What to do when you see or hear emergency services behind you in traffic

Everyone knows how important it is for emergency services to get to there destination as quick as possible without incident. This raises the question about what drivers should do when they see emergency lights or hear sirens behind them in traffic.

Even though most people assume that there is nothing that they could or should do, Potchefstroom First Responders say there are definitely ways you can assist emergency services in these situations.

What to do when you see or hear emergency services behind you in traffic:

• Do not slam on the brakes.
• If possible, move to the left. Do this soon as you can and when it is safe to do so.
• If you’re in a single lane with no room to move left, don’t brake suddenly.
• Reduce your speed slightly, but do not speed up, especially if there is oncoming traffic.
• The emergency vehicle will pass when it’s safe.
• If you can’t see oncoming traffic, neither can the emergency vehicle behind you.
• Don’t slow down expecting them to pass.
• Be aware that emergency vehicles may move between lanes.
• If you’re in the left lane, shift slightly to the left. If in the right lane, shift slightly to the right. This creates enough space for emergency vehicles to pass, especially during peak traffic and congested intersections.
• Do Not Tailgate. Emergency vehicles may stop suddenly. If you hit another vehicle, you’ll be held responsible for not maintaining a safe following distance.
• Expect Multiple Emergency Vehicles. Don’t assume that after one pass, there won’t be others. There may be a second or third responding vehicle behind the first or second responder.