Tennessee: Emergency vehicles and work zones — Part 3 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Which of these makes you yield the right-of-way to a police vehicle, fire engine or ambulance?” · “Why does the manual advise turning down the radio volume when yielding to emergency vehicles?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 17 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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Someone in an unmarked police car signals you to pull over and stop. What may you do?
- Speed up to get away until you reach the next highway exit ramp
- Drive slowly to the nearest area with other people, such as a parking lot
- Ignore the signal unless the car has a marked door and a light bar
- Stop at once in whatever lane you are in, even on the interstate
Show answer
Correct answer: Drive slowly to the nearest area with other people, such as a parking lot
The manual allows you to drive slowly a short distance to a place with other people around, such as the next business parking lot or exit.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 52 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 52)
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When approaching a fire station, what should you do if an emergency vehicle is backing into the driveway entrance?
- Pass it quickly before it backs into the driveway and blocks the road
- Sound your horn to warn the crew that you are approaching
- Keep going and let the vehicle wait for a gap in traffic
- Yield to it, whether it is about to back in or already backing in
Show answer
Correct answer: Yield to it, whether it is about to back in or already backing in
The manual says to yield to an emergency vehicle about to back into, or already backing into, the station driveway.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 53 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 53)
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Which of these makes you yield the right-of-way to a police vehicle, fire engine or ambulance?
- A siren only, and never a flashing light alone
- A siren, an air horn or a red or blue flashing light
- Only a flashing white light shown on the roof
- A steady red light shown on the vehicle roof alone
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Correct answer: A siren, an air horn or a red or blue flashing light
You yield to an emergency vehicle that uses a siren, an air horn or a red or blue flashing light.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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Which of these is against the law for an unauthorized private vehicle?
- Blue flashing emergency lights, or blue and red together
- Red brake lights that come on when the driver brakes
- White reverse lights that come on when backing up
- White or amber steady-burning lights shining to the front
Show answer
Correct answer: Blue flashing emergency lights, or blue and red together
Unauthorized private vehicles may not have blue flashing emergency lights, or blue and red combined, installed, maintained or shown.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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A fire truck is responding to a fire alarm. Which of these is against the law?
- Yielding the right-of-way to it
- Pulling to the right-hand edge of the road
- Stopping until it has passed
- Following the fire truck
Show answer
Correct answer: Following the fire truck
It is against the law to follow a fire truck or other emergency vehicle responding to an alarm or emergency.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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Where is it illegal to take your vehicle once an emergency vehicle has stopped to deal with an emergency?
- Within 100 feet of where the emergency vehicle has stopped
- Within the block where the emergency vehicle has stopped
- Anywhere that you can still see the emergency vehicle
- Within the nearest intersection on either side of it
Show answer
Correct answer: Within the block where the emergency vehicle has stopped
The manual makes it illegal to take your vehicle within the block where an emergency vehicle has stopped.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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You pass the site of a fire and an unprotected fire department hose is lying on the road. When may you drive over it?
- If you drive over it slowly and carefully in low gear
- If there is no other route that you can take around the site
- If a bystander at the scene waves you across the hose
- Only if the fire department official in command says it is okay
Show answer
Correct answer: Only if the fire department official in command says it is okay
Do not drive over an unprotected fire department hose unless the official in command says it is okay.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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What does Tennessee law require when an emergency vehicle is approaching?
- Yield and pull to the right-hand edge or curb, parallel to it, and stop
- Speed up and pass the emergency vehicle on the right side of the road
- Stop where you are in your own lane and turn on your hazard flashers
- Move to the left edge of the road, slow down, and keep going
Show answer
Correct answer: Yield and pull to the right-hand edge or curb, parallel to it, and stop
All traffic meeting or being overtaken must yield and drive to the right edge or curb and stop.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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You have pulled over for an emergency vehicle. How long must you remain in that stopped position?
