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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 189.930: Right -of-way to emergency vehicles -- Blocking or following emergency

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 189

vehicles -- Driving over unprotected hoses of fire department.

(1) Upon the approach of an emergency vehicle equipped with, and operating, one (1)

or more flashing, rotatin g, or oscillating red or blue lights, visible under normal

conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the emergency

vehicle; or the driver is given audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell, the

driver of every other vehi cle shall yield the right -of-way, immediately drive to a

position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the edge or curb of the highway

clear of any intersection, and stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle

has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer or firefighter.

(2) Upon the approach of any emergency vehicle, operated in conformity with the

provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the operator of every vehicle shall

immediately stop clear of any intersection and s hall remain stopped until the

emergency vehicle has passed, unless directed otherwise by a police officer or

firefighter.

(3) No operator of any vehicle, unless he or she is on official business, shall follow any

emergency vehicle being operated in conform ity with the provisions of subsection

(1) of this section closer than five hundred (500) feet, nor shall he or she 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 a larm unless he or she is directed

otherwise by a police officer or firefighter.

(4) No vehicle, train, or other equipment shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a

fire department when the hose is laid down on any street, private driveway, or track

for use at any fire or fire alarm unless the fire department official in command

consents that the hose be driven over.

(5) The provisions of subsection (6) of this section shall apply to any driver

approaching a stationary:

(a) Emergency vehicle or public s afety vehicle, when the emergency vehicle or

public safety vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing

yellow, red, red and white, red and blue, or blue lights; or

(b) Disabled vehicle, when the disabled vehicle is displaying some type of

warning signal, such as emergency flashers, flares, or retroreflective signals.

(6) The driver of a vehicle that is approaching a vehicle described in subsection (5) of

this section shall, while proceeding with due caution:

(a) Yield the right-of-way by moving to a lane not adjacent to that of the vehicle,

if:

1. The person is driving on a highway having at least four (4) lanes, with at

least two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching

vehicle; and

2. It is possible to make the lane change with due regard to safety and

traffic conditions; or

(b) Reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed to road conditions,

if the road has less than four (4) lanes or if changing lanes would be

impossible or unsafe.

(7) This section does not operate to relieve the person who drives an emergency vehicle

from the duty to operate the vehicle with due regard for the safety of all persons

using the highway.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:51:44Z. Source file · JSON

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