Operation on approach of law enforcement and emergency vehicles or when approaching stationary law enforcement and emergency vehicles or work zone
23 V.S.A. § 1050
in effect1050. Operation on approach of law enforcement and emergency vehicles or when approaching stationary law enforcement and emergency vehicles or work zone
(a) Approach of law enforcement and emergency vehicles. Upon the approach of a law enforcement vehicle sounding a siren or displaying a blue or blue and white signal lamp, or both, or upon the approach of an ambulance, fire apparatus, vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter, EMS personnel, or motor vehicle used in rescue operations as set forth in section 1252 of this title sounding a siren or displaying a red or red and white signal lamp, or both, all other vehicles shall pull to the right of the lane of traffic and come to a complete stop until the law enforcement or emergency vehicle has passed.
(b) Approaching law enforcement, emergency, and towing and repair vehicles. The operator of a vehicle approaching a stationary law enforcement vehicle displaying a blue or blue and white signal lamp; a stationary ambulance, fire apparatus, vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter, or motor vehicle used in rescue operations as set forth in section 1252 of this title displaying a red or red and white signal lamp; or a stationary towing and repair vehicle displaying an amber signal lamp shall proceed with caution and, if traveling on a multilane highway and safety conditions permit, make a lane change into a lane farther away from the stationary vehicle. If the operator of the approaching vehicle must remain in the lane adjacent to the stationary vehicle, then the operator shall slow down to a reasonable, safe, and prudent speed given the safety conditions and posted speed limit.
(c) Approaching work zone. The operator of a vehicle approaching a properly designated work zone shall proceed with caution and slow down to a reasonable, safe, and prudent speed given the safety conditions and posted speed limit. If workers are only present on one side of a multilane highway and safety conditions permit, the operator shall remain in or make a lane change into a lane farther away from the workers.
(d) Authority of law enforcement. This section does not relieve the operator of an authorized law enforcement or emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway or the authority of law enforcement to regulate traffic irrespective of the foregoing provisions.
Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 2001, No. 84 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 54; 2019, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 36.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/013/01050Fetched: 10/21/2026