What do you do when an emergency vehicle approaches in Canada?
4 minute read Published on Oct 16, 2025 by BrokerLink Communications
As a driver, there are many situations that you need to know how to respond to, such as how to emergency stop a car or how to report a car accident. But one moment that demands your full attention is when an emergency vehicle, like a fire truck, ambulance, or police cruiser, comes speeding up behind you.
These aren’t just routine encounters; they can be life-or-death situations. Failing to yield properly doesn’t just cause confusion or delays; it can block first responders from reaching someone in critical need.
Approaching emergency vehicles with lights flashing and/or sirens always have the right of way; so, as a driver, it's important to know how to react when you see one. Here's what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches in Canada.
Yielding the right of way to emergency vehicles in Canada
Across Canada, each province and territory has their own law for when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights and sirens approaches. However, these laws all follow the same premise. Drivers must:
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Immediately pull over to the right side of the road, clear of any intersection.
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Stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.
This ensures that emergency responders can navigate traffic safely and reach their destinations promptly. Here’s one more law to be aware of:
Slow Down, Move Over (SDMO) law
Some provinces have additional rules for emergency vehicles. For example, Ontario has a Slow Down, Move Over law where you must also slow down and move over when passing a stopped emergency vehicle, including tow trucks, with lights activated, even on highways, to enhance the safety of emergency workers. Many other provinces have their own variation of this law.
Regardless of where you’re driving, the important thing is to act quickly, safely, and predictably to give emergency responders the space they need to do their jobs.
Step-by-step guide on how to react when an emergency vehicle approaches
Below, we outline the steps to follow to let an emergency vehicle pass:
Slow down
Turn on your right turn signal
Move to the right side of the road, clear of any intersection
Come to a complete stop
After the emergency vehicle has passed, keep your ears and eyes open in case any other emergency vehicles are following behind. Once the road is clear, turn on your left turn signal before safely rejoining traffic. Additional rules we recommend reviewing:
One-way streets
On one-way streets, you don’t need to move right. Instead, pull over to whichever side is nearest and safest. If traffic allows, moving to the nearest curb, left or right, is perfectly acceptable.
Intersections
At intersections, never stop in the middle. If you’re already at a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches, just stay put—unless you're blocking its path. In that case, carefully move through the intersection (only if it’s safe), then pull over to the right as soon as you can.
It’s more than just good driving; it's about safety. A study from the International Journal of Paramedicine found that 62% of injury crashes involving paramedics in Montreal happened while they were on emergency calls. Intersections and traffic lights were the biggest danger zones, accounting for 43.5% and 51% of injury collisions, respectively.
Divided highways
If there’s a median or barrier and the emergency vehicle is coming from the other direction, you usually don’t need to pull over (though the rules may vary by province). For example, the government of Nova Scotia specifically says you don't need to slow down or pull over if the vehicle is on the other side of the median.
Medians act as a separation between traffic flows, so emergency vehicles typically won’t cross over. But still, stay alert; some emergency vehicles might still use U-turns or openings in the median to cross over if needed.
Step-by-step guide on how to react when passing a stopped emergency vehicle
Below, we outline the steps to follow when passing a stopped emergency vehicle:
Slow down
Pass with caution
On roads with two or more lanes, you should change lanes and leave at least one full lane between your vehicle and the emergency vehicle if it’s safe to do so. Once you have passed the stopped emergency vehicle, you may turn on your right turn signal and return to the right lane.
Common mistakes to avoid when dealing with emergency vehicles
It’s easy to panic a little when you hear sirens, but knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Here are a few common mistakes drivers make:
Blocking traffic
Don’t stop in the middle of the road or hesitate too long. The goal is to move out of the way quickly and safely so the emergency vehicle can get through without delay.
Following the emergency vehicle too closely
Following a fire truck or police car closer than 150 metres when it is responding to an emergency is illegal in most provinces and can result in penalties.
Turning lanes
If you’re in the turning lane and notice an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, do not turn. Instead, continue straight and pull over to the right-hand side as soon as possible.
Consequences of not yielding to emergency vehicles
Failing to yield to emergency vehicles in Canada can lead to serious legal penalties, including hefty fines, demerit points, and even driver's licence suspensions in some provinces.
For example, according to Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, Ontario drivers can face:
Fines up to $2,000
Three demerit points if convicted
Driver's licence suspension up to two years
Specific penalties vary by province and territory. But the impact doesn’t stop there. These infractions can also affect your car insurance. At BrokerLink, we’ve seen how traffic violations like this can raise your premiums, as insurers often view them as high-risk behaviour. That’s why it pays, literally and figuratively, to know the rules and drive with care around emergency vehicles.
Learn more with BrokerLink
Speaking of car insurance, a BrokerLink insurance advisor can help you find the best possible auto insurance policy for your needs. We can provide you with a free car insurance quote and explain how the various types of auto insurance can cover you, including:
Call, email, or visit us at any of our locations throughout Canada today to begin your car insurance journey.
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