(A) The speed limitations set forth in this chapter do not apply to the following, when the driver thereof is giving the warning required by division (E) below. No portion of this section shall be construed to relieve the driver of the duty to operate the vehicle with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or highway.
(1) Emergency vehicles when responding to emergency calls;
(2) Police vehicles when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law;
(3) Ambulances when transporting a patient to medical care facilities.
(B) The driver of an emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or of a police vehicle in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or of an ambulance transporting a patient to a medical care facility and giving the warning required by division (E) of this section, upon approaching any red light or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety to traffic, but may proceed past the red light or stop sign with due regard for the safety of persons using the street or highway.
(C) The driver of an emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or of a police vehicle in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or of an ambulance transporting a patient to a medical care facility and giving warning required by division (E) of this section, may drive on the left side of any highway or on the opposite direction of a one-way street provided the normal lanes of traffic are blocked and he or she does so with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or highway.
(D) The driver of any emergency or public safety vehicle may stop or park his vehicle on any street or highway without regard to the provisions of KRS 189.390 and 189.450 provided that, during the time the vehicle is parked at the scene of an emergency, at least one (1) warning light is in operation at all times.
(E) The driver of an emergency vehicle desiring the use of any option granted by divisions (A), (B), or (C) of this section shall give warning in the following manner: by illuminating the vehicle’s warning lights continuously during the period of the emergency; and by continuous sounding of the vehicle’s siren, bell, or exhaust whistle; unless the vehicle is an ambulance and the driver is of the opinion that sounding of the siren, bell, or exhaust whistle would be detrimental to the victim’s health. In the event the driver of an ambulance elects not to use the siren, bell, or exhaust whistle, he shall not proceed past red lights or drive in the opposite direction on a one-way street or in on-coming lanes of traffic unless no other vehicles are within five hundred (500) feet of the front of the ambulance. The driver shall not extinguish the warning lights during the period of the emergency.
(F) No driver or operator of any emergency or public safety or other vehicle shall use the warning lights or siren, bell, or exhaust whistle of his or her vehicle for any purpose or under any circumstances other than those permitted by KRS 189.910 to 189.950.
(G) This section does not relieve the driver of any emergency or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.
(H) The driver of a public safety vehicle which also meets the definition of a slow- moving vehicle under KRS 189.810 and any vehicle acting as an escort for the slow-moving vehicle may travel at a speed that may impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic if:
(1) The vehicle is being operated in an official capacity;
(2) Operation of the vehicle is in compliance with all state and local government policies; and
(3) It is necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle.
(KRS 189.940)
Cross reference:
Penalty for violation, see § 40.999