- Until you can no longer hear the siren or see any flashing lights
- For at least one full minute after the vehicle has gone by you
- Until the vehicle has passed or a police officer directs you to move
- Until the next car in line behind you has begun to move on
Show answer
Correct answer: Until the vehicle has passed or a police officer directs you to move
You stay stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed or an officer tells you to move, and you still proceed with caution.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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You are in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches. What should you do?
- Stop right where you are inside the intersection
- Pull over immediately to the nearest curb or edge of road
- Back up out of the intersection to clear the way
- Drive on through the intersection before pulling over
Show answer
Correct answer: Drive on through the intersection before pulling over
Pulling over inside the intersection could block the emergency vehicle’s path, so you drive through first.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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When pulling over for an emergency vehicle, why should you not pull to the right if it would block a side road or driveway?
- The emergency vehicle may need to turn into that road or driveway
- The vehicles behind you will not see that you have stopped
- Your vehicle would be hidden from other drivers on the side road
- The emergency vehicle will need the right shoulder in order to pass
Show answer
Correct answer: The emergency vehicle may need to turn into that road or driveway
The emergency vehicle may need to turn into that road or driveway to reach the incident.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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You are stopped at a red light when an emergency vehicle approaches, and the light turns green before it has passed. What should you do?
- Proceed on green, since the green light gives you priority
- Stay where you are until it has passed or turned onto another street
- Proceed only if the emergency vehicle is more than a block away
- Move forward slowly into the intersection and then stop there
Show answer
Correct answer: Stay where you are until it has passed or turned onto another street
Do NOT proceed on green; wait until the emergency vehicle has passed or turned onto another street.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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Why does the manual advise turning down the radio volume when yielding to emergency vehicles?
- So you can hear your own engine and tires and notice a problem
- So that other drivers can hear your horn if you have to sound it
- So you can hear directions given over the emergency vehicle’s loudspeaker
- So that you stay calm and relaxed while you wait for it to pass by
Show answer
Correct answer: So you can hear directions given over the emergency vehicle’s loudspeaker
Directions from the emergency vehicle’s loudspeaker may need an immediate reaction.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 54 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 54)
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Which of these is listed as a stationary vehicle you are likely to see using flashing lights along the roadside?
- A taxi picking up a passenger
- A delivery van making a drop-off
- A farm tractor working beside the road
- A recovery vehicle such as a tow truck
Show answer
Correct answer: A recovery vehicle such as a tow truck
The manual lists utility, emergency, highway maintenance and recovery vehicles such as tow trucks.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 55 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 55)
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If you change lanes for an emergency vehicle stopped on the right shoulder under the Move Over Law, which lane do you move into?
- The right-most lane, beside the stopped vehicle
- The left lane, freeing the right-most lane as a barrier
- The left shoulder, to leave every lane open
- The HOV lane, even if you are driving alone
Show answer
Correct answer: The left lane, freeing the right-most lane as a barrier
With the emergency vehicle on the right shoulder, you merge into the left lane so the right-most lane stays empty as a safety barrier.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
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If you change lanes for an emergency vehicle stopped on the left shoulder under the Move Over Law, which lane do you move into?
- The left-most lane, beside the stopped vehicle
- The right shoulder, to leave every lane open
- The right lane, freeing the left-most lane as a barrier
- The HOV lane, even if you are driving alone
Show answer
Correct answer: The right lane, freeing the left-most lane as a barrier
The move-over requirement applies on either side of the road; with the vehicle on the left shoulder, you merge into the right lane so the left-most lane stays empty as a barrier.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
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When does the Move Over Law apply to an emergency, utility service or maintenance vehicle?
- Only when it is moving with its siren on
- Only when an officer is standing beside it
- At any time, even when parked with no lights on
- When it is stationary and using its flashing lights
Show answer
Correct answer: When it is stationary and using its flashing lights
The law covers these vehicles when they are stationary and using their flashing lights.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)