MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

True or False: Emergency vehicles must obey all traffic signals when responding to emergency calls.

1. True

2. False

3. Only if it is safe to do so

4. Depends on local laws

The correct answer is: False

When responding to emergency calls, emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks, can legally disregard certain traffic signals and laws under specific protocols. This is because their primary function is to reach emergency situations as quickly as possible to provide assistance, which may necessitate actions that would otherwise be illegal for regular vehicles, such as running red lights or exceeding speed limits. However, it's essential for operators of emergency vehicles to do so with caution and to ensure that the action taken will not endanger themselves or the public. While they have the privilege to bypass certain traffic rules, they are still expected to operate the vehicle safely and responsibly, balancing the urgency of the situation with the need to protect lives. Consequently, the statement that emergency vehicles must obey all traffic signals when responding to emergency calls is not accurate, making the assertion that this statement is false correct.