Right-of-way and intersections
A tow truck is stopped on the shoulder ahead of you with its amber warning lights flashing. What does the law require of you?
- Move over into another lane and slow down as you go past. Correct answer
- Keep your lane and your speed; the rule only covers police, fire and ambulances.
- Stop and wait until the tow truck turns its flashing lights off.
Why
Move over and slow down is a two-part instruction, and the handbook's list of who it covers is wider than most drivers assume: stationary emergency vehicles and tow trucks displaying flashing amber warning lights, and road work vehicles at a standstill with emergency flashers or amber lights going. Tow trucks are named in it, so the answer that limits the rule to police, fire and ambulances fails on the list itself. Stopping and waiting for the lights to go off is the school bus rule, where flashing red lights mean you stop from either direction and remain stopped while they flash. A short way to hold it: amber means move over, and red on a school bus means stop.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 ENGLISH (REV. 6/2025). The correct answer is Move over into another lane and slow down as you go past..