Key points
When an emergency vehicle heads toward you from any direction, pull over to the right edge of the road, stop and wait until it passes.
Source: Chapter 5
“When you hear or see an emergency vehicle heading toward your vehicle from any direction, safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop. Wait until the emergency vehicle passes before you drive on.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5If you are in an intersection, drive out of it first, then pull over.
Source: Chapter 5
“If you are in an intersection, drive out of it before you pull over.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5Pull over and stop even when the emergency vehicle is coming toward you in the opposite lane of a two way road.
Source: Chapter 5
“You must pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle even if it is headed toward you in the opposite lane of a two-way roadway.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5If you hear a siren close by but cannot tell where it is, pull to the right edge and stop until you are sure it is not headed your way.
Source: Chapter 5
“If you hear a siren or air-horn close by but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, you must safely pull over to the right-side edge of the road and stop until you are sure it is not headed toward you.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5Emergency vehicles show flashing red, red and blue, or red and white lights and sound a siren or air horn.
Source: Chapter 5
“They will display lights that are flashing red, red and blue or red and white and sound a siren or air-horn.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5Slow down on all roads for stopped emergency or hazard vehicles; on multilane controlled access roads, also leave the lane next to them unless that is unsafe.
Source: Chapter 5
“Drivers must reduce speed on all roads when encountering such vehicles, but on parkways, interstates and other controlled access roads with multiple lanes, drivers are further required to move from the lane adjacent to the emergency or hazard vehicle unless traffic or other hazards prevent doing so safely.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5You must also move over for any vehicle parked or stopped on the shoulder of a parkway or controlled access highway.
Source: Chapter 5
“Drivers are also required to move over for motor vehicles which are parked, stopped or standing on the shoulder or any portion of a parkway or controlled-access highway.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5Breaking the Move Over law is punished as a moving violation.
Source: Chapter 5
“Violations of this law are punishable as a moving violation.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5Vehicles showing blue, green or amber lights are not authorized emergency vehicles, so yielding is not required, but yield as a courtesy when safe.
Source: Chapter 5
“The vehicles that display blue, green or amber lights are not authorized emergency vehicles. Their drivers must obey all traffic laws. While you are not required to yield the right-of-way, you should yield as a courtesy if you can safely do so.”
New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5
3 questions from the New York practice test
1. An emergency vehicle approaches while a New York driver is already in an intersection. What should the driver do first?
- Drive out of the intersection, then pull right and stop
- Turn left across the emergency vehicle’s path
- Continue without yielding until the next signal
- Stop in the intersection immediately
Show answer
Drive out of the intersection, then pull right and stop. An intersection should not be blocked while making room for an emergency vehicle. If the driver is already inside it, New York directs the driver to clear the intersection before pulling to the right and stopping. Stopping in place can trap cross traffic and the responding vehicle, while turning across its path creates a new conflict. The cue is your position at the moment the siren appears: finish clearing the junction safely, then stop at the right edge until the vehicle passes.
2. An emergency vehicle approaches from behind on a New York two-way road. What should the driver do?
- Pull to the right edge and stop
- Move left into the oncoming lane
- Keep speed and remain centered
- Stop in the middle of the intersection
Show answer
Pull to the right edge and stop. New York drivers must yield to an approaching emergency vehicle by pulling as far right as practical and stopping. Remaining centered can block the emergency vehicle, and moving into the oncoming lane creates a new conflict. Stopping in an intersection may obstruct both the emergency response and cross traffic. Check mirrors, signal the move, clear an intersection if possible, then stop at the right edge until the emergency vehicle has passed and the roadway is safe to reenter.
3. On a New York multilane controlled-access road, what should a driver do near a stopped vehicle with activated emergency or hazard lights?
- Stop in the adjacent lane until the vehicle leaves
- Maintain speed unless the vehicle is a police car
- Reduce speed and move from the adjacent lane when safe
- Move over only when a tow truck uses amber lights
Show answer
Reduce speed and move from the adjacent lane when safe. New York's Move Over Law requires drivers to reduce speed around authorized emergency or hazard vehicles with activated lights. On parkways, interstates, and other controlled access roads with multiple lanes, the driver must also move from the adjacent lane unless traffic or another hazard makes that unsafe. The rule is broader than police vehicles and does not call for stopping beside the hazard. Slow first, scan for a safe opening, signal, and create separation when the roadway permits the lane change.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free New York practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 5: Intersections and Turns. 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.