Emergency Vehicles and School Buses

Question 1

Fill in the blank.

Personal vehicles driven by volunteer firefighters responding to alarms are allowed to display______lights.

Answer 1

blue

Personal vehicles driven by volunteer firefighters responding to alarms are allowed to display blue lights.

Question 2

Name some vehicles that use amber lights to warn other drivers of their presence.

Answer 2

Some of the vehicles displaying amber lights include:

• Snowplows
• Tow trucks
• Rural mail delivery vehicles
• School buses

Question 3

True or False:

Volunteer ambulance vehicles can affix one green light to their vehicle to be visible to other drivers on the road.

Answer 3

True

Volunteer ambulance services are owned and operated by non-profit organizations in areas where full-time or county emergency medical services cannot reach the medical emergency scene within a reasonable time frame and are governed by Volunteer Ambulance Service — State Statute375.41.5.

Question 4

True or False:

You must pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle even if it is headed toward you in the opposite lane of a two-lane roadway.

Answer 4

True

You must yield the right-of-way to fire, ambulance, police, and other authorized emergency vehicles when they respond to emergencies.

Question 5

True or False:

When you hear or see an emergency vehicle heading toward your vehicle from any direction, safely pull over immediately to the left edge of the road and stop.

Answer 5

FALSE

When you hear or see an emergency vehicle heading toward your vehicle from any direction, safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop.

Question 6

If you hear a siren or air-horn close by but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, what should you do?

Answer 6

Safely pull over to the right-side edge of the road and stop until you are sure it is not headed toward you.

Question 7

True or False:

The driver of an emergency vehicle can break the rules of traffic to get to the crisis zone or hospital.

Answer 7

TRUE

The driver of an emergency vehicle can legally exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and STOP or YIELD signs, go the wrong way on one-way streets and turn in directions not normally allowed.

Question 8

True or False:

Operators of authorized emergency vehicles are allowed to use cellular or mobile telephones while on official duties.

Answer 8

TRUE

Exemptions are provided for calls for emergencies for police and other law enforcement officers, and fire department personnel, and operators of authorized emergency vehicles in the performance of official duties.

Question 9

What is the Move Over Law?

Answer 9

The Move Over Law requires motorists to exercise due care to avoid colliding with an authorized emergency or hazard vehicle that is parked, stopped, or standing on the shoulder or any portion of the highway with its emergency lights or one or more amber hazard lights activated.

Question 10

True or False:

Operators of emergency vehicles are not required to wear seat belts.

Answer 10

TRUE

Seat belt use is not required in taxis or livery vehicles, emergency vehicles, 1964 or older vehicles, or by passengers in buses (except school buses; seat belt use can be required by a school district).

Question 11

What should you do if you are in an intersection with an emergency vehicle behind you?

Answer 11

drive out of the intersection before you pull over

Question 12

What should you do if a school bus flashes warning lights located on the front and back of the bus near the roof?

Answer 12

decrease speed and be prepared to stop

A school bus will usually flash warning lights located on the front and back of the bus near the roof before it stops to load or unload passengers.

Question 13

True or False:

A driver must stop for a school bus even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

Answer 13

TRUE

Question 14

Fill in the blank.

You should stop at least _____feet away from a stopped school bus flashes its red lights.

Answer 14

20

You should stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus flashes its red lights.

Question 15

What is the penalty for illegally passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing?

Answer 15

1. $250 to $400 for the first conviction.
2. $600 to $750 for the second (within three years).
3. $750 to $1,000 for the third or subsequent conviction (within three years).

Question 16

What does flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate?

Answer 16

The school bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.

Question 17

True or False:

School buses with or without passengers can proceed without worry at all railroad crossings.

Answer 17

FALSE

School buses with or without passengers, other buses with passengers on board, and vehicles with explosives or flammable cargo must stop at all railroad crossings.

Question 18

Fill in the blank.

Your driver’s license will be revoked for at least six months if you are found guilty of _______ “passing a stopped school bus” violations within three years.

Answer 18

three

Your driver’s license will be revoked for at least six months if you are found guilty of three “passing a stopped school bus” violations within three years.

Question 19

True or False:

The driver of a school bus containing children cannot turn right on any red light.

Answer 19

TRUE

Drivers are not allowed to turn on a red light in New York City unless a sign that permits it is posted.

Question 20

What should you be mindful of after you stop for a school bus?

Answer 20

You should be mindful of the following things:

1. Look for children along the side of the road.
2. Drive slowly until you have passed them.

Question 21

True or False:

Vehicles that transport disabled persons have the same right-of-way as school buses and you must stop for them.

Answer 21

TRUE

Vehicles carrying disabled persons can be equipped as school buses and you must stop for them as you would for other school buses.