On a daily basis, police, fire and EMS respond to emergency calls with lights and sirens. With each emergency response, it is amazing and equally disturbing to see the number of drivers that fail to take the necessary and required actions for the emergency response vehicles.

There are many people who are awesome in their courteous and proper response to an approaching emergency responder operating lights and sirens. At the same time, there are way too many people today that seem to be focused on their immediate agenda, or are being completely inattentive to their surroundings as they operate their vehicle and fail to pull over and stop for passing emergency responders. This disregard for public safety and the law could truly be putting lives at stake.

When you are operating a motor vehicle and an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens is approaching you from ANY direction -- approaching from behind or approaching from the opposite direction -- you are required to:

* Yield the right of way. Immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge of the curb of the roadway clear of any intersection.

* Stop and remain in such a position until the emergency vehicle has passed. Note: On a divided highway, you must pull over if the emergency vehicle is approaching you in your direction of travel.

Failure to hear or see the approaching emergency vehicle due to the radio volume or any other reason does not excuse the violation and the danger a person might place themselves and others in when ignoring emergency vehicles or being an inattentive driver.

When emergency responders are driving with lights and sirens, there is truly an emergency at hand and seconds sometimes can make the difference between life and death.

There are also requirements concerning safe practices when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or construction vehicle or crew that has the emergency or safety lights on or has official traffic control devices. Kansas Statute 8-1530 says:

* If the driver of the vehicle is traveling on a highway that consists of at least two lanes in each direction, the driver shall proceed with due caution and, if possible and with due regard to the road, weather and traffic conditions, shall change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to that of the stationary emergency vehicle.

* If the driver is not on a multi-lane highway, or cannot change lanes safely, the driver shall proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle and cautiously pass while maintaining a safe speed for the road, weather and traffic conditions.

Our police, firefighters and EMS respond daily to emergency calls for service. Your help in following the basic traffic safety laws concerning emergency vehicles will help everyone stay safe and assist the emergency responder in getting to their destination quickly and safely.

Philip Hartsfield is assistant chief of the Hays Police Department.