When passing a stopped emergency vehicle, what is the appropriate action?

When passing a stopped emergency vehicle, the appropriate action is to slow down and if safe, move into a nonadjacent lane. This practice is essential for ensuring the safety of both the emergency personnel who are working at the scene and other road users. By reducing speed, you give yourself more time to react to any unforeseen circumstances and minimize the risk of an accident.

Moving into a nonadjacent lane, where possible, provides a buffer space between your vehicle and the stopped emergency vehicle, which helps to protect emergency workers who may be outside of their vehicles. This response also aligns with many states' laws and regulations aimed at providing protection to first responders.

To summarize, this approach prioritizes safety and adheres to traffic laws designed to protect emergency personnel, making it the proper course of action when encountering a stopped emergency vehicle on the roadway.