Emergency vehicles and school buses

Key points

1. Emergency vehicles always have the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “Emergency vehicles always have the right of way.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

2. For an emergency vehicle with lights or siren, stop at once along the right hand curb or edge and stay stopped until it passes.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “you must immediately come to a stop along the right-hand curb or edge of the road. You must remain stopped until the emergency or law enforcement vehicle has passed.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

3. Do not stop in the middle of an intersection for an emergency vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “Do not stop in the middle of the intersection.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

4. At a crash scene with a parked emergency vehicle flashing lights, pull to the right and stop, then pass at your own risk when clear.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “When an emergency or law enforcement vehicle is parked at the scene of a crash with its emergency lights flashing, you must drive to the right-hand side of the roadway and stop. Once stopped, you may pass at your risk when the roadway is clear.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

5. Obey a police officer directing traffic at a crash scene.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “If there is a police officer directing traffic at the scene, you must obey the officer’s instructions.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

6. Yellow flashing lights, mostly on tow trucks and slow vehicles, warn you to slow down.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “The yellow-flashing light is used mostly on tow trucks and slow moving vehicles. These lights warn you to slow down.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

7. When a school bus stops with red lights flashing, drivers from both directions must stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “When a school bus is stopped and flashing its red lights, drivers approaching from both directions must stop.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

8. Wait until the bus moves, the driver signals you on, or the red lights stop flashing.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “The drivers cannot proceed until 1) the bus be20 Noncommercial Driver License Manual gins moving; or 2) the bus driver signals to let vehicles pass; or 3) the red lights are no longer flashing.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

9. School bus yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop and turn on its red lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “these lights may be used as a warning that the school bus is about to stop and that the red flashing lights will soon come on.”
   North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 20

3 questions from the North Dakota practice test

1. 1. What must you do when an emergency vehicle uses lights or a siren?

   1. Follow it closely through the next signal
   2. Stop in the middle of the intersection
   3. Stop along the right hand curb or edge until it passes
   4. Continue normally if your lane is open
   Show answer

   Stop along the right hand curb or edge until it passes. When an emergency or law enforcement vehicle is displaying the specified lights or using its siren, North Dakota requires an immediate stop along the right hand curb or road edge. Remain stopped until the vehicle has passed. The middle of an intersection is specifically unsafe, and an open lane does not cancel the duty to yield. Following the emergency vehicle can interfere with its movement. As soon as the warning is heard or seen, check the right side and stop where you will not block the intersection.

2. 2. When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing, who must stop?

   1. Only drivers traveling toward the bus
   2. Only drivers traveling behind the bus
   3. Drivers approaching from both directions
   4. No one if the bus is on a straight road
   Show answer

   Drivers approaching from both directions. A stopped school bus with flashing red lights requires drivers approaching from both directions to stop because children may be loading or unloading. The bus location, road straightness, or your direction of travel does not remove that protection. Wait until the bus moves, the driver signals that traffic may pass, or the red lights stop flashing. The key roadside cue is the red light condition, so begin checking for the bus and children before you reach it rather than braking at the last moment.

3. 3. If an emergency vehicle is parked at a crash scene with lights flashing, what must a driver do?

   1. Continue in the same lane at the posted speed
   2. Stop directly behind the emergency vehicle until an officer waves you forward
   3. Drive to the right side and stop, then pass only when the roadway is clear
   4. Turn around immediately and use the opposing lane
   Show answer

   Drive to the right side and stop, then pass only when the roadway is clear. A parked emergency or law enforcement vehicle with emergency lights flashing still requires action. Drive to the right-hand side of the roadway and stop. After stopping, you may pass at your own risk only when the roadway is clear, unless a police officer directs traffic differently. Stopping behind the vehicle can block the scene, and continuing at speed gives workers no protective space. Turning into opposing traffic creates another hazard. Reduce speed early and follow any officer's instructions at the scene.

Source: the North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, 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.