BILL NUMBER: S5661 Revised 12/4/2025
SPONSOR: OBERACKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to operation of
vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill relates to operation of vehicles on approach of
authorized emergency vehicles.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Section 1144 of the Vehicle and Traffic law, as amended by
Chapter 300 of the laws of 1960, subdivision (a) as amended by chapter
606 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehi-
cles. (a) upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle
equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible
under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet
to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or bicycle when
operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals
are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air-
horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall
yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position paral-
lel to, and as close as possible to  
THE RIGHT HAND either edge of curb
of the roadway to create a rescue lane in the center, or to  
EITHER EDGE
OF A ONE-WAY ROADWAY THREE OR MORE LANES IN WIDTH the right-hand edge
of a roadway one lane in width, clear of any intersection, and shall
stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle
has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(b) In instances when traffic is moving slowly, stopped, or in gridlock
drivers shall create a rescue lane to allow authorized emergency vehi-
cles to pass. On roadways with multiple lanes of traffic drivers in the
leftmost lane shall move to the left edge of the roadway, drivers in the
rightmost lane shall move to the right edge of the roadway, and drivers
in the center lanes shall move toward the left or right to create a
clear lane in the center of the roadway until the authorized emergency
vehicle has passed. On a one lane roadway drivers shall move as far to
the right as possible until the authorized emergency vehicle is passed.
(c) This shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emer-
gency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for all
persons using the highway.
 
EXISTING LAW:
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation known as "Albee's Law" seeks to address establishing a
rescue lane to make room for emergency vehicles when there is a pile-up
on the highway. Drivers split down the middle to both sides to create an
open lane in the middle of the road to let emergency vehicles through,
forming a lane anytime traffic comes to an absolute crawl.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.