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EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND YOU
Take sirens seriously!
In an emergency, minutes can mean the difference between life and death, and critical
seconds can be lost if drivers don’t make way for emergency vehicles.
Anytime you hear an emergency siren you must make way for the ambulance, fire truck or police
vehicle.
How You Can Help
You can do some simple things to help emergency personnel reach a person in need. Use the
letters S.I.R.E.N. to remember the right way to yield to an emergency vehicle.
S: Stay Alert
Drive defensively, keep the noise level down in your car and look for more than one
emergency vehicle approaching when you hear a siren.
I: Investigate
Check your rear-view mirror, scan in front and on both sides of your vehicle, try to
estimate the closing speed of the emergency vehicle and plan your next move.
R: React
React quickly, but calmly and scan in all directions before pulling over. Always use a turn
signal when exiting the roadway and don’t slam on the brakes or pull over suddenly.
E: Enter
Before re-entering the road, make a visual sweep in all directions, turn on your signal, and
gradually merge back into traffic.
N: Never
Don’t stop at a place that doesn’t have enough room to pull over safely and never follow or
try to outrun an emergency vehicle.
At Intersections:
Be alert for pedestrians who may be in the crosswalk or at the edge of the roadway. They
might be looking for the emergency vehicle too and not be aware of your efforts to yield
properly.
On the Highway:
Always use your signal so that other drivers know how you intend to exit the road and look
for other cars that may have to move across lanes of traffic to yield. Pull as far off the
highway as safely possible and gradually brake to avoid losing control in loose gravel on the
shoulder.
As Pedestrians:
Always check for turning vehicles before you step into the street because drivers may not
see you. Be sure to stop at the curb, look left right left before crossing the street, and keep
looking for vehicles.
Do not cross in front of an emergency vehicle that may be stopped at a busy intersection,
wait for the vehicle to pass.
As Bicyclists:
Always wear a helmet on every ride and equip your bicycle with reflectors on the front and
rear. Bicyclists must obey traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. Ride single file and on
the right side of the road with traffic.
When an emergency vehicle is approaching, pull as far to the right as possible.
Do not cross in front of an emergency vehicle that may be stopped at a busy intersection, wait for the
vehicle to pass.
Please Remember
Not every emergency medical response requires lights and sirens, but next time you encounter
such a situation, yield immediately so that the emergency personnel can reach the person who is
waiting for help to arrive. It’s important to let them through...next time, it could
be you.
For further information on this or others safety topics please contact the University of Florida Police Department’s Community Services Division at 392-1409.
Note: Much of the information on this page is from a brochure developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).