What Should You Do When You Hear an Ambulance Siren in Traffic?

Ambulance siren indicates that someone needs emergency help. Rapid arrival of teams saves lives [1]Source: NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Safety — nhtsa.gov[2]Source: WHO Road Safety — World Health Organization. So what is your responsibility as a driver in Türkiye? In short, this responsibility is codified in Article 71 of Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 — the legal framework, the zipper-method (Rettungsgasse) practice, and siren acoustics are detailed below [7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.

Legal Framework: Article 71 and Administrative Fines

Article 71 of Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 lists vehicles holding right-of-way priority and places "ambulances and vehicles transporting injured or critically ill patients" at the top of the list [7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi. The yielding obligation in Article 71 and the related administrative-fine provisions in Article 55 were tightened by Law No. 7574, which was adopted by the Grand National Assembly on 12 February 2026 and entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette dated 27 February 2026 (No. 33181) [7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi[8]Source: Law No. 7574 Amending Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Official Gazette) — Resmî Gazete:

• Drivers who fail to yield to the vehicles in Article 71(a) and (b) — ambulances and fire trucks — face an administrative fine of 46,000 Turkish Lira, a 30-day driver's licence suspension, and a 30-day vehicle impoundment [7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.
• Returning the suspended licence requires payment in full of every administrative fine the driver carries.
• The same 46,000 TL fine applies in reverse: ambulance drivers who use right-of-way without genuine necessity are penalised identically — the prohibition runs both ways [7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.

These figures are not symbolic. A second of hesitation can mean a critical delay in stop-and-go Istanbul traffic; for the driver, the fine equals more than a month of minimum wage in Türkiye.

Dos

1. Be Calm and Do Not Panic: Avoid sudden braking or uncontrolled maneuvers. This can lead to bigger accidents [1]Source: NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Safety — nhtsa.gov.
2. Determine Where the Ambulance Is Coming From: Listen to the sound and check your mirrors. Modern ambulance sirens typically emit over 100 dB at the source; for a driver with closed windows and loud music, locating the direction of the sound can lag by a few seconds, so regular mirror checks compensate.
3. Give Way (Zipper / Rettungsgasse Method): A practice borrowed from Germany and Switzerland: on a single-lane road, pull as far right as safely possible; on a two-lane road, left-lane vehicles move left, right-lane vehicles move right to open a centre "life corridor" [3]Source: European Commission Road Safety — road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu. On three-lane motorways, the leftmost lane shifts left and the centre and right lanes shift right.
4. Be Careful at Intersections: If you are at an intersection and the green light is on for you, wait for the ambulance to pass [1]Source: NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Safety — nhtsa.gov[2]Source: WHO Road Safety — World Health Organization. Move after making sure the ambulance has passed safely.

Don'ts

1. Do Not Stop Suddenly: Stopping in the middle or suddenly can cause vehicles coming from behind to hit you and the road to be blocked even more [1]Source: NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Safety — nhtsa.gov.
2. Do Not Follow the Ambulance: Do not try to go fast after the ambulance to open the way. This is both dangerous and illegal [1]Source: NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Safety — nhtsa.gov[2]Source: WHO Road Safety — World Health Organization[7]Source: Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (Article 71 — Right-of-Way Vehicles) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.
3. Do Not Block the Road: Do not block the safety lane or areas where other drivers can escape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to enter the safety lane when I hear an ambulance siren?

No; since the aim is to open a corridor for the ambulance, it is sufficient to slow down in a controlled manner in your lane and approach right or left. Blocking the safety lane unnecessarily can make the ambulance's progress difficult.

What should I do if an ambulance comes while the green light is on at the intersection?

Even if the light is green for you, the ambulance with siren and beacon lights on has priority. Make sure the ambulance passes safely before leaving the intersection, then move.

Does following the ambulance and going fast require a penalty?

Yes; using the ambulance as a "path opener" is both dangerous and against the legislation. You should maintain following distance with the ambulance and return to your normal speed after helping its passage.