In the event of an emergency, its good to know that,  first responders are just a few short minutes away. When it comes to the flashing red and blue lights coming down the road its good to remember that if you don't move your vehicle you are increasing response times. There has been an increase in the number of people complaining about this exact situation where an emergency vehicle is being stopped in traffic, due to people being unwilling or unable to move enough to let the vehicle pass. We talked with the Estevan Police Services Sargent Kevin Reed to find out the rules and regulations surrounding Emergency vehicles on the road.

"The legislation does actually require you when your meeting or being followed by an emergency vehicle with its lights and siren operating for you to pull over and actually stop on the right hand the side of the road. It Includes vehicles that are actually oncoming meeting the emergency vehicle, keeping in mind that sometimes that if your meeting somebody there may be a need for that emergency vehicle to go into the oncoming lane so that's why its important for both vehicles to pull over and stop."

Under the traffic safety act, it is an offense not to yield to emergency vehicles with a penalty of 125 dollars. While the EPS would like to see this stop completely they do admit sometimes its easy for people not to notice when an emergency vehicle approaches. Sgt. Kevin Reed.

"It happens commonly and sometimes its due to the fact that people don't watch their rearview mirrors constantly and it's common for people to be driving with there stereo turned up so they don't hear the sirens coming, it is common. Then there are the drivers who panic who don't know what to do when they see the emergency equipment coming so they sort of freeze in that position rather than pull over and stop."

If you find yourself being approached by an emergency vehicle it's better to pull over and stop and just be stationary the emergency equipment will be able to work its way around you.