Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'just weeks' away
Drivers are being reminded that a major road rule change is just weeks away, with penalties for breaking the law as high as $961. Millions of Aussies will be impacted by one state's move to protect roadside workers and operators of roadside assistance vehicles.
From July 1, in just three weeks, motorists in Victoria will be required to ensure they are travelling at 40km/h when they pass the incident response vehicles. The rule, known as road rule 79A, is already in place for emergency services on the side of the road like police cars and ambulances. Now it's been extended to include tow trucks, mechanics and roadside assistance vehicles too.
After South Australia recently made a similar change, Victoria was the only state, along with the Northern Territory, that didn't have the rule made official.
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) General Manager Makarla Cole told Yahoo News that the rule will "ensure that emergency roadside workers and tow truck drivers, regardless of who they work for, are given the same protection as other emergency workers."
Those who ignore the rule will be fined for not complying with the 40km/h mandate. The standard penalty for non-compliance is $346 with a potential maximum of $961. There will be no demerit points attached to the offence, however.
A recent survey by RACV revealed a startling 83 per cent of its roadside workers experience a near miss with another vehicle at least once a week. The road rule change has come after a consistent campaign from the group to bring Victoria in line with other jurisdictions.
Patroller Johnny Dipietