New road rule (Vic)

[joolz]

So there is another new road rule coming in effect as of July 1 this year and will come with a fine of $277 and no demerit points.

"Motorists passing emergency vehicles with flashing lights must slow to 40km/h or face fines under a new law being introduced in Victoria.From July 1, drivers face a fine of $277 if they fail to slow to the new speed limit while passing a stationary or slow-moving emergency vehicle with lights flashing or a siren sounding, the state government said on Monday"

Lets see how this pans out on say the Western highway (110 zone) with a police officer pulling up a driver for a licence check. Could be some nose to tails involving trucks when captain careful slams the brakes on 200 meters away from the flashing red and blues. No demerit points but a fine, smells like revenue raising to me...

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/natio...-vehicles.html

[barnz_xr8]

what? the coppers hate people that drive past and sticky beak, so the government makes it law! lol

[Gee-dog]

It's bloody 25kph in SA. Get booked for going through at 60kph (so 35kph over the limit) & the fine is $880 plus $60 victim of crime levy, and 7 points.

[joolz]

Originally Posted by Gee-dog

It's bloody 25kph in SA. Get booked for going through at 60kph (so 35kph over the limit) & the fine is $880 plus $60 victim of crime levy, and 7 points.

I had no idea about the rule in S.A. Good to know when I go there in August.

[Gothefalcon]

Originally Posted by Gee-dog

It's bloody 25kph in SA. Get booked for going through at 60kph (so 35kph over the limit) & the fine is $880 plus $60 victim of crime levy, and 7 points.

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

It's a mixed bag in SA with traffic stops....some officers turn the lights off to not disrupt traffic, some do not. I applaud those that exercise discretion as it's traffic hell when they don't. You always end up wondering what the hold up was as they're often clear by the time you get there.

Originally Posted by joolz

I had no idea about the rule in S.A. Good to know when I go there in August.

The S.A. rule applies to both sides of the road as well.... unless the road is divided (ie: has a median strip or larger, like on a freeway)

D

[mr smith]

Originally Posted by Gee-dog

It's bloody 25kph in SA. Get booked for going through at 60kph (so 35kph over the limit) & the fine is $880 plus $60 victim of crime levy, and 7 points.

Yea, we had the cops going bonkers at us not slowing down, we didnt know the rule.

[Wretched]

Hmmm so effectively legislating rubber neckers.

[Dalonian]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Hmmm so effectively legislating rubber neckers.

Basically, what I thought. Nothing will really change.

The only thing I can think of as an ambo is that the cars going past a crash scene will be safer, but in my experience everyone slows down and gawks at you anyway.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by Dalonian

Basically, what I thought. Nothing will really change.

The only thing I can think of as an ambo is that the cars going past a crash scene will be safer, but in my experience everyone slows down and gawks at you anyway.

That's been my experience also. I suppose rubber necking at 40k is safer than at 60 +>

[Vesper Martini]

Are police vehicles classed as emergency vehicles?
suppose so.
I can see the point of slowing past an accident scene, but it would be a PITA to slow for coppers puling people over for speeding etc

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Are police vehicles classed as emergency vehicles?
suppose so.
I can see the point of slowing past an accident scene, but it would be a PITA to slow for coppers puling people over for speeding etc

It's a mixed bag in SA with traffic stops....some officers turn the lights off to not disrupt traffic, some do not. I applaud those that exercise discretion as it's traffic hell when they don't. You always end up wondering what the hold up was as they're often clear by the time you get there.

[JAJH]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Are police vehicles classed as emergency vehicles?
suppose so.
I can see the point of slowing past an accident scene, but it would be a PITA to slow for coppers puling people over for speeding etc

Police, ambos and fire services are Emergency Vehicles, but only when they are sounding a siren or showing flashing lights. So, in other words, the coppers who pull you over for a licence check and sound their siren or flash their blue lights to get your attention are NOT invoking the provisions of the Emergency Vehicles Act and therefore not deemed to be an Emergency Vehicle.

The whole point of this new law will be what the emergency vehicles are responding to. If the situation is not an emergency, there might be a good argument to be had.

[cheap]

Is there a prescribed slow down distance before and after the seeing the emergency vehicles lights, people could be on a straight proad and the emergency vehicle is 2km away, are we supposed to slow down for the next 2km and presumably a distance after passing the vehicle.

[joolz]

Originally Posted by JAJH

So, in other words, the coppers who pull you over for a licence check and sound their siren or flash their blue lights to get your attention are NOT invoking the provisions of the Emergency Vehicles Act and therefore not deemed to be an Emergency Vehicle.

The whole point of this new law will be what the emergency vehicles are responding to. If the situation is not an emergency, there might be a good argument to be had.

As far as I know this rule also applies to police and Vicroads vehicles with red and blues on. So in any instance such as pulling over a driver on a dual lane Highway for a licence check with red and blues on this rule would apply even though its NOT and emergency. This rule is open to so much confusion be it a tow truck even....

[Vesper Martini]

Flashing lights? we get them slowing down to 40 passing unmanned camera cars in an 80 zone

[GASWAGON]

Bloody hell its getting worse.

After losing my license for nine months a couple of years ago i now have a full 12 points again and its going to stay that way......I use my cruise control EVERYWHERE now.

Its just not worth it.......And the amount of cars i've seen lately with either 1 headlight globe or 1 brakelight not working is rediculous.

Fricken glad i don't live in S.A!

[simon varley]

no different to slowing down for any other roadside worker really though, is it?

[joolz]

Originally Posted by simon varley

no different to slowing down for any other roadside worker really though, is it?

Or any parked car on the side of the road or highway...You can't protect everyone so where does it end....

[zipping]

Roads Minister Luke Donellan said emergency workers have told the government they 'feel in danger while they're doing their job'.

