It seems SA Police have been reluctant to publicise the new law relating to speeds limit in the vicinity of emergency vehicles.
When travelling in South Australia you need to be aware to reduce the speed to 25 kph in the vicinity of a stationary emergency service vehicle flashing red and blue lights. It used to be 40 kph.
This applies to Police, Ambulance and fire vehicles. It also applies to a Police vehicle when an officer is issuing a ticket. While you might argue that this is not an emergency, it is considered to be a stationary emergency vehicle, and therefore the motorists must slow down to 25kph.
You could be travelling at 90-100 kph or more, and then you are expected to back off to 25kph.
We have discussed the possible scenarios when this could cause a major motor vehicle crash, it has been pointed out to the Police, but that's now the law.
There hasn't been any publicity interstate. There are no signs at the borders when you enter the state. I doubt the interstate media news services would have covered it.
So here I am playing journalist again. Please be aware of this law change and pass the word around to fellow travellers.
Keep it safe.
rockylizard said
04:17 PM Dec 26, 2014
Gday...
Thanks for the reminder CG ... this aired a while back on the GN forum ... but certainly good to revisit and jog memories.
Can someone tell me what I should be doing when on a six lane highway and the flashing lights are five lanes away please?
Ralph
chicken strangler.
jbrinks said
09:13 PM Dec 26, 2014
You won't need to worry about that in SA we don't know what six lane highways are here!
Tim thetruckie said
09:27 PM Dec 26, 2014
Chicken strangler wrote:
Can someone tell me what I should be doing when on a six lane highway and the flashing lights are five lanes away please?
Ralph
chicken strangler.
If the lights are seperated by a median strip the traffic on the side away from the lights do not need to reduce speed .
Glenelg said
09:28 PM Dec 26, 2014
I am South Australian , it is a good move all aus should be like it. We talked about this at greens over Christmas . I know we are mad basterds over there , but a good move.
D and D said
09:31 PM Dec 26, 2014
If there weren't idiots who don't slow down around areas were emergency workers are working, this type of legislation wouldn't be necessary. One of the negatives are some of the unexpected consequences that people raise that will ultimately end up producing more legislation and regulations to explain the original and codify any exemption needed. And this is how the legislative burden continues to grow.
Dave
Cruising Granny said
09:49 PM Dec 26, 2014
It's an absolutely foolish, dangerous legislation!
Traffic flowing at 100 kph, dual carriageway, following a B-double, so your vision is restricted.
Around the bend, obscured by trees, the truck drops to 25 kph and you have no idea, so you and your caravan could end up in a lot of trouble.
If the road is divided by a median strip you don't have to slow for vehicles in the opposite direction lanes.
I was travelling north, off duty, heading to Pt. Augusta. I was following a rigid truck (Beer on board) on the left lane on the overtaking 3 laner. Police stopped on shoulder of opposite side of road, facing south to chat a truckie (who else).
The Police officer called us on the radio to remind us we should be doing 25 kph, "Not 100!"
So there you have it.
Cruising Granny said
10:01 PM Dec 26, 2014
A policeman chatting a motorist is not an emergency.
I was pulled up for RBT 2 weeks ago at night. I was north-bound on Pt. Wakefield Road, just north of the railway bridge. I pulled over into the slip lane exit from BP. The Police car pulled up with half the vehicle to the right into the next lane.
Most of the motorists did drop their speed, I passed the test and was allowed to proceed home.
I understand the frustration of the emergency service personnel in an emergency such as a crash, a fire or car chase etc. But a ticket? It's really not an emergency, and I think it's using the law to the motorists disadvantage.
Keep it safe.
Bruce and Bev said
10:50 AM Dec 27, 2014
I assume that the police will travel now with 2 vehicles nose to tail so that when one stops you for whatever reason, the other operates a speed camera and likewise at real emergency situations........guess in SA we can sleep better knowing that they will now have almost twice as many cops on the road as they used to.
I was a cop for 16 years and getting people to slow down at an emergency situation was never a problem as they all wanted to rubber neck - the biggest issue was the driver wasn't looking where he/she was driving when passing me and others with our red and blues going!!!
dorian said
12:51 PM Dec 27, 2014
Let me see if I understand this new legislation.
