Can You Legally Pass or Follow an Emergency Vehicle in Kentucky?
Have you ever been in traffic and noticed that everyone was driving much slower because there was a police cruiser among the vehicles? It got me thinking that it probably isn't illegal to pass such a vehicle as long as you don't go over the speed limit. But who would do that? Not me.
Kentucky Law and Emergency Vehicles
Kentucky law forbids passing an emergency vehicle when the lights and sirens are activated. (I can't imagine anyone doing that.)
As for right of way, Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.930(A) spells out the specifics regarding the right of way for emergency vehicles. The short answer is, of course, always do it. The statute dives deeper.
Upon the approach of an emergency vehicle equipped with, and operating, one or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or blue lights, visible under normal conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle; and the driver is given audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the edge or curve of the highway clear of any intersection, and stop and remain in this position until the emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer or firefighter.
Kentucky Law and Tailing an Emergency Vehicle
It's not wise to tailgate an emergency vehicle, something that seems to go without saying. Is it illegal in all circumstances? A friend of mine received a verbal warning, but not a citation, for driving too closely behind a police car. I don't know how close she was, but if it was within 500 feet, she got off lucky, so says the statute.
No operator of any vehicle, unless he is on official business, shall follow any emergency vehicle being operated in conformity with the provisions of § 70.05 (A) closer than 500 feet, nor shall he drive into, or park the vehicle into, or park the vehicle within, the block where the vehicle has stopped in answer to an emergency call or alarm unless he is directed otherwise by a police officer or firefighter.
Every once in a while, I'll see something in traffic that prompts me to look up what Kentucky traffic laws say about a given situation. I hope this has cleared some stuff up for you, just like it did for me.
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