The Definition of Emergency vehicle
Police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances are all emergency vehicles, which, most of the time, are equipped with red/blue/white lights. These lights will be moving to respond to emergent occasions.

 

What you should do when you are approached by an emergency vehicle with its light and sirens on.

When you encounter an emergency vehicle that is approaching you, whose light and alarm are activated. You have to drive your vehicle to the right of the way and then stop at the right-hand edge of the road until the police/EMS/fire truck has passed. Unless the policemen order you to move your vehicle.

 

Where should I park my car if there is a hydrant nearby?
Except for the occasions in which there stands pavement markings, parking meters, or official signs, you should not park within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant. You can merely stand or stop within fifteen feet away from fire hydrants only if there is a licensed driver at present so that your car can be moved immediately in case of emergency.

 

What is the meaning of the flashing lights of various colors on personal vehicles?
The lights should only be used on the occasion of emergent operations. There should be written permissions from authorized chief officers when such lights are used.

Blue: flashing blue lights stand for volunteer firefighters who take action when there’s an emergency call.
Green: flashing green lights refer to volunteered ambulance serving members when there’s an emergency call.
Amber: flashing lights in amber color indicates hazardous vehicles in hazardous actions, such as trailers, utility company vehicles, snowplows.

NOTICE: in cities of over one-million-population, the flashing light in amber color might also be applied on vehicles belong to individuals volunteering to be a member of crime patrol.

If there is a personal vehicle with colored flashing light approaching me, what should I do?
Such vehicles are not emergency vehicles. There is no need to move to the right lane considering the traffic laws. However, you can yield to the right hand of the street as a courtesy if it is safe for you to do so. Of course, if there is a hazardous vehicle nearby, you have to be cautious.

 

Do I have to move for an emergency vehicle that is stopped on the road?
The answer is yes! 
When approaching a stopped and parked authorized emergency vehicle with blue or green light, you should also keep the distance from it. The new law covered emergency cars with white and red lights and the law was also updated to cover hazard vehicles.

 

Safety Tips

According to the Traffic Law:
In the case of being approached by an emergency vehicle with flashing lights on, you have to drive to the right lane of the street and then stop until the emergency vehicle outruns you safely.
When you are driving to the right of way, you have to pull over the right side, paralleling to the roadway. 
If there is no other directs from officers, the vehicle shall slow down and, then, stop, until the emergency cars have passed. 

Safety tips: when you are restarting from a shortstop after the flashing emergency vehicle passed your car, you have to look carefully if other emergency vehicles are going back to the street behind you.

 

You should not follow a fire truck!
If you are following a fire truck in an emergent action within 200 feet, you are breaking the law!
It is also illegal to park your car in the same block as an emergency vehicle. When there is no block, you cannot park within 1000 feet away from one, which is also illegal.
Further, driving over a fire hose in use is also prohibited, except that there is a fire officer who asks you to do so.

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