NEW legislation relating to motorists and emergency service vehicles came into effect at the beginning of the month – but Horsham Highway Patrol Sergeant Leigh Creasey said many drivers remained blissfully unaware.
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As of July 1, motorists are now required to slow down to no more than 40km/h when approaching and passing enforcement, emergency or escort vehicles which are stationary or moving slowly.
According to VicRoads, these vehicles are likely to have either red and blue flashing lights, purple flashing lights, or an alarm sounding.
Motorists should not increase speed until they are a safe distance from the scene.
The new road rule does not apply to vehicles on the opposite side of a median strip to an emergency or enforcement vehicle scene.
Sgt Creasey said since the legislation was enacted, Horsham police had issued warnings to motorists as a way of raising awareness of the new legislation.
But as time went on, anyone failing to obey the legislation would be fined.
“We’ve spoken to a number of people in the past two weeks and given warnings, but we haven’t booked anyone – yet,” he said.
“At this stage we’re wanting to educate people.”
Sgt Creasey said passing emergency service crews at 100km/h on the open road was particularly dangerous.
He said before the new road rule was introduced, the motorists most likely to slow down when passing emergency service crews on highways were South Australian.
The 40km/h legislation relating to passing emergency services has been in place in South Australia for many years, and was lowered to a speed limit of 25km/h in September 2014.
“I often wondered why they were slowing down,” Sgt Creasey said.
Under the new VicRoads legislation, the penalty for failing to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency service vehicles is $272.05, with a maximum court penalty of $777.30.
A loss of demerit points will not apply.
Sgt Creasey reminded drivers to be sensible, and always check rearview mirrors when applying the brakes, to ensure a truck or other vehicle was within a reasonable braking distance.
Horsham Country Fire Authority (CFA) District 17 operations manager Dale Russell said obeying the new Victorian legislation was paramount.
“It’s all about safety, from my point of view,” Mr Russell said.
“Slowing down when CFA are responding to a motor vehicle incident on the side of the road, or a fire, makes life easier for everyone.
Mr Russell said Horsham CFA welcomed the change to the legislation.
“CFA has a safety first ethos and we always try to look out for our people,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria acting Wimmera group manager Tim Maywald said providing the best care for patients and the safest possible workplace for staff were top priorities for the organisation.
‘We are committed to putting paramedic and patient safety front and centre to all that we do,” Mr Maywald said.
‘Our paramedics are faced with a number of challenges in their work, including a dynamic work environment.
‘We are doing a lot of work within our organisation, such as a variety of safety training, to reduce harm to our paramedics.”
He said Ambulance Victoria had joined with other agencies as part of a stakeholder reference group to consider the new speed limit.
Mr Maywald said the new law would improve the safety of all emergency/enforcement service personnel working on roadsides.
“We welcome this initiative as a further way to help keep our paramedics and patients safe,” he said.
