Emergency Vehicles

Key points

1. Emergency vehicles with red or blue lights, a bell or siren always have the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “Any ambulance, fire engine, or police car flashing red or blue lights or signaling with a bell or siren always has the right-of-way on any street in any traffic situation.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

2. If possible, pull to the extreme right shoulder until the emergency vehicle passes.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “If possible, pull your vehicle over to the extreme right shoulder of the road until the emergency vehicle has passed.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

3. If you are at an intersection, go through it and then pull to the right.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “If you are at an intersection, proceed through the intersection, and pull over to the extreme right shoulder.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

4. For an emergency vehicle parked on a four lane highway, merge into the lane away from it if safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “If an emergency vehicle with lights or siren activated is parked along the side of a four-lane highway, merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

5. If you cannot safely merge away, slow down and be ready to stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “If merging into an adjacent lane is not safe, slow down and prepare to stop if necessary.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

6. Yielding to funeral processions is common courtesy, not a legal requirement.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “Although not required by law, common courtesy is to yield the right-of-way to funeral processions.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

7. Report an emergency on an interstate or highway by dialing *HP (*47).

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “dial *HP (*47) on a cellular phone to be connected toll free to a Mississippi Highway Patrol dispatcher.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 55

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Mississippi practice test

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

   1. Pull to the extreme right shoulder when possible
   2. Stop in the left lane so the emergency vehicle can pass right
   3. Maintain speed because the emergency vehicle has to go around
   4. Turn into the nearest driveway without checking traffic
   Show answer

   Pull to the extreme right shoulder when possible. An ambulance, fire engine, or police car using the listed warning signals has the right-of-way. When possible, the driver should pull to the extreme right shoulder until it passes. Stopping in the left lane places the vehicle in the emergency vehicle's path, and maintaining speed ignores the required yield. At an intersection, proceed through if needed and then pull right. The cue is to create a clear path on the right while staying alert for pedestrians, cross traffic, and the emergency vehicle's actual movement.

2. 2. On a four-lane highway, what should a driver do when an emergency vehicle is parked on the roadside with lights or a siren activated?

   1. Move onto the shoulder beside the emergency vehicle
   2. Merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if safe
   3. Pass without changing position or reducing attention
   4. Stop in the lane next to the emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   Merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if safe. On a four-lane highway, the driver should merge into the lane away from the parked emergency vehicle when that movement is safe. If an adjacent lane is not safe, the manual says to slow down and prepare to stop if necessary. Moving onto the shoulder brings the car closer to the hazard, while stopping beside it blocks the response area. The practical cue is to scan mirrors early, create lateral space when possible, and reduce speed when a safe lane change cannot be made.

3. 3. If you are already in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches, what does the manual direct you to do?

   1. Stop in the intersection and wait for the emergency vehicle to steer around you
   2. Proceed through the intersection, then pull to the extreme right shoulder
   3. Turn left immediately into the nearest driveway
   4. Continue at the same speed until the emergency vehicle changes lanes
   Show answer

   Proceed through the intersection, then pull to the extreme right shoulder. The manual gives a specific intersection instruction: continue through the intersection, then pull over to the extreme right shoulder. Stopping in the intersection can block the emergency vehicle and other traffic. A sudden driveway turn creates a new conflict, while maintaining speed does not yield the needed path. If possible, make the move calmly and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. The key sequence is clear the intersection first, then move right and wait.

Source: the Mississippi Driver's Manual, Yielding Right-of-Way to Emergency Vehicles. 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.