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Despite the overwhelming cooperation between Alabama citizens and first responders, numerous motorists across the state continuously fail to yield properly and safely when being approached by authorized emergency vehicles.

Appropriately responding to emergency vehicles enables first responders to execute their duties effectively and efficiently while allowing them to preserve public safety.

“Recently, our agency has noticed an increase in motorists failing to yield when encountering first responders operating vehicles in emergency situations,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “These experiences only reiterate the seriousness for all motorists to stay alert and maintain a high level of situational awareness, allowing first responders and citizens, as well as visitors, to travel the state’s roadways safely. ALEA Troopers and Special Agents have a responsibility and duty to operate emergency vehicles with regard for the safety of all motorists using Alabama’s highways. However, we absolutely need everyone’s help, not only providing the safe passage for vehicles responding to emergencies, but also reasonably yielding and pulling over for law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops.”

Section 32-5A-115 of the Code of Alabama states: “Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp and audible signal as is required by law, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand [emphasis added] edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.”

ALEA’s Director of Department Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Jimmy Helms said, “Our Troopers in the Highway Patrol Division have worked diligently to reduce crashes and traffic fatalities across the state through a number of high-visibility enforcement details. As Troopers have implemented these campaigns and initiatives, they have noticed motorists pulling over to the left and stopping in grass medians and center-only turn lanes, which can be unsafe. Regardless, if you are yielding to an emergency vehicle responding to an emergency or a Trooper initiating a traffic stop, remember to follow the lab and pull as close as possible to the right-hand edge.”

For additional information and other traffic safety tips visit www.alea.gov.