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S1449................................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
EMERGENCY VEHICLES - Amends existing law to revise and add rules of the
road for motor vehicles being approached by emergency or police vehicles or
for motor vehicles approaching stationary emergency or police vehicles.
02/14 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15 Rpt prt - to Jud
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2002
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1449
BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING SECTION 49-625, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE
3 THAT DRIVERS MUST DRIVE TO A POSITION PARALLEL TO AND AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE
4 TO THE RIGHT-HAND EDGE OF THE ROADWAY UPON THE IMMEDIATE APPROACH OF AN
5 AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY OR POLICE VEHICLE THAT IS USING AUDIBLE OR VISIBLE
6 SIGNALS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RULES OF THE ROAD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES APPROACH-
7 ING STATIONARY EMERGENCY OR POLICE VEHICLES THAT ARE USING EMERGENCY
8 LIGHTS.
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
10 SECTION 1. That Section 49-625, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
11 amended to read as follows:
12 49-625. OPERATION OF VEHICLES ON APPROACH OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY OR
13 POLICE VEHICLES. (1) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency or
14 police vehicle making use of an audible or visible signal, meeting the
15 requirements of section 49-623, Idaho Code, the driver of every other vehicle,
16 other than such authorized emergency or police vehicle, shall yield the right-
17 of-way and immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possi-
18 ble to, the nearest right-hand edge or curb of the highway lawful for parking
19 roadway and clear of any intersection, and stop and remain in that position
20 until the authorized emergency or police vehicle has passed, except when
21 otherwise directed by a peace officer.
22 (2) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized
23 emergency or police vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the
24 safety of all persons using the highway roadway.
25 (3) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency or police vehicle
26 that is making use of emergency lights, the driver of a motor vehicle shall do
27 the following:
28 (a) If the driver of the motor vehicle is traveling on a roadway that
29 consists of two (2) or more lanes in which traffic is carried in the same
30 direction as that of the driver's motor vehicle, the driver shall, with
31 due caution and with due regard to road, weather and traffic conditions,
32 change into a lane that is not adjacent to the lane in which the station-
33 ary authorized emergency or police vehicle is located; or
34 (b) If the driver of the motor vehicle is not traveling on a roadway of a
35 type described in subsection (3)(a) of this section, or if the driver is
36 traveling on a roadway of a type described in subsection (3)(a) of this
37 section, but it is not possible to change lanes or changing lanes would be
38 unsafe, the driver shall reduce the speed of the motor vehicle and main-
39 tain a reasonable and prudent speed for the road, weather and traffic con-
40 ditions.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 11787C1
The intent of this legislation is to provide that drivers of an
automobile must drive to a position parallel to and as close to the
right-hand edge of the roadway when approached by and emergency
vehicle.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
Contact
Name: Senator Robbi Barrutia
Phone: 332-1347
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE S 1449