[dhdallas]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

What was quoted, chapter 316.126(1)(a), applies when an emergency vehicle is approaching from either direction. If an emergency vehicle is approaching, drivers should move as close as possible to the closest edge of the curb. It really is that simple.

The section does not say which side of the roadway for a simple reason: it doesn't matter. If an emergency vehicle is approaching you make way for it regardless of whether it is behind you, in front of you, or approaching from a side street.

On a divided highway, such as I-75, an oncoming emergency vehicle is not on the roadway with you, it is on a separate, parallel roadway. Nothing you do on your side of the divider can make any more room for the emergency vehicle in the other lanes.

On the Morse bridge, the lanes are not divided. If an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights on is traveling on the Morse bridge then all other traffic should be moving to their right to make room for the vehicle to pass. It doesn't matter which direction the emergency vehicle is traveling and it doesn't matter which direction you are traveling, move to the right to make room. It doesn't matter if you are the only other person on the bridge, you still move to the right to make room. It really is that simple.

To answer the OP's question, the right move would have been for traffic going north in the left lane to pull to the right lane and stop until the emergency vehicle had passed. Stopping in the left lane was absolutely the wrong move.

As a former paramedic, you win the gold star for giving the correct answer. Unless you are on a divided highway, when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights and siren approaches from EITHER direction, all traffic is to pull over to the right and STOP.