When you see a stopped emergency vehicle on a multi-lane highway and you can safely change lanes, what should you do?

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When you see a stopped emergency vehicle on a multi-lane highway, the priority is to give responders space and reduce the risk of a crash. The best action is to move over to a neighboring lane if it’s safe to do so, and slow down. Changing lanes away from the scene creates a buffer between you and the workers or police and any stopped vehicles, which lowers the chance of injury and lets the responders do their job more safely. If changing lanes isn’t possible because of other traffic or you can’t safely merge, then slow down to a safe speed and proceed with extra caution, keeping a safe distance from the emergency scene.

Staying in your lane and keeping equal speed offers no protection for the people at the scene and can lead to a dangerous follow‑up crash. Stopping in your lane can block traffic and create a sudden hazard for others. Riding the horn doesn’t help the situation and can startle drivers or responders, increasing risk.