lights?

   1. Yield and immediately drive to the right edge or curb clear of intersections
   2. Stop in the travel lane wherever the driver first hears the siren
   3. Turn left at the next intersection to get away from the vehicle
   4. Maintain speed until the emergency vehicle passes on its own
   Show answer

   Yield and immediately drive to the right edge or curb clear of intersections. Delaware requires every other vehicle to yield to an approaching authorized emergency vehicle using the listed warning equipment. Move immediately toward the right edge or curb, but clear an intersection first if you are already in one. Stopping in the intersection can obstruct the responder, while turning away or maintaining speed does not provide a predictable path. The practical cue is lights or a siren behind you: continue through the intersection if needed, then pull right and remain there until the emergency vehicle has passed.

2. 2. On a multi-lane roadway, what is the Delaware response when approaching a stopped vehicle covered by the Move Over law?

   1. Drive on the shoulder until completely past it
   2. Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle when safe
   3. Stop in your lane and wait for a signal
   4. Accelerate so you spend less time beside it
   Show answer

   Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle when safe. On a multi-lane roadway, Delaware asks an approaching driver to move over one lane from the stopped vehicle until safely past it. The lane change must be appropriate and safe, so driving onto the shoulder is not the default response. Stopping in the travel lane can create another hazard, and acceleration does not provide the protective separation the rule is designed to create. If a lane change is impossible or unsafe, the manual directs the driver to proceed cautiously and reduce to a safe speed. Think separation first, then controlled speed.

3. 3. On a Delaware two-lane roadway, what must you do when approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle with warning lights?

   1. Proceed cautiously and reduce to a safe speed until completely past it
   2. Move into the opposite lane at any speed
   3. Stop in the travel lane and wait for a signal
   4. Maintain the posted speed if no worker is visible
   Show answer

   Proceed cautiously and reduce to a safe speed until completely past it. On a two-lane roadway, a lane change may be unsafe because of opposing traffic, so the required response is a cautious approach below the posted speed and a safe passage beyond the stopped vehicle. Moving into the opposite lane without checking creates a head-on risk, while keeping full speed ignores the protected roadside activity. A complete stop in the lane can create another hazard unless traffic conditions require it. Scan ahead for flashing lights, cones, flares, or hazard flashers, then ease off the accelerator before reaching the vehicle.

Source: the Delaware Driver Manual, Section Four: Rules of the Road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.