Emergency vehicles and stopped vehicles with flashing lights

Key points

1. For a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights on a highway, change to a lane not next to it if reasonable.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights on a highway, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, change to a lane not next to the vehicle.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

2. If you cannot change lanes safely, reduce speed and proceed with caution.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “If you are unable to safely change lanes, reduce your speed and proceed with caution.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

3. Violations can bring a court suspension of your license and demerit points.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “Violations can result in court suspension of your driver’s license and demerit points on your driving record.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

4. Passing a stopped trash truck on a road with fewer than 4 lanes, slow to 10 mph below the limit and pass at least 2 feet to its left.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “If on a highway of fewer than four lanes or if you are unable to change lanes, slow down to 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit and pass at least two feet to the left of the vehicle.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

5. Never follow an emergency vehicle with flashing lights closer than 500 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “Never follow an emergency vehicle closer than 500 feet when its lights are flashing.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

6. When emergency vehicles approach from behind, safely pull to the right edge of the road and stop until they pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “Safely pull over to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

7. On an undivided highway, pull over and stop for emergency vehicles coming in the opposite lane too.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “When emergency vehicles approach you in the opposite lane on an undivided highway, you must pull over to the edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle passes.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

8. These flashing light requirements do not apply in highway work zones.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “These requirements do not apply in highway work zones.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Virginia practice test

1. 1. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights on a highway, what should a Virginia driver do if changing lanes is reasonably safe?

   1. Stop in the travel lane until the vehicle departs
   2. Change to a lane not next to it and proceed cautiously
   3. Speed up to pass before reaching the vehicle
   4. Move onto the shoulder and continue at the same speed
   Show answer

   Change to a lane not next to it and proceed cautiously. For a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights, the preferred response is a cautious lane change into a lane not next to the vehicle when safety and traffic conditions permit. Stopping in the travel lane can create a second hazard, while accelerating or using the shoulder abandons the protective spacing the rule seeks. If the lane change cannot be made safely, reduce speed and continue with caution instead of forcing the maneuver.

2. 2. If you cannot safely change lanes around a stationary emergency vehicle, what should you do?

   1. Stop next to the emergency vehicle and wait
   2. Accelerate past it before another vehicle arrives
   3. Reduce speed and proceed with caution
   4. Turn off your headlights and continue at the limit
   Show answer

   Reduce speed and proceed with caution. Virginia gives drivers a fallback when a safe lane change around a stationary emergency vehicle is impossible: reduce speed and proceed with caution. Stopping beside the response vehicle blocks the working area, while accelerating increases exposure to people and equipment near the roadway. Turning off headlights offers no protection. Check mirrors and the next lane early, move over whenever that can be done safely, and otherwise pass slowly with a clear path and extra attention to traffic conditions.

3. 3. What must you do when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind using a siren or flashing lights?

   1. Follow it closely through the intersection
   2. Yield, pull safely to the right edge, and stop until it passes
   3. Stop in the middle of the lane immediately
   4. Race ahead so it cannot pass
   Show answer

   Yield, pull safely to the right edge, and stop until it passes. An emergency vehicle approaching from behind has priority. Safely yield to the right edge of the road and stop until the vehicle has passed. Stopping in the lane can block the response path, while following closely or racing ahead creates an additional danger and violates the purpose of yielding. Check mirrors frequently so the response vehicle is noticed early. Do not stop in an intersection; clear it when necessary, then pull over where the emergency driver has room to proceed.

Source: the Virginia Driver's Manual, Section 3: Safe Driving. 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.