(A) The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall apply to emergency vehicles, except, that a person operating any such vehicle in an emergency, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may:
(1) Park or stand, notwithstanding the provisions of this title.
(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limits, so long as doing so does not endanger life or property.
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions, so long as he or she does not endanger life or property.
(B) The provisions of division (A) above shall apply only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion, sounds an audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle, except, that an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle need not be equipped with or display a red light visible from in front of the vehicle.
(C) The provisions of divisions (A) and (B) above shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard of the safety of others.
('81 Code, § 70.07) Penalty, see § 70.99
Statutory reference:
Operation of authorized emergency vehicles; signals; duty of driver, see S.C. Code § 56-5-760