Change follows state law; outlines required behavior around active and stationary emergency vehicles
DEARBORN — The city recently updated an ordinance to reflect the new state law requiring drivers to pull over when emergency vehicles are passing, or slow down and move over when they are stopped and handling situations on the side of the road.
The ordinance provides details for driver responsibility when in the vicinity of an active emergency vehicle.
When an emergency vehicle with signals activated is approaching, every driver on the road must yield the right-of-way and immediately pull over as close as possible to the right-hand side of the road, clear of any intersection. Vehicles must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.
Those who violate this section of the ordinance are responsible for a civil infraction.
The updated ordinance also provides requirements for behavior around stopped emergency vehicles. Drivers must move over one lane and reduce their speed by at least 10 mph when passing a stationary emergency vehicle that has its emergency signals activated.
On any road where there is only one lane on which to travel, or if it is not safe or possible to move over one lane, drivers should proceed with care and need to reduce their speed to 10 mph below the speed limit.
Those in violation of this section of the ordinance are responsible for a civil infraction and are subject to a $400 fine.
The change in city ordinance, updated April 26, was made to reflect MCL 257.653, which went into effect on Feb. 13.
Defined in Sec. 18-54 of the City of Dearborn Code of Ordinances, authorized emergency vehicles are “vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, ambulances,” or any authorized privately owned vehicles meant to assist a disabled vehicle.
Further details of the ordinance can be found in Sections 18-155 and 18-155.5 of the City of Dearborn Code of Ordinances.
Source: The city of Dearborn