First of September NEW Rules NSW

Yuglamron · Guru

First of September NEW Rules NSW

SouthernComfort · Guru

This has been in force in Vic for a couple of months now. It's a worthy idea, but it's also causing much confusion. Many motorists seem to be either unaware of the new rule or are ignoring it, especially when the emergency services vehicle is on the other side of the road. Needs a stronger publicity campaign to raise awareness and to clarify the parameters, it's been pretty low key. Hope you get a better deal in NSW.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hopefully the rules will be standard across the whole of Australia, then everyone should know.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Great info, thankyou.

I think I read or heard it is 25kmh in SA. Maybe someone can confirm. Or not.

All the more reason for National Rules and Licence. IMO.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Great news young Dougie .... Uncle Al wasn't a problem for ya today

http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/drive25

cheers - John

Mobi Condo · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Great info, thankyou.

I think I read or heard it is 25kmh in SA. Maybe someone can confirm. Or not.

All the more reason for National Rules and Licence. IMO.

25 it is in SA, as a past CFS Volunteer and working out of Woomera on the Stuart Highway come drag strip at times in the late 1990's, we certainly wanted something like that especially at night, even with CFS flood lights, blue and red flashing lights, ambulance similar and police units similar some still did not see the incident and roared on by.

EJP · Senior Member

It is 25 kph in SA. I am not a fan of this rule it in its present state. I got caught out 2 weeks ago when travelling to Adelaide towing the van. Doing approx 90 kph and as I rounded a corner I came across a police car which had pulled over a car, all lights flashing etc. Although I slowed down as quickly and as safely as possible there was no way I could slow down to 25 kph. Luckily there was no one behind me and no oncoming traffic which allowed me to cross to the other side of the road. I estimate that I was doing about 50 kph when I passed him. I did not get booked. I agree that vehicles should slow down when passing emergency vehicles on the side of the road, but to do so is fraught with danger in some circumstances. There definitely needs to be more education on this as vehicles are required to slow down on both sides of the road, but what happens on multi lane highways etc. I believe the police in Victoia have acknowleged that is unworkable in a lot of cases and common sense should apply.
Regards EJP

deverall11 · Guru

And all this time I thought this new rule was to give the rubber neckers a better chance to have a good look.
Larry

Mike Harding · Guru

I'm with EJP - not a good law.

Of course one should slow down when the emergency services are doing their thing with flashing lights and stay slow until you understand what's going on and can make an educated judgement regarding when it's safe to speed up.

However this (Vic) law is going to cause accidents. You're doing 100kph and notice a car safely parked in the emergency lane 150m ahead - suddenly! that car switches on his blue/red emergency lights, it's an unmarked police car! In zero time and with zero warning your speed limit has changed from 100kph to 40kph! Many people will simply slam on the brakes and either lose control or have a truck come into the back of them. I was listening to a Highway Patrol officer on the radio recently who said he is now afraid to turn on his emergency lights for exactly this reason.

As so often happens in Australia; knee-jerk and ill thought out legislation in a blundering attempt to fix something (usually a press beat-up) which public education would probably fix with far fewer unintended side effects.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Here is another example of a dangerous situation IMO. It happened to me today.

I was driving along a double lane freeway doing 100kmh in a 110kmh zone. I approached a truck parked on the side of the road. As a got just about to the back of the truck I noticed a police car with lights flashing parked IN FRONT of the truck. I had no way of slowing down to 40kmh in that short distance even with no other vehicle close behind me.

1. I wonder what whould have happen....would I get booked?

2. I usually see the police car behind the vehicle being spoken to and slightly on the road with lights flashing. At least that way you can see the lights in hopefully enough time
to slow down to 40kmh. Maybe the cop felt safer in front of a big truck.

Sarco Harris · Senior Member

I too have recently been in the same situation (on the Calder Freeway).

It occurred to me that technically you could be hit with the laws designed for the hoons, as you may be doing say 100Kph past the lit up police car and therefore are 60Kph over the speed limit. Therefore it would be impoundment of vehicle and immediate suspension of licence and a summons to court.

In Vic, I feel that many are unaware of the change to the road laws.

On several occasions other vehicles have made no attempt to slow down under similar circumstances, and on 2 occasions I have been abused for slowing on B roads when police vehicles are booking another motorist. In one case I was followed to the local Bunnings so that they could abuse me. I simply said check the road laws F..wit and ignored the turkey. He drove off still yelling foul abuse. The other was flashing headlights and shacking fist after passing said car (mind you he did nearly run into the back of me when I slowed fairly rapidly in a 90kph zone to the 40kph, though the police car was quite visible for perhaps 500 - 800M.

-- Edited by Sarco Harris on Thursday 30th of August 2018 09:26:56 PM

denmonkey · Senior Member

I don't have an issue with this one providing it is policed within reason.
I'd say the emergency vehicles will have their hands full enough with what ever it is that has them on the side of the road in the first place, rather than chasing down those who are going a 'little' quick.

I guess it's similar to going through road works where people are effectively having to work on the road side with a level of concern for their safety and the whomever else may be involved.
I usually swing into the middle lane away from them and slow down as much as reasonably possible anyway.
I understand the concerns about other traffic but I'm more than happy to add a few extra moments to my journey for the sake of someone else's safety. Especially considering those whose safety we're referring to, is often going to be those who are risking their lives for the benefit of others and maybe mine one day :)

-- Edited by denmonkey on Thursday 30th of August 2018 10:01:34 PM

Mousey · Senior Member

Should be a standard rule across Australia same speed 60 kph . Going to cause problems in states that dont have it when tourists used to it in there states slow down.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Yesterday I passed a motor bike cop who had a car pulled over on the side of the road with his lights flashing so I thought I would do the right thing and slow down to 40kph from the 60kph speed limit. He gave me the death stare as I went past as though I was doing something wrong like I was holding up the traffic or something. Admittedly the law hasn't come into effect yet here in NSW but I thought that by passing them at more than 40kph I would pose the same risk to their safety as I would if were to do it in a few days time....

When travelling interstate or in another country you as the guest are responsible for knowing and following their road rules, no way do I want a national set of road rules if we end up getting lumbered with ones like that SA example.

Cheers

BB