New state traffic rules force new state drivers to slow down to 40 km / h when they pass a stopped emergency vehicle. The rule raised safety concerns, but the state`s highway director told drivers to use only "common sense".
The new law, which came into effect on September 1, requires motorists to slow down to 40 km / h as they pass a parked emergency ambulance vehicle, including police vehicles, fire engines and ambulances. And it was when they were turning on the blue and red flashing lights.
Similar rules have been put in place in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, but the introduction of the new state has met with strong opposition.
There are concerns that forcing drivers to slow down to 40 km / h without any warning is a major safety hazard, especially for high-speed vehicles.
The new state motor vehicle association says that while the traffic rules make emergency workers safer on the road, the rules may do more harm than good.
"We suddenly lowered the speed limit on the main lane to 40 km / h and we replaced the safety of emergency workers and ordinary drivers," the association said in a statement.
"anyone on the highway knows what the brakes will do when they drop from 110 km / h to 40 km / h."
"the resulting traffic jams create a series of rear-end collisions and are more likely to occur than usual."
The new rules are particularly problematic for large cars like trucks, which slow down much more slowly than cars and motorcycles.
In response to those concerns, New State Highway Director Melinda Pavey said it was up to drivers to assess whether they could safely slow down to 40 km / h.
"it`s dangerous to bring the speed down to 40 km / h," she told ABC Radio. "No one wants anyone else to drive in an unsafe way."
"We must realize that if a truck is to slow down, it will be much slower."
"We want common sense to be an important part of it, and we don`t want drivers or anyone in danger."
The Road Safety Center recommends that drivers slow down in a controlled manner the first time they see an emergency flash, taking into account current road conditions and surrounding vehicles.
Pavey agrees, saying drivers should "slow down to 40 km / h" when they see an emergency vehicle stopping.
However, people are still confused about what drivers should do because the law requires them to slow down to 40 km / h and not just to 40 km / h as far as possible.
Drivers who fail to comply with the rules will be fined $448 and three points deducted, and the Supreme Court will be fined $2200.
There are also questions about how the police will decide who will be fined because people are confused about whether drivers have to travel at 40 km / h.
"I think the police will monitor this and monitor it very wisely," Pavey said.
She said driving at 40 km / h was "a prerequisite of the law" when driving past emergency vehicles, but that drivers could "explain" to the police as long as they slowed down in a safe manner.
The change is designed to provide additional protection to emergency workers who stop on the road, as well as to the patients they are helping.
Traffic on the two-way lane of this road will be affected by this rule unless the road is separated by the middle zone. In this case, only drivers on the same side of the emergency vehicle must slow down.
Drivers must keep driving at 40 km / h until they are far enough away from the vehicle to avoid danger to people nearby.
The new rules will have a 12-month probation period, during which the new state`s government will work with police to monitor the impact of the new rules on traffic and road safety.
