By Clark Judge
(February 28, 2026) — Shortly after an EMT returned from a recent ambulance run, she voiced an all-too-familiar complaint — namely, that vehicles increasingly are not pulling off the road when an EMS vehicle approaches with flashing lights and siren. It happened on her emergency call, and it had happened on others.
Unusual? Not really.
A check with the Killingworth Ambulance Association and Volunteer Fire Company revealed that the failure to yield the road to emergency vehicles is more common than you might think. In fact, one KAA officer said the number of complaints by EMS drivers has “multiplied” since the COVID outbreak in 2020, an assertion corroborated by Rick Darin, the KVFC’s Deputy Chief.
“We see it all the time,” Darin said.
Consequently, both volunteer services want to remind drivers to pull off the road when an ambulance, police cruiser, fire truck — basically, an EMS vehicle — answers an emergency with red lights flashing … and not because it’s common courtesy.
Because it’s the law. Go ahead and look it up. We did. And the “Connecticut Emergency Vehicle Laws” read like this: “On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using a siren and lights, or a police vehicle using only a siren,” the state statute reads, “the driver of any other vehicle in the immediate vicinity must immediately:
1. Drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the road clear of any intersection; 2017-R-0313 December 18, 2017 Page 3 of 5.
2. Stop; and …
3. Remain there until the emergency vehicle has passed, except when police or a firefighter directs the driver to do otherwise. Also, drivers of non-emergency vehicles must stay at least 100 feet behind an ambulance displaying flashing lights or using a siren.”
Granted, “there’s judgment involved,” as KAA president Dan O’Sullivan put it, but he urged drivers to exercise “common sense” when confronted by emergency vehicles responding to calls. In other words, don’t try to accelerate to outrace, say, an ambulance or fire engine closing from behind … or stop in the middle of the road … or pull over on a sharp curve. Instead, yield until it’s possible for the emergency vehicle to pass safely and unimpeded.
And what about vehicles with flashing blue or green lights and no audible signal? Good question. Technically, drivers aren’t required to move aside, though first responders acknowledged many do out of courtesy. But when emergency vehicles race forward with flashing red lights and sirens sounding, the response is clear.
Obey the law.
“I think it’s a great thing to have a reminder,” said Mike Haaga, the KAA’s Chief of Service. “If there’s someone behind you with flashing lights, pull over. It might be your Mom they’re trying to save.”
