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 and tow trucks that are showing flashing lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 82

   “or upon approaching a stationary authorized DelDOT vehicle, which is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing amber or red and amber lights, or upon approaching a stationary tow truck”
   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. An authorized emergency vehicle approaches with its siren active while you are near an intersection. What should you do?

   1. Move left and continue at the posted speed
   2. Stop immediately in the intersection so it can pass
   3. Drive clear of the intersection, then pull to the right and stop
   4. Follow the emergency vehicle through the intersection
   Show answer

   Drive clear of the intersection, then pull to the right and stop. Delaware law says an approaching authorized emergency vehicle with a siren or qualifying flashing lights has priority. If you are near an intersection, continue far enough to clear it, then drive immediately to the right edge or curb and remain there until the vehicle passes. Stopping inside the intersection can block the emergency route, while moving left may place you in its path. Trailing it through the intersection ignores the duty to pull right and wait. The practical sequence is clear the intersection, pull right, and wait unless a police officer gives different directions.

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.