We can travel at 40kph in a school zone but we need to reduce our speed to 25kph around a stationary police car. Yep, that sounds about right for this country.
D and D said
01:01 PM Dec 27, 2014
Dorian, its 25 kph at schools and kindies in SA - obviously different from other states.
Dave
Delta18 said
01:04 PM Dec 27, 2014
Any copper in SA with half a brain if doing a traffic stop should get his car and the POI's car off the roadway then turn his flashers off. No need then to slow down.
If both cars are out of the traffic lane then there is no need for flashers.
In the event of a crash where vehicles are on the roadway then by all means slow the traffic down "in the immediate vicinity". Too many emergency personell get maimed or worse doing their job at a crash scene.
It seems SA Police have been reluctant to publicise the new law relating to speeds limit in the vicinity of emergency vehicles.
When travelling in South Australia you need to be aware to reduce the speed to 25 kph in the vicinity of a stationary emergency service vehicle flashing red and blue lights. It used to be 40 kph.
This applies to Police, Ambulance and fire vehicles. It also applies to a Police vehicle when an officer is issuing a ticket. While you might argue that this is not an emergency, it is considered to be a stationary emergency vehicle, and therefore the motorists must slow down to 25kph.
You could be travelling at 90-100 kph or more, and then you are expected to back off to 25kph.
We have discussed the possible scenarios when this could cause a major motor vehicle crash, it has been pointed out to the Police, but that's now the law.
There hasn't been any publicity interstate. There are no signs at the borders when you enter the state. I doubt the interstate media news services would have covered it.
So here I am playing journalist again. Please be aware of this law change and pass the word around to fellow travellers.
Keep it safe.
Gday...
Thanks for the reminder CG
... this aired a while back on the GN forum ... but certainly good to revisit and jog memories.
http://www.thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58376010/new-sa-road-law/
Cheers - John
Can someone tell me what I should be doing when on a six lane highway and the flashing lights are five lanes away please?
Ralph
chicken strangler.
If the lights are seperated by a median strip the traffic on the side away from the lights do not need to reduce speed .
Dave
Traffic flowing at 100 kph, dual carriageway, following a B-double, so your vision is restricted.
Around the bend, obscured by trees, the truck drops to 25 kph and you have no idea, so you and your caravan could end up in a lot of trouble.
If the road is divided by a median strip you don't have to slow for vehicles in the opposite direction lanes.
I was travelling north, off duty, heading to Pt. Augusta. I was following a rigid truck (Beer on board) on the left lane on the overtaking 3 laner. Police stopped on shoulder of opposite side of road, facing south to chat a truckie (who else).
The Police officer called us on the radio to remind us we should be doing 25 kph, "Not 100!"
So there you have it.
I was pulled up for RBT 2 weeks ago at night. I was north-bound on Pt. Wakefield Road, just north of the railway bridge. I pulled over into the slip lane exit from BP. The Police car pulled up with half the vehicle to the right into the next lane.
Most of the motorists did drop their speed, I passed the test and was allowed to proceed home.
I understand the frustration of the emergency service personnel in an emergency such as a crash, a fire or car chase etc. But a ticket? It's really not an emergency, and I think it's using the law to the motorists disadvantage.
Keep it safe.
I was a cop for 16 years and getting people to slow down at an emergency situation was never a problem as they all wanted to rubber neck - the biggest issue was the driver wasn't looking where he/she was driving when passing me and others with our red and blues going!!!
We can travel at 40kph in a school zone but we need to reduce our speed to 25kph around a stationary police car. Yep, that sounds about right for this country.
Dave
Any copper in SA with half a brain if doing a traffic stop should get his car and the POI's car off the roadway then turn his flashers off. No need then to slow down.
If both cars are out of the traffic lane then there is no need for flashers.
In the event of a crash where vehicles are on the roadway then by all means slow the traffic down "in the immediate vicinity". Too many emergency personell get maimed or worse doing their job at a crash scene.