Emergency vehicles and the move over law

Key points

1. Yield to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles sounding a siren, bell or flashing red light.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “You must yield the right-of-way to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles sounding a siren, bell, or flashing red light.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 22

2. If you cannot pull over to the right, slow down and leave a clear path.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “If you are unable to pull over to the right, slow down and leave a clear path for the emergency vehicle.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 22

3. Do not follow within 500 feet of a fire truck answering an alarm or an ambulance with flashing red lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “You are not allowed to follow within 500 feet of a fire truck answering an alarm or an ambulance when the flashing red lights are on.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 22

4. Do not drive or park on the street where a fire truck has answered an alarm.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Do not drive or park on the street where the fire truck has answered an alarm.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 22

5. For a stopped emergency vehicle with lights on, leave the lane next to it if there are two or more lanes your way.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle if the highway has two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle;”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 23

6. Otherwise slow to 20 mph below the limit when it is 25 mph or more.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Slow to a speed not more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more;”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 23

7. When the posted limit is under 25 mph, slow to less than 5 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Slow to a speed less than 5 mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 23

8. The rule also covers tow trucks, utility vehicles and TxDOT vehicles stopped with lights on.

   Source: Handbook p. 46

   “If an emergency medical vehicle, law enforcement vehicle, fire truck, tow truck, utility service vehicle, Texas Department of Transportation vehicle”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 46

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Texas practice test

1. 1. How closely may you follow a fire truck answering an alarm with flashing red lights?

   1. You may follow within 100 feet if traffic is light
   2. You must stay at least 500 feet behind it
   3. You may follow closely after changing lanes
   4. There is no stated following restriction
   Show answer

   You must stay at least 500 feet behind it. Texas prohibits following within 500 feet of a fire truck answering an alarm when its flashing red lights are on. The distance protects emergency operations and gives the truck room to maneuver, stop, or change direction without a civilian vehicle crowding it. The smaller 100-foot option is not the handbook rule, and changing lanes does not remove the restriction. Use the flashing red lights as the cue to create substantial space and choose another route or speed until the emergency vehicle is well ahead.

2. 2. On a Texas roadway posted at 25 mph or more, what should you do when approaching a stopped vehicle covered by the Move Over or Slow Down law with its required lights activated?

   1. Stop in the closest lane until the vehicle leaves
   2. Move out of the closest lane when possible, or reduce speed by 20 mph below the limit
   3. Change lanes only when the vehicle is a police car
   4. Keep the posted speed and sound the horn
   Show answer

   Move out of the closest lane when possible, or reduce speed by 20 mph below the limit. Texas gives two protective actions when a covered emergency or service vehicle is stopped with lights activated. On a roadway with multiple lanes in the same direction, move out of the lane nearest that vehicle when it is safe. At a posted limit of 25 mph or more, the alternative is slowing to at least 20 mph below that limit. Below a posted 25 mph, slow to less than 5 mph. A complete stop is not the ordinary instruction, and the rule covers more than police cars. Look for the activated lights, check adjacent traffic, and create space before passing.

3. 3. If the posted speed limit is below 25 mph, how fast must you travel when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with activated lights?

   1. Less than 5 mph
   2. Exactly 5 mph
   3. 20 mph below the posted limit
   4. The posted limit, unless a lane change is impossible
   Show answer

   Less than 5 mph. The low-speed condition has its own threshold. When the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph, a driver approaching the stopped emergency vehicle must slow to less than 5 mph. The 20 mph reduction belongs to roads posted at 25 mph or more, so applying it here can produce the wrong result. Exactly 5 mph is also not the stated standard because the handbook says less than 5 mph. Check the posted limit before choosing which part of the rule applies.

Source: the Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 4: 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.