NC · jury_instructions
N.C.P.I.—Motor Vehicle 210.10
RIGHT-OF-WAY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES-DUTY OF DRIVER OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE.
The motor vehicle law provides that the operator of an emergency
vehicle such as (name emergency vehicle)2 has the right-of-way when the
operator of such a vehicle has given the warning signals required by law.
These required warning signals are, first, an appropriate light and,
second, a [siren] [bell] [exhaust whistle] which can be heard under
normal conditions for a distance of at least 1,000 feet.3 The operator of
an emergency vehicle is required to exercise that degree of care which a
reasonably careful and prudent operator of an emergency vehicle would
exercise under all the circumstances then existing.4 This means that the
operator of an emergency vehicle must operate such vehicle with due
regard, under the circumstances, for the safety of others on the highway,5
and is not protected from the consequences of the arbitrary exercise of
this right-of-way.6
A violation of this duty is negligence within itself.
History
N.C.P.I.—Motor Vehicle 210.10 (April 1989). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-156(b). Prepared by the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges' Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, assisted by the UNC School of Government; published by the School of Government.
Provenance
- Source
- sog.unc.edu
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-25
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
6d06154ac3ea2125df714ae4e796f20fd23800038bcfabf0c9230f53618d0601
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