Emergency vehicles: how do you yield in Quebec?

A siren behind you: the manoeuvre the Code requires, and the mistakes to avoid.

Short answer: as soon as an emergency vehicle has its lights or siren on, you must yield: slow down, keep as far right as possible and, if necessary, stop. This applies wherever it is coming from. Failing to yield carries 4 demerit points.

The rule in the Code

Drivers, like cyclists, must yield to any emergency vehicle whose lights or siren are on, by slowing down, keeping as far right as possible and, if necessary, stopping (Code de la sécurité routière, Quebec’s Highway Safety Code, s. 406).

Under the Code, emergency vehicles are police vehicles, ambulances, fire service vehicles and other vehicles recognized as such by the SAAQ (s. 4).

In practice: three moves

Slow down, without braking hard in front of the emergency vehicle.
Keep right as far as possible to clear the lane.
Stop if that is what it takes to let it through.

The SAAQ handbook adds: stay calm and clear the way wherever the vehicle is coming from, whether behind you, the opposite direction or from the side (Guide de la route, ch. 4, “Véhicule d’urgence”).

Mistakes to avoid

According to the Guide de la route and the SAAQ manual Conduire un véhicule de promenade:

don’t stay in an intersection: move away from it;
never turn in front of the emergency vehicle (back off if needed);
don’t speed up or brake hard in front of it;
don’t follow it closely, and don’t try to follow it after it has passed.

When its signals are on for a call, the emergency vehicle driver may disregard certain rules (speed, lights, signs, passing, right of way), but only when it is safe (s. 378). It may therefore come toward you in your lane or go through a red light: be ready.

If it’s the police behind you

A police vehicle following you with lights and siren may be pulling you over. The Guide de la route recommends turning on your signal, pulling over to the side as soon as it is safe, stopping and keeping your hands visible on the steering wheel (ch. 4, “Interception par un véhicule de police”).

What if it is stopped on the side of the road?

That is a different rule: the safety corridor. When an emergency vehicle or tow truck is stopped with its lights on, you must slow down and move away from it, changing lanes if possible (s. 406.1). See the guide The safety corridor rule.

Penalties

Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle (s. 406): fine of $200 to $300 (s. 510).
4 demerit points (Regulation respecting demerit points, schedule, item 21.1): enough to revoke a learner or probationary licence.

Key points for the test

Slow down, keep right, stop if necessary.
No matter where the emergency vehicle is coming from.
Don’t brake hard in front of it, don’t follow it.
Failing to yield: 4 points.

Test yourself on this topic
Original questions with explanations and sources, “Highway Safety Code” section.
Practise for free

Official sources

Code de la sécurité routière (Highway Safety Code, CQLR c. C-24.2), ss. 4 (definition of “emergency vehicle”), 378, 406, 406.1 and 510
Règlement sur les points d’inaptitude (Regulation respecting demerit points, CQLR c. C-24.2, r. 37), schedule, item 21.1
SAAQ, Guide de la route (4th ed., 2024, French), ch. 4, “Véhicule d’urgence”, “Interception par un véhicule de police” and “Le conducteur d’un véhicule d’urgence”
SAAQ, Conduire un véhicule de promenade (2022 ed., French), ch. 4, “Avec les véhicules d’urgence”

General information page, current as of 2026-10-28. If in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca and legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca.