AMBULANCE DRIVER CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔A decision to use "Code 3" operation must be based upon reasonable cause to
believe that the medical emergency justifies the risks incurred when demanding the
right-of-way through traffic. - ✔✔However, any doubt as to the seriousness of the
emergency must be resolved in favor of the patient.
✔✔No medical emergency, however severe, justifies driving in a manner that risks loss
of control of vehicle or that relies on other drivers or pedestrian to react ideally. - ✔✔
✔✔An ambulance transporting a stabilized patient should never travel of the posted
speed limit. - ✔✔
✔✔If the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call, must display a
steady burning red warning lamp that is visible from ______ ft. to the front of the
vehicle, and sounds a siren as reasonably necessary. - ✔✔1000
✔✔Even when exempt from the specific traffic rules, a driver can be held criminally
and/or civilly liable if involved in an accident where property damage, injury, or fatality
occur. - ✔✔
✔✔In determining whether or not the driver was exercising "due regard" in using
signaling equipment, the courts will consider the following: - ✔✔1) Whether it was
reasonably necessary to use signaling equipment.
2) Whether the signaling equipment was in fact used.
3) Whether the signal was audible and/or visible to the other motorists or pedestrians.
✔✔Never travel at a speed that does not permit complete control of the vehicle. - ✔✔
✔✔Sirens warn pedestrians and drivers of vehicles traveling in the SAME direction and
AHEAD of the ambulance. - ✔✔So, sirens do not give sufficient warning to drivers
approaching head on or traveling on converging roads.
✔✔In a rural environment, a person in a closed car proceeding at ____ mph with the
radio playing may not be aware of a penetrating electronic siren (wail) until it is as close
as ____ ft. away. - ✔✔55, 33
✔✔In city traffic, a driver with the car windows open and no radio playing might not
detect the siren more than ____ ft. away. - ✔✔123
, ✔✔The siren warning effectiveness distance to vehicles on crossroads is only about
_____ of that of a vehicle straight ahead of the siren and traveling in the same direction.
- ✔✔1/3
✔✔It should never be assumed that the use of the siren and red warning lamp will result
in a clear path through traffic nor even that a motorist in the vicinity will do what is
expected after becoming aware of the ambulance. - ✔✔
✔✔Ambulance drivers should: - ✔✔a) Presume that other drivers don't hear the siren at
a safe distance under most conditions, and particularly at intersections.
b) Be aware that other drivers often have difficulty in locating the source of siren
sounds.
c) Restrict the use of sirens to situations where they are most effective; i.e. warning
pedestrians and those drivers traveling at reduced speed with low background noise
d) Avoid passing on the RIGHT, since other motorists are legally required to drive to the
right and stop at the approach of an emergency vehicle.
✔✔Front steady burning red warning light should be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme
hazard exists.
Revolving or rotating, or flashing red lamps do not satisfy the requirement for a steady
burning red warning lamp but may supplement the required lamp.
Also, if vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call. Or if the driver of the
vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a light
red red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians.
✔✔The flashing red warning lights may be displayed only during extremely hazardous
conditions. These may be described as any incident or situation that requires traffic to
stop or proceed only as directed, any incident that requires the roadway to be blocked. -
✔✔When these hazards cease to exist, the flashing lights should be turned off.
✔✔Flashing amber warning lights may be displayed only when - ✔✔an unusual traffic
hazard exists.
✔✔Warning lamp effectiveness may be reduced by - ✔✔a) Low sun or glare
b) Confusion with traffic signals or neon lights
c) Their position on the ambulance. They may be mounted high or low, they may be out
of range of vision of the driver of the vehicle ahead.
✔✔Use of headlights during daylight hours is effective in reducing accidents by making
the vehicle more visible to other drivers. - ✔✔
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔A decision to use "Code 3" operation must be based upon reasonable cause to
believe that the medical emergency justifies the risks incurred when demanding the
right-of-way through traffic. - ✔✔However, any doubt as to the seriousness of the
emergency must be resolved in favor of the patient.
✔✔No medical emergency, however severe, justifies driving in a manner that risks loss
of control of vehicle or that relies on other drivers or pedestrian to react ideally. - ✔✔
✔✔An ambulance transporting a stabilized patient should never travel of the posted
speed limit. - ✔✔
✔✔If the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call, must display a
steady burning red warning lamp that is visible from ______ ft. to the front of the
vehicle, and sounds a siren as reasonably necessary. - ✔✔1000
✔✔Even when exempt from the specific traffic rules, a driver can be held criminally
and/or civilly liable if involved in an accident where property damage, injury, or fatality
occur. - ✔✔
✔✔In determining whether or not the driver was exercising "due regard" in using
signaling equipment, the courts will consider the following: - ✔✔1) Whether it was
reasonably necessary to use signaling equipment.
2) Whether the signaling equipment was in fact used.
3) Whether the signal was audible and/or visible to the other motorists or pedestrians.
✔✔Never travel at a speed that does not permit complete control of the vehicle. - ✔✔
✔✔Sirens warn pedestrians and drivers of vehicles traveling in the SAME direction and
AHEAD of the ambulance. - ✔✔So, sirens do not give sufficient warning to drivers
approaching head on or traveling on converging roads.
✔✔In a rural environment, a person in a closed car proceeding at ____ mph with the
radio playing may not be aware of a penetrating electronic siren (wail) until it is as close
as ____ ft. away. - ✔✔55, 33
✔✔In city traffic, a driver with the car windows open and no radio playing might not
detect the siren more than ____ ft. away. - ✔✔123
, ✔✔The siren warning effectiveness distance to vehicles on crossroads is only about
_____ of that of a vehicle straight ahead of the siren and traveling in the same direction.
- ✔✔1/3
✔✔It should never be assumed that the use of the siren and red warning lamp will result
in a clear path through traffic nor even that a motorist in the vicinity will do what is
expected after becoming aware of the ambulance. - ✔✔
✔✔Ambulance drivers should: - ✔✔a) Presume that other drivers don't hear the siren at
a safe distance under most conditions, and particularly at intersections.
b) Be aware that other drivers often have difficulty in locating the source of siren
sounds.
c) Restrict the use of sirens to situations where they are most effective; i.e. warning
pedestrians and those drivers traveling at reduced speed with low background noise
d) Avoid passing on the RIGHT, since other motorists are legally required to drive to the
right and stop at the approach of an emergency vehicle.
✔✔Front steady burning red warning light should be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme
hazard exists.
Revolving or rotating, or flashing red lamps do not satisfy the requirement for a steady
burning red warning lamp but may supplement the required lamp.
Also, if vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call. Or if the driver of the
vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a light
red red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians.
✔✔The flashing red warning lights may be displayed only during extremely hazardous
conditions. These may be described as any incident or situation that requires traffic to
stop or proceed only as directed, any incident that requires the roadway to be blocked. -
✔✔When these hazards cease to exist, the flashing lights should be turned off.
✔✔Flashing amber warning lights may be displayed only when - ✔✔an unusual traffic
hazard exists.
✔✔Warning lamp effectiveness may be reduced by - ✔✔a) Low sun or glare
b) Confusion with traffic signals or neon lights
c) Their position on the ambulance. They may be mounted high or low, they may be out
of range of vision of the driver of the vehicle ahead.
✔✔Use of headlights during daylight hours is effective in reducing accidents by making
the vehicle more visible to other drivers. - ✔✔
