If you hear a siren while driving, what is your best course of action?

When you hear a siren while driving, the safest response is to pull over to the right and stop. This action is necessary to allow emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances, or fire trucks, to pass through traffic safely and quickly. Pulling over to the right side of the road is the standard practice because it keeps the lane next to you clear for the emergency vehicle to maneuver through traffic, ensuring they can respond to emergencies without delay.

When approaching a stop, it’s also important to remain alert, as you may need to adjust your position if the emergency vehicle is not traveling in a straight line or if other vehicles are also responding to the situation. Ensuring your vehicle is safely off the road creates a clear passage and is vital for both your safety and the safety of the emergency responders.

Other responses such as accelerating to get away or ignoring the siren if in a hurry can lead to dangerous situations. Speeding away could potentially result in collisions or accidents, and ignoring the siren shows a lack of respect for emergency responders. Therefore, pulling over to the right and stopping is the proper and responsible behavior to adopt when encountering a siren while driving.