Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over Law

Key points

1. For police, fire or ambulance with siren or lights, pull to the right edge, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes.

   Source: Handbook p. 29

   “Pull over to the right edge of the roadway, clear of intersections and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 29

2. In heavy traffic when you cannot pull over, clear a path for the vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 29

   “In heavy traffic, when you can’t pull over, clear a path for the vehicle.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 29

3. If an officer signals you to stop while in the left lane, you must still pull over to the right shoulder.

   Source: Handbook p. 29

   “If an officer signals you to stop while you’re driving in the left lane, you must still pull over to the right shoulder”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 29

4. On a multi lane road, move to a lane not next to a stopped vehicle with flashing lights, if safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Move over to a lane that isn’t next to the stopped vehicle if it’s safe to do so.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 30

5. If you cannot safely change lanes, slow down and drive carefully.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “If you can’t safely change lanes, slow down and drive carefully.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 30

6. The rule covers emergency vehicles, law enforcement, maintenance workers and cars with hazard lights flashing.

   Source: Handbook p. 29

   “This includes emergency vehicles, law enforcement, maintenance workers or cars with their hazard lights flashing.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 29

7. Moving over helps prevent secondary crashes.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “It is important to move over or slow down around vehicles displaying flashing lights on the side of the road because it helps prevent secondary crashes.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 30

8. At a traffic incident scene, stay alert, move over if possible, slow down, follow responders and do not rubberneck.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “▶ Stay Alert ▶ Move Over (if possible) ▶ Slow Down ▶ Follow Any Directions from Emergency Responders ▶ Do not Rubberneck”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

3 questions from the Oklahoma practice test

1. 1. What should a driver do when a police car, fire engine, or ambulance uses a siren or flashing warning lights?

   1. Pull right, clear intersections, and stop until it has passed
   2. Keep the lane and let the emergency vehicle pass on either side
   3. Stop immediately in the intersection to make the path obvious
   4. Turn left into oncoming traffic if the right shoulder is occupied
   Show answer

   Pull right, clear intersections, and stop until it has passed. The driver must yield to the emergency vehicle by pulling to the right edge of the roadway, clearing intersections, and stopping until the vehicle passes. Remaining in the lane forces the responder to work around the driver. Stopping in an intersection blocks the very path that needs to remain open. A leftward escape into opposing traffic can create a head on collision. In heavy traffic, when moving right is impossible, the driver should clear a path. The cue is the siren or flashing warning lights, not the vehicle’s color.

2. 2. When a multi-lane road has a stationary vehicle with flashing lights, what is the first move required when safe?

   1. Stop beside the vehicle in the adjacent lane
   2. Change to a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle
   3. Drive on the shoulder to get around it
   4. Keep the same speed and lane
   Show answer

   Change to a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle. On a multi-lane road going in the driver's direction, Oklahoma requires moving to a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle when it is safe to do so. If changing lanes is not safe, the driver must slow down and drive carefully. The shoulder is not a substitute lane, and holding speed beside the scene leaves responders exposed. See flashing lights, check mirrors and blind spots, then create lateral space or reduce speed.

3. 3. Why does Oklahoma require drivers to move over or slow down around vehicles with flashing lights?

   1. To reserve the shoulder for buses
   2. To make the stopped vehicle leave sooner
   3. To prevent secondary crashes
   4. To avoid receiving a parking citation
   Show answer

   To prevent secondary crashes. The manual explains that moving over or slowing around roadside vehicles with flashing lights helps prevent secondary crashes. A secondary crash happens because another incident distracts a driver or creates a dangerous interaction with passing traffic. The rule is about protecting people and avoiding a new collision, not expediting the disabled vehicle, reserving the shoulder, or enforcing parking. The cue is incident scene equals focused attention, reduced risk, and no rubbernecking.

Source: the Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 5: Right of Way. 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.