Crash on busy Fort Myers Road highlights issue of not yielding to ambulance sirens

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) A crash involving an ambulance in Fort Myers is highlighting a problem first responders say they deal with every day: “drivers not yielding on the road.”

While no serious injuries were reported, Hendry County confirmed that its ambulance was carrying a stroke alert patient at the time. That patient was later transferred to the hospital and transported safely.

WINK News reached out to South Trail Fire, Lehigh Acres Fire, and the Lee County Sheriff's Office to remind drivers of what the law requires and why it matters.

Under Florida law, drivers must yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens. That means pulling over to the nearest edge of the roadway, coming to a complete stop, and staying there until the vehicle has passed.

Importantly, drivers are not required to move to the right specifically. Instead, they should move to whichever side of the road is closest and safest.

One of the biggest areas of confusion is intersections. Even with a green light, drivers are expected to yield to emergency vehicles. If you hear sirens but cannot see where they are coming from, you should not enter the intersection. If you are already in it, clear it first, then pull over and stop.

The law also requires drivers to move over or slow down when emergency vehicles are stopped on the side of the road.

Amy Bollen with South Trail Fire & Rescue said the issue is not just confusion; it is something they see on nearly every call.

“Some vehicles, based on how quiet they are, it’s hard to hear our sirens,” said Bollen. “So we expect drivers to always look, always pay attention, and think that that person’s emergency is more important than their travels on the road at that moment.”

Bollen said modern vehicles, loud music, and everyday distractions can make it harder for drivers to hear sirens, which is why they stress the importance of staying visually alert.

Megan Price with Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District says drivers often panic, especially at intersections.

“If you’re at a light at an intersection, stay put where you are,” Price said. “Do not take yourself out into the middle of an intersection because that puts you in harm’s way.”

Price said some of the most dangerous mistakes include stopping in the middle of the road, trying to beat an emergency vehicle through traffic, or making sudden, unpredictable moves.

They also warn drivers not to follow emergency vehicles through traffic, saying it creates additional hazards and can block access to emergency scenes.

Drivers should also keep a safe distance, typically at least 500 feet behind emergency vehicles with lights and sirens activated.

“If it’s not safe for you to move, just stay where you are,” Price said. “Emergency vehicles are trained to slow down and work around you safely.”

First responders say time is critical in emergencies, and delays can have serious consequences.

“Seconds matter in emergency response,” Price said. “The faster we can get our patient to the hospital, the better chance we have of saving their life.”

Sheriff Carmine Marceno shared this statement, “The Florida Move Over Law exists for one reason: to save lives. Our deputies routinely work on the side of busy roadways, often just feet away from passing traffic. One distracted or careless driver can change everything in an instant. Moving over or slowing down isn’t optional; it's now the law. We rely on motorists to slow down and move over when they see a deputy with emergency lights activated on the side of the roadway. We’ve seen the consequences when people ignore it, and we cannot stress enough how vital it is to give first responders the space they need to do their jobs safely.”