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DMV Permit · Right of Way

A driver hears a siren and sees flashing red and white lights approaching from behind. What is required?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Immediately pull to the right side of the road and stop — federal and state law requires all drivers to yield to emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance) by pulling right and stopping until the emergency vehicle passes; this is required in every US state

  1. A Immediately pull to the right side of the road and stop — federal and state law requires all drivers to yield to emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance) by pulling right and stopping until the emergency vehicle passes; this is required in every US state
  2. B Maintain current speed and lane
  3. C Only slow down if the vehicle is directly behind you
  4. D Move to the left lane

Why this is the answer

Yield to emergency vehicles: All states require: PULL TO THE RIGHT side of the road; STOP as far from the travel lane as safely possible; REMAIN STOPPED until the emergency vehicle has passed and it is safe to resume; NEVER BLOCK AN INTERSECTION — if approaching an intersection and an emergency vehicle is coming, clear the intersection first (safely) then pull over; the worst position is stopped IN an intersection.

Multiple emergency vehicles: After one passes, expect more — they often travel in groups; wait until safe to re-enter traffic.

Move over law: Separate from this, most states require moving over a lane away from stopped emergency vehicles on the roadside (not just passing one that is moving) — this protects responders who may exit vehicles.

Failure to yield: Traffic violation in all states; can result in accidents and serious liability.

Source: DMV Rules of the Road — Emergency Vehicle Yield

Practice more questions

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About this topic: Right of Way

Right-of-way rules are yielding rules — they tell you who must wait. At four-way stops, intersections without signals, and emergency-vehicle situations, knowing them prevents the most common urban crashes. This is one of 13 Rules of the Road questions on right of way, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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State-specific guides

Need information for your state? Our state guides cover local requirements, fees, and what to expect on exam day.

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Recommended study materials

Study guide

DMV Permit Test Study Guide (Learner Editions)

State-by-state driver's license and learner's permit prep, road signs, and rules of the road in plain language.

Check Price → Study guide

Road Rules & Signs Workbook (Exambusters)

Targeted flashcard-style review of road signs, right-of-way rules, and speed limits for all 50 states.

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Prepare for the Learner's Permit Test (Sterling)

Practice questions and explanations for teen and adult first-time driver license test takers.

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