Well it's not the mail truck even though that urban legend has been around for some time. Along with the "test".

Truly it would depend on the circumstances. Fire trucks are heavier and take time to get up to speed from a standstill so I would think they would have priority. The ambulance has someone already treating the heart attack victim but how would the others know what type of patient is in there? If the lights are on there is someone alive. Cops are not supposed to endanger others when giving chase to crooks but too frequently they do so anyway.

But really how likely is the scenario to happen?

It's a good question to tickle one's moral compass and exercise the brain though.

I believe the correct answer would be...the vehicle that stopped/yielded first. It sounds like all 4 arrived at the very same time however.
Something tells me the true answer would be the mail truck, no reason I guess this as the answer other than it being a drivers test question...I find them sneaky questions LOL

The vehicle to your right at a stop sign has the right of way.

The question is on a federal test that is given to commercial truck drivers by their employer at the time of hiring. There is no actual pass or fail, but rather it exists more as a survey to supply feedback to the FED DOT.

This question is the single most often missed question on the test, with an average of 99% missing the question although in many cases the ppl taking the test have taken it in the past and forgotten the answer.....LOL

The correct answer is the "Mail Truck".. and the answer is based upon a Federal Law..

Per Federal law, "neither the congress nor any Federal, State or local agency may impose any law, ordinance or statute that impedes the free progress of the mails"

Sorry Lazypup. I do enjoy your posts and stories but this one is simply not true.

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes

I like the title of the "Snopes" article - "Four Play" ...

... as being somewhat playful, as a number have considered the theoretical situation to be.

I enjoy it in another dimension when I duly consider the sound of it!

o j

i am the logistics dept for the 3rd largest grower of plant material in the state of FL, i do everything but load the trucks. we ship from VA (soon MA) to TX. i have never ever in 10+ yrs ever given a test to a driver, we only hire Class A's w perfect records. they get a driving test w our mechanics and 1 owner that's it...

"The ambulance has someone already treating the heart attack victim but how would the others know what type of patient is in there? If the lights are on there is someone alive."

Hmmm... when I worked in a hospital and the Emergency Room was part of "my territory" (I was a phlebotomist), it was different. If the siren was on it meant the patient was alive; if it was off, it meant the patient was coming in DOA. The lights are always on when an ambulance is transporting a patient, dead or alive, because often other drivers will not hear the siren because of the sound level of music playing in their vehicles, and they are more apt to notice flashing lights.

A school bus with the flashing stop sign out will make each one of these vehicles stop!

littlebit...you are right about that.
If a building is on fire it is not taken care of until the trucks get there. Thus there is potential for more casualties. If I were a mail truck I would use common sense and get out of the way.

Speaking of such...have you noticed a lot of folks on the roads these day don't even think about pulling over for an ambulance , police or fire..I have seen it so many times..Don't get it.

All I know is, if I were at or near that intersection, I would go last. My husband (who no longer drives but loves to get my goat) will scream "Go,go,go!" at me whenever I hesitate or let other vehicles go ahead at intersections. And I avoid left turns in traffic at all costs!

It's a moot point. The mail truck will likely be in the nearest cafe waiting for overtime to kick in. If the cop is out of the donut shop they'll likely not stop at a sign if in pursuit, they'll slow-n-go as will an ambulance and fire truck and they'll time it as at an uncontrolled intersection.