Emergency vehicles, move over and traffic stops

Key points

1. When an emergency vehicle shows a red light or sounds a siren, drive to the right and stop until it passes, and never follow it.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Immediately drive to the right and stop until the emergency vehicles have passed. NEVER follow such vehicles.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 18

2. After it passes, return to the road when safe and stay at least 500 feet away from the emergency vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 85

   “After the emergency vehicle passes, carefully look behind you for other vehicles, and when it is safe to do, so return to the roadway. You must stay at least 500 feet away from the emergency vehicle.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 85

3. On roads with 2 or more lanes each way, move out of the lane next to a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights; if you cannot, slow down and use caution.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “on a street or highway with two or more lanes in each direction, proceed with due caution and move to a lane that is not next to the stopped emergency vehicle. If it is not possible to change lanes, then the driver must reduce speed and proceed with due caution.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 18

4. The move over rule also covers towing and recovery vehicles with flashing lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 85

   “State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 85

5. Yield to construction vehicles and workers working on the road and move to a lane not next to them.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “You must yield to construction vehicles and workers that are actually engaged in work on the roadway. Just as with emergency vehicles, you must move into a traffic lane that is not next to the construction vehicles when you encounter one working on the road.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 18

6. If an emergency vehicle is leaving or returning to its garage with lights flashing, stop until it is out of your path.

   Source: Handbook p. 85

   “If an emergency vehicle is leaving or returning to its garage and the emergency lights are still flashing, you must stop until the emergency vehicle is safely out of your path.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 85

7. During a traffic stop, stay in your vehicle unless the officer asks you to get out.

   Source: Handbook p. 85

   “Remain in the vehicle unless requested to get out.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 85

8. At night during a traffic stop, turn on your interior lights and your hazard flashers.

   Source: Handbook p. 85

   “Turn on your hazard flashers and if at night your interior lights to help the officer see that everything is in order inside the vehicle.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 85

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Kansas practice test

1. 1. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing warning lights on a multi-lane road, what should you do?

   1. Maintain speed in the adjacent lane because flashing lights do not affect passing traffic
   2. Move to a lane that is not next to it when possible, or slow with due caution
   3. Stop directly beside the emergency vehicle until its lights are turned off
   4. Use the shoulder to pass quickly without reducing speed
   Show answer

   Move to a lane that is not next to it when possible, or slow with due caution. Kansas requires a cautious response to a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights on a road with two or more lanes in each direction. Change to a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle when that can be done safely. If a lane change is impossible, reduce speed and proceed with due caution. Driving past at normal speed, stopping beside the vehicle, or using the shoulder ignores the protection needed by responders and other road users.

2. 2. What should a driver do when an emergency vehicle approaches with flashing red lights or a siren?

   1. Drive right and stop without blocking an intersection
   2. Follow behind the emergency vehicle through traffic
   3. Stop in the center of the intersection
   4. Continue at the same speed if the lane is clear
   Show answer

   Drive right and stop without blocking an intersection. When an emergency vehicle approaches with flashing red lights or a siren, the handbook directs drivers to move immediately to the right and stop without blocking any intersection. Following the emergency vehicle is specifically unsafe, and stopping in the intersection prevents other traffic from clearing. A clear lane does not cancel the duty to yield. The visual cue is simple: emergency lights or siren means right, stop, and leave the intersection open for the responding vehicle.

3. 3. After an emergency vehicle passes, how much distance must you keep behind it?

   1. No minimum distance if the emergency lights remain on
   2. At least 50 feet
   3. At least 500 feet
   4. Close enough to use the same cleared path
   Show answer

   At least 500 feet. Once an emergency vehicle has passed, the driver should check behind, return to the roadway only when safe, and stay at least 500 feet away from it. The distance protects the emergency response from a civilian vehicle following too closely and gives the driver time to react to sudden stops or changes. Fifty feet is too short, and flashing lights do not create an exception. Let the emergency vehicle build space before resuming ordinary travel, even if traffic appears clear.

Source: the Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 9: Sharing 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.