Drivers urged to slow down around emergency services vehicles
Police are urging drivers to obey the law and slow down to 40 km/h when they are passing emergency vehicles that have their lights on.
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Despite a law being introduced in Victoria in July 2017 stipulating motorists must slow to a maximum of 40 km/h when passing police, ambulance, firefighters and SES vehicles, as well as VicRoads enforcement vehicles that have their lights on, too many drivers were still doing the wrong thing.
Shepparton Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant David Gillespie said the rule was there to make it safer for emergency services staff when they were stopped on the roadside.
“There are still a large percentage of drivers that fail to slow down to the required 40 km/h,” Sen Sgt Gillespie said.
“Unfortunately drivers not slowing make it unsafe for emergency services and people roadside.”
Emergency services workers continually see drivers not obeying the laws, but one of the places where it is most obvious – and dangerous – is on highways where traffic can be driving at high speeds.
“It (the law) is not to punish people . . . but is about safety roadside,” Sen Sgt Gillespie said.
He said it was especially important to remember that coming into winter, with low light, people should be looking ahead and identifying hazards – and that included emergency services vehicles pulled over with their lights on.
Sen Sgt Gillespie also said people should note different laws applied in each state to drivers passing emergency vehicles with their lights on.
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