Right-of-way and intersections
A firefighter at the scene of a collision waves you through a red light. What should you do?
- Do as the firefighter signals, even though it conflicts with the red light. Correct answer
- Stay stopped until the light turns green; a signal outranks anyone directing traffic.
- Treat the red light as a STOP sign: stop completely, then go when it is safe.
Why
The handbook is blunt about who outranks what: any direction, order or signal from a law enforcement officer or a firefighter has to be obeyed, even where it contradicts the signs, the signals or the law as posted. So the firefighter beats the red light, and it is not only police who can override it. Stopping and then creeping through is a real procedure, but it belongs to a flashing red light or to a signal that is not working, where you stop as if there were STOP signs in all directions and proceed cautiously. Crossing guards near schools work on the same principle as the firefighter: the handbook tells you to obey their directions at all times.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is Do as the firefighter signals, even though it conflicts with the red light.
- Section 7. Laws and Rules of the Road › Sharing the Road › Emergency Vehicles, page 45
- Section 7. Laws and Rules of the Road › Traffic Control › Traffic Signals › Traffic Light Not Working, page 34
- Section 7. Laws and Rules of the Road › Around Children, page 50
- Section 7. Laws and Rules of the Road › Traffic Control › Traffic Signals › Flashing Red Light, page 33
The rule behind this one
Right of way in California: who goes first goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on right-of-way and intersections
- You are on an on-ramp, about to merge onto the highway. Who has the right-of-way?
- You are waiting to turn left. An oncoming car has its right turn signal on. When should you start your turn?
- You come up to a solid red light and want to turn right. No NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. What must you do?
- Your light turns green, but a bicyclist who started across late is still in the intersection in front of you. What should you do?