Let’s assume we’re not stopped at a traffic signal.
This is only anecdotal, but I heard once that you’re not supposed to stop altogether, rather drive at a slower pace so as to let it pass quickly. The person said what was more important is that drivers don’t make sudden changes to their behavior. An EMT driver can more safely maneuver if they don’t have to predict what any one knucklehead will do the moment they get close.
If this is wrong or needs clarification, please enlighten me!
So according to the Emergency Vehicle Orientation Course (EVOC, which I haven’t retaken in too long):
If it’s open lanes, pull right and slow to a stop on both sides. The idea is to let us have the center or median to pass as needed.
If there is a median, pull right if we are on your side. If we contraflow (drive on the wrong side of the road), pull right and stop.
At a light, if traffic is blocked off, we may kill the sirens except for a few squirts, and leave our lights on. We are still controlling traffic, but just don’t want to deafen everyone. If we were all adults we wouldn’t do the squirts of siren but there’s always that asshole who thinks they need to sneak one car ahead.
On the freeway, you’re supposed to do the same thing, but I’ve always felt that is stupid. If you just merge right and maintain speed, that’s best for us and you.
If you are in a brown 1970’s Caddy, you need to pass the ambulance at about 110mph at 2am. This has happens twice in my career and it’s weird that I have 2 nickels.
The exact laws vary by state, but it’s always “get the fuck out the way, as quickly as you can while being as predictable as possible.”
I’ve never heard that you’re supposed to not stop (if that’s what you meant), but as far as I know, you’re not required to stop if you’re out of the way and not preventing anyone else from getting out if the way.
