HB241 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Joe LovvornRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Motor vehicles and traffic; first responders operating upon roadways, distinguished from pedestrians
Summary: HB241 requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid first responders and to yield to them on sidewalks, and it clarifies that first responders performing official duties are not pedestrians for these rules.
What This Bill Does
It expands driver duties to include avoiding first responders and giving them the right-of-way on sidewalks. It defines who qualifies as a first responder (police, fire, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians) and states that when they are performing official duties, they are not pedestrians for the purposes of these rules. The changes amend key traffic sections to reflect these duties and protections, and the act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects
Drivers of motor vehicles in Alabama—must exercise due care to avoid colliding with first responders and must yield the right-of-way to first responders on sidewalks.
First responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians)—their status is defined and protected; when performing official duties, they are not considered pedestrians under these rules.

Key Provisions
Adds Section 32-5A-2.1 to define 'pedestrian' and to specify that a first responder performing public safety functions is not a pedestrian, listing examples of such duties.
Amends §32-5A-213 to require drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or first responder and to sound the horn when necessary.
Amends §32-5A-218 to require drivers to yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or first responder on a sidewalk.
Amends §32-1-1.1 to include definitions related to first responders and traffic terms, clarifying status and scope; effective date is October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles & Traffic