## How to React as a Driver When you hear sirens or see flashing lights rapidly approaching from behind or ahead, take immediate action: - **Check your mirrors** to assess which direction the pursuit is coming from. - **Pull over to the right** and stop. Do not try to outrun or keep pace with the chase. - **Stay off the median and left shoulder**, as pursuing vehicles may use those lanes to pass traffic. - **Do not make sudden U-turns** or attempt to cross the road. Erratic movements make you harder to predict. - **Keep your foot on the brake** so your brake lights signal to approaching vehicles that you are stationary. - **Wait until all emergency vehicles have passed** before pulling back onto the road. Multiple patrol cars, helicopters, and sometimes unmarked vehicles may be involved. If you are at an intersection when a chase approaches, do not proceed through the light—even if it is green. Stay put until the pursuit clears the area entirely.
## How to React as a Pedestrian Pedestrians are especially vulnerable during high speed chases. If you are walking, jogging, or cycling and notice a pursuit nearby, move away from the roadway immediately. Get behind a solid structure such as a building, concrete wall, or large pillar. Avoid standing near parked cars along the street, as fleeing vehicles frequently jump curbs and collide with parked vehicles. ## What to Do If a Chase Enters Your Neighborhood High speed chases in Oklahoma City sometimes move from highways into residential areas. If a pursuit enters your neighborhood:
- **Go inside immediately** and stay away from windows facing the street. - **Bring children and pets indoors** without delay. - **Do not stand in your yard or driveway** to watch. Debris, gunfire, and out-of-control vehicles can cause serious harm from a surprising distance. - **Call 911 only if you witness a crash or someone is injured.** Avoid tying up emergency lines with non-essential calls. ## Avoid the Temptation to Record or Follow It can be tempting to pull out your phone and record a chase or even follow it to see what happens. Both actions put you in serious danger. Drivers who follow pursuits risk rear-ending stopped vehicles, getting caught in a crash, or being mistaken for an accomplice by law enforcement. Recording while driving is a dangerous distraction at any speed, and it becomes far more hazardous near an active pursuit. If you want to follow the situation, tune into local news radio or television once you are safely stopped or at home. Oklahoma City news stations frequently provide live helicopter coverage of pursuits.
## Know Oklahoma's Move Over Law Oklahoma law requires drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. This applies directly to police pursuits. Failing to yield to emergency vehicles can result in a traffic citation, but more importantly, it can lead to a deadly collision. Make yielding to emergency vehicles a consistent habit, not just something you do during a chase. ## After the Chase Has Passed Once the pursuit has moved through your area, proceed with caution. There may be debris on the road, damaged vehicles, or emergency personnel still arriving at the scene. Drive slowly, watch for officers directing traffic, and follow any detour instructions. If you witnessed the chase or a resulting crash, you may be asked to provide a statement to law enforcement.
## Staying Prepared High speed chases can happen without warning on any road in Oklahoma City. The best preparation is mental readiness. Know that your instinct should always be to move right, stop, and stay still. Keep your vehicle's mirrors properly adjusted so you can quickly identify approaching emergency vehicles. Talk to new drivers in your household about what to do during a pursuit so they are not caught off guard. Your safety during a high speed chase depends entirely on staying calm, getting out of the path of the pursuit, and resisting curiosity. Let law enforcement handle the situation while you protect yourself and your passengers.
