What must drivers do when they see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights?

When drivers see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, the correct course of action is to move to the right side of the road and stop. This action is crucial for the safety of all road users. By pulling over and stopping, drivers give the emergency vehicle, which may be responding to a critical incident, a clear path to maneuver through traffic.

This response helps prevent accidents and ensures that emergency responders can reach their destination quickly. It also demonstrates respect for the urgency of the situation the emergency personnel are handling. The law mandates this behavior in most jurisdictions to facilitate the swift and safe passage of emergency vehicles.

Other options, such as speeding up to pass or ignoring the emergency vehicle, can create dangerous situations that may lead to collisions. Similarly, pulling into a parking lot may not always be appropriate unless it can be done safely without obstructing traffic, and it may delay the response time of emergency services. Thus, moving to the right and stopping is the safest and most effective action to take when encountering an emergency vehicle with flashing lights.