MACON, Ga. — Chances are you've seen it at one point on the road. Some people pull over for ambulances that are headed to a medical emergency while others don't. Are you legally required to pull over?
Sabrina Burse set out to verify. Her sources are Georgia State Patrol trooper Michael Strickland and the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Chris Fitzwater has been a paramedic for about 19 years.
He's spent the last seven years of his career at the Medical Center Navicent Health.
" [My] favorite part is helping people, most definitely helping people and getting them to the hospital," said Fitzwater.
He says that's more difficult to do when drivers don't pull over when an ambulance is headed to a medical emergency.
"We are trying to get to someone to save somebody's life. It may be their family member, maybe their friend," said Fitzwater.
Trooper Michael Strickland says drivers are required to pull over.
"Legally, by law, you are to yield to the right shoulder of the roadway and come to a complete stop when safely and wait until that vehicle has passed," said Strickland.
He says the same rules apply if you see law enforcement, fire, and EMS cars with flashing lights.
"The only time it may differ is if you are on a four-lane highway with a divided median," said Strickland.
We verified you have to pull over, but Strickland says you don't have to stop if the emergency vehicle is on the other side of the roadway and the road is divided by a concrete barrier or median of some type.
Fitzwater says drivers who slam on the brakes in the middle of the roadway or don't yield at all could cause an accident and delay their number one goal.
"Get to the patient as quickly and as safely as possible," said Fitzwater.
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