Which statement best distinguishes Code 3 from Code 2?

• A. Code 3 is non-emergency; Code 2 is emergency.
• B. Code 3 is for medical calls; Code 2 is for fire calls.
• C. Code 3 is canceled; Code 2 is active.
• D. Code 3 uses lights and sirens; Code 2 does not.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how a unit moves to the scene, i.e., whether it uses warning signals during travel. In many dispatch systems, the difference between higher-priority responses and non-emergency moves is signaled by lights and sirens. Code 3 is an emergency response that requires priority travel, so crews use lights and sirens to alert other drivers and clear a faster path. Code 2 is a non-emergency movement that doesn’t require those signals, so the vehicle travels without lights and sirens and without the added urgency.

That’s why the statement that distinguishes them best is: Code 3 uses lights and sirens; Code 2 does not. The other options mix in aspects like call type, status, or whether the call is active versus canceled, which are not what these codes primarily indicate—those aspects describe different facets of a response, not the mode of travel and urgency that defines Code 3 versus Code 2.