How about some road rules as a result of some unbiased research. "Feel in danger" is not good policy. there at a minimum should be some research provided on the extent of the problem and how this actually addresses said problem and not what is intended.

So lets add confusion to the roads that will fix it.

How often do cars drive into slow moving or stationary emergency vehicles? Statistically, they would have to be the least likely to be hit surely, because people naturally slow and its not very bright to hit a large Fire truck or Ambulance.

A non-problem.

[pottery beige]

no big deal

we've had it for years

* see above post *

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by simon varley

no different to slowing down for any other roadside worker really though, is it?

Except for roadworks, the zone starts with plenty of warning well out..."roadworks ahead"..."80k roadworks ahead"..."60k roadworks ahead"...etc. You have plenty of notice.
It;s not cresting a rise at 110 and seeing flashing lights and being expected to suddenly slow to 40 (or 25 for the poor sods in SA)...

[danzvtil]

It's a non issue here in SA, firstly if the coppers have pulled someone over randomly, they aren't gonna stand there with the laser gun to "get" you, they're busy. Secondly even if you haven't slowed down to the 25k speed but have slowed considerably, the traffic around you will do the same creating a safer work space for both the officer and the citizen being interacted with.
Not everything you hear is a conspiracy to defraud the public.

[Trump]

This will do nothing to allay the concerns of the emergency workers. If anything, it will cause a road hazard as people will jump on the anchors whenever they see the disco lights, regardless of the speed of the traffic flow or the prevailing traffic conditions. In the event of an actual emergency situation that requires the attendance of the ambos or firies, the road is blocked off sufficiently to enable any accident victims to be removed and taken to hospital and to expedite the removal of the wreckage.

It is a pure revenue raising exercise.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Trump

This will do nothing to allay the concerns of the emergency workers. If anything, it will cause a road hazard as people will jump on the anchors whenever they see the disco lights, regardless of the speed of the traffic flow or the prevailing traffic conditions. In the event of an actual emergency situation that requires the attendance of the ambos or firies, the road is blocked off sufficiently to enable any accident victims to be removed and taken to hospital and to expedite the removal of the wreckage.

It is a pure revenue raising exercise.

provision of a safer workplace is a revenue raising exercise??

[Trump]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

provision of a safer workplace is a revenue raising exercise??

There are some workplaces where it isn't possible to legislate safer conditions, that's a fact of life.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Trump

There are some workplaces where it isn't possible to legislate safer conditions, that's a fact of life.

see above

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Trump

There are some workplaces where it isn't possible to legislate safer conditions, that's a fact of life.

The Australian way.. Overlegislate everything in the name of safety, so many occupations or industries become extremely challenged, unprofitable, hindered and can no longer function, and get replaced by offshore third world nations where safety, OH&S are non-issues. If our caring government had their way, they'd start legislating 8 hours sleep per night , outlaw junk food, and make us stay home to reduce the road toll.

[elizabeth.d]

A few years ago I was travelling out bound on the Monash just past the old Waverley Park ground. The freeway rises there and I found myself stuck amongst half a dozen semi trailers all jostling amongst the slower moving ones. I get a bit nervous when I have a truck either side of me so I made my way to the inside lane and accelerated past them. Only problem was I got pinged by an unmarked that was travelling in front of the group. 115 was my speed completing that manoeuvre. Here's where it gets interesting. I drove another 2km before pulling over at the first available off ramp which was Stud Rd. It ****ed the copper off no end resulting in another fine for failing to obey a police instruction $300 3 points. My argument was that the police failed to adequately identify themselves by being in an unmarked car, the signage on the freeway clearly stated no stopping on freeway, emergency stopping lane only and I considered the section of freeway to dangerous to stop on being adjacent to the on ramp taking cars from Eastlink. Drivers would be looking over their right shoulder merging onto the Monash not seeing me stopped in the emergency lane on the left.
The magistrate agreed also and threw the case out saving me $600 in fines, but I still wore 6 demerit points and cost me my RDO in attending court. Would I do it again you betcha. Take the exit ramp and keep our freeways safer.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The Australian way.. Overlegislate everything in the name of safety, so many occupations or industries become extremely challenged, unprofitable, hindered and can no longer function, and get replaced by offshore third world nations where safety, OH&S are non-issues. If our caring government had their way, they'd start legislating 8 hours sleep per night , outlaw junk food, and make us stay home to reduce the road toll.

As a OHS professional, in response to you comment I will say that businesses bring this on themselves, the OHS Law is very simple, it basically says that the boss has to provide a safe workplace. How the business does that is entirely up to them.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Trump

This will do nothing to allay the concerns of the emergency workers. If anything, it will cause a road hazard as people will jump on the anchors whenever they see the disco lights, regardless of the speed of the traffic flow or the prevailing traffic conditions. In the event of an actual emergency situation that requires the attendance of the ambos or firies, the road is blocked off sufficiently to enable any accident victims to be removed and taken to hospital and to expedite the removal of the wreckage.

It is a pure revenue raising exercise.

Originally Posted by JAJH

Police, ambos and fire services are Emergency Vehicles, but only when they are sounding a siren or showing flashing lights. So, in other words, the coppers who pull you over for a licence check and sound their siren or flash their blue lights to get your attention are NOT invoking the provisions of the Emergency Vehicles Act and therefore not deemed to be an Emergency Vehicle.

The whole point of this new law will be what the emergency vehicles are responding to. If the situation is not an emergency, there might be a good argument to be had.

You two guys just don't get it with this new law & why it is introduced.
Nothing hard about slowing down when hearing or seeing emergency vehicles warning systems operating.
This will teach the ignorant to pay more attention on the roads we use.