Anytime you're on the road and you see any combination of red, white, or blue lights or hear a siren it's important that you how to properly react. By reacting properly you let the operator of the emergency vehicle know that you are aware of the approaching emergency vehicle. This helps save lives by letting police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel get to scenes quicker.

In Virginia emergency vehicles use a combination of red, white, and/or blue lights. Police use blue or red and blue lights, firetrucks and ambulances use red or red and white lights. If you see blue lights behind you and, after yielding the right of way the vehicle does not pass you, pull over to the right in a safe location and stop.

Anytime you are driving and you see an emergency vehicle with its lights on you should respond accordingly.

• On a two-lane road or road without a raised median:
  • Signal and move to the right.
  • Move as far off the road to the right as possible remaining clear of any intersections.
  • It is important that you do this regardless of your direction of travel: pull off the road and stop even if the ambulance is headed in the opposite direction.
• On a multi-lane highway (i.e. interstate):
  • Slow down, signal, and move to the right.
  • Watch for other drivers who may also be reacting to the emergency vehicle.
  • As long as there are two lanes of traffic open it is generally not advisable to use the shoulder.
• On a one-way street:
  • Signal and pull to the side of the street as far as possible (left or right).
  • Stop.
• At intersections:
  • If you see an emergency vehicle approaching an intersection NOT from behind you do not move, even if the traffic light turns green for you to do so.
  • If you are waiting at a red light and an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind do not go through the light (if it is legal and safe to do so you may make a right turn, however). If you can move over safely without going through the red light do so, otherwise wait until the light turns green and pull over.