What should a driver do if they see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights ahead?

When a driver sees an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, the appropriate action is to change lanes safely and yield the right of way. This response is crucial as emergency vehicles often need to reach a location quickly to provide assistance, and yielding enables them to navigate through traffic efficiently.

Changing lanes safely involves checking mirrors and blind spots to ensure that the movement can be made without endangering other road users. Once in the adjacent lane, the driver should give enough space for the emergency vehicle to pass. This not only follows the legal requirements for responding to emergency vehicles but also contributes to overall road safety, as failing to yield could impede emergency response efforts.

Continuing to drive without stopping does not prioritize the needs of emergency services, while speeding to overtake presents significant safety risks to all road users. Signaling to other drivers to stop may be helpful but isn’t the primary action a driver should take; yielding directly to the emergency vehicle is the safest and most effective response.