Speed limit when passing Emergency Vehicles

Cupie · Guru

Speed limit when passing Emergency Vehicles

Ole Grizzly · Senior Member

Wouldn't it be too easy for the departments that swallow our registration funds to at-least advise us when renewing registration of the updated Road Rules of Australian Sates.

Guess is too simple.

dogbox · Guru

more than 3 times the speed limit automatic loss of licence an vehicle can be impounded

Cupie · Guru

dogbox wrote:
more than 3 times the speed limit automatic loss of licence an vehicle can be impounded

That seems a bit rich. I prefer the ACT 40km/hr limit. More reasonable.

vince56 · Senior Member

40kph past emergency vehicles with lights flashing has been the rule in Victoria for some time now. I think it is an ill conceived and very dangerous law. I was on the Mornington Freeway a few weeks back and did the right thing when passing a highway patrol car booking a motorist on the verge. A large truck following me close behind did not intend to slow down, he ended up about two metres behind my car and weaving trying to slow down before he clobbered me. In another incident a (very impatient) woman roared past me whilst I slowed for a police car in similar circumstances, she then proceeded to swear at me and toot her horn, obviously oblivious to the 40kph law. My point is that many people are complaining of nearly being taken out by unaware drivers panic stopping behind them, it happens every day, this law is going to kill someone. Why not have passing vehicles giving space, ie changing lanes on a highway or moving as far as practical to give better clearance? BTW I am ex-Highway Patrol.

Santa · Guru

25 KPH in SA.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-10/new-emergency-services-speed-limit/5660924

Yaketty · Veteran Member

I can confirm that 40 kph in emergency situations for passing vehicles is official in WA since 2 March 2018 as per this link:
www.rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Penalties/Browse/Emergency-Vehicles

iana · Guru

It was is 25kph in SA, but not only that, its 25kpa when near schools when children are present, meaning walking on the foot path, in the park next door or anywhere near where the signs are. Crazy I know, maybe they have amended the rule, but it was 25kpa when children are present.

dogbox · Guru

iana wrote:

It was is 25kph in SA, but not only that, its 25kpa when near schools when children are present, meaning walking on the foot path, in the park next door or anywhere near where the signs are. Crazy I know, maybe they have amended the rule, but it was 25kpa when children are present.

it was 40 klm in SA and people were not slowing down so they lowered it to 25 kph I think only QLD an NT are the only ones that have not introduced similar laws
nsw will implement the 40 kph speed limit on 1/09/2018 for a trial period of 12 months

Long Weekend · Guru

I had a similar experience to Vince56, only in Queensland. I was following a school bus that was clearly signed "Slow to 40km/h when lights flashing." Well, the bus pulled over with the lights flashing so I slowed down but a truck behind showed no sign of doing the same. I had to keep going or else I would have been rear ended.

I wonder who the police would have booked - me or the truckie, or both? Methinks it would have been me. Luckily, there was no police around to put it to the test.

Regarding schools in Adelaide a friend of mine was once booked during school holidays! The cop said it didn't matter, there could have been children playing around the school.

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Thursday 12th of April 2018 03:59:41 PM

Bryan · Guru

Looks as though some cops should be wearing brown shirts.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Cupie, if she had a NSW driving licence I believe that the disqualification should only apply in SA. I was also under the belief that if you commit a driving offence in another state when it is communicated back to the relevent authorities in your own state you are penalised in terms of demerits at the same rate that you would have been if you had committed that offence at home. In this case if NSW has not yet passed a law on speed when passing stationary emergency vehicles then she should be free to drive here without any further penalty just as long as she can get someone to drive her vehicle back across the SA border for her.

I may be completely wrong on this as its only what I have read on google but if it happened to me I would definately be seeking proper legal advice on my options. I had no idea that this law even existed so thanks for highlighting it I thought it was just common sense to slow down when you approached emergency vehicles with their lights flashing.

BB

Blues Man · Guru

I think it would be a good idea to have uniform road rules through out Australia.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Blues Man wrote:
I think it would be a good idea to have uniform road rules through out Australia.

Absolutely logical, therefore never likely to happen!

Leo · Senior Member

In the situation related by Cupie in the opening post and accepting the details were largely correct, it was irresponsible of police to have their flashing lights on signifying an emergency where they were talking with a driver and well off the 110kph limit freeway.

Vehicles being caused to suddenly brake and travel at 25kph in that situation creates a high risk of rear end collisions and high speed pile-ups. Then there is the needless distraction of the police emergency lights. It was not as though an accident blocked a lane or other emergency and tow vehicles were involved. Or spaced triangles and traffic control were in use to warn approaching drivers of a hazard.

Brickbats to those police if the account is majorly true.

dogbox · Guru

Leo wrote:

In the situation related by Cupie in the opening post and accepting the details were largely correct, it was irresponsible of police to have their flashing lights on signifying an emergency where they were talking with a driver and well off the 110kph limit freeway.

Vehicles being caused to suddenly brake and travel at 25kph in that situation creates a high risk of rear end collisions and high speed pile-ups. Then there is the needless distraction of the police emergency lights. It was not as though an accident blocked a lane or other emergency and tow vehicles were involved. Or spaced triangles and traffic control were in use to warn approaching drivers of a hazard.

Brickbats to those police if the account is majorly true.

that is how it is done police pull driver over leave lights operational it automatically becomes 25 or 40 kph speed limit depending on which state you are in don't slow down at your peril.
just think you know about it but how many out there don't?

on the last long weekend I seen a few hway patrol cars just parked on the side of the road with lights on for no other reason than as a warning to motorists that they where out and about

Cupie · Guru

Seems like this story is a top news item now .. So now we all know ... Perhaps time to start up a petition to get it changed or standardised.

This is a link to a News Ltd story & the local Courier Mail has the same story.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/is-this-australias-most-obscure-road-rule/news-story/a3db560a324e1cb737b3ba6dd3df8136

landy · Guru

It would appear that at least one of thees officers was not involved in any sort of emergency but was operating a radar gun, is this the new grab for cash? turn lights on when they are not required and generate some revenue. Oh I am a cynic aren't I.

-- Edited by landy on Friday 13th of April 2018 04:50:04 PM