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Post by Warrenk on Jun 19, 2017 19:08:11 GMT 10
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Post by brenten on Jun 20, 2017 18:04:42 GMT 10
what a crazy idea... cresting a hill or a blind corner at 100 kph on the freeway towing a van behind a old car or a semi trailer and the traffic is doing 40 kph its going cause a big pile up ...brenten
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 20, 2017 19:22:25 GMT 10
G'day Brenten,
You're right, some of the potential additional hazards do spring to mind, but according to a Facebook post by our local CFA:
"From July 1, drivers must safely slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary or slow-moving emergency vehicle that is responding to an emergency with flashing lights or a siren sounding.
"After passing the vehicle, drivers should not increase speed again until reaching a safe distance from the scene, so that emergency workers can do their job without fear of being hit by passing traffic."
I've underlined the word 'safely', because I'm assuming that means that drivers can slow down in a safe manner, without just jamming on the anchors. (I assume the quote from the CFA came from somewhere official?)
The ABC report referred to by Warrenk in his post above also states:
"Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said police would have the discretion to warn or fine a driver, but he hoped the number of motorists caught speeding past accidents would be "minimal"...
"Sometimes it will be difficult to enforce but it's about getting the community to think about safety first."
So hopefully the police will be sensible in using their discretion.
Overall, though, I think it's a good rule. Some of the stories by emergency services personnel who have almost been cleaned up by vehicles traveling past them (let alone those who haven't lived to tell their stories) are hair raising to say the least.
I just wish they would enforce the other law requiring drivers to pull over to get out of the way of ambulances and firetrucks with their lights and sirens on. How often do you see an emergency vehicle held up by some person tootling along in front of them without making any effort to move out of the way? Too often unfortunately, at least on the narrow roads near us.
I'm off my soap box now...
Don Ricardo
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Post by Warrenk on Jun 21, 2017 11:25:01 GMT 10
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Post by kingswood308 on Jun 22, 2017 8:41:47 GMT 10
What a fantastic idea, lets get our emergency workers home safe.
Here in South Australia the speed limit past an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing is 25 KPH, it has been for around 2 years now, the same speed applies to going past a school bus picking kids up or dropping them off.
I have dropped my speed down to around 40 from 110 past a cop car with its lights flashing. I don't think that you must lock on your brakes as soon as you see the flashing lights.
Personally I see a positive out of this law. Its gets our emergency workers like police, ambulance, SES, RTA, Transport Dept, Fire brigade all home safe to their loved ones. If it gets all of the above people and all those permitted to have red and blues home safe, then I am all for it.
Dave
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foxy
Full Member
Talent is God given. Be thankful. Praise is Man given. Be humble. Conceit is Self given. Be Careful
Posts: 160
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Post by foxy on Jul 1, 2017 18:33:12 GMT 10
I agree this is a good rule when considering the complaints from the emergency people concerning motorist not slowing down.it's a sad indictment on the motoring community that such a rule should have to be implimented.
On a similar note here in ACT a new rule is being trialĺed whereby motorists are require when passing a cyclist that they must give a clearance of 1Metre on roads 60 klms or less and 1.5 metres on roads over 60 klms and its ok to cross over centre lines to acheive these clearances and if it's not safe to pass they must stay behind the cyclist until it is safe to pass. Qld is trialing this rule and c Tassie has a similar rule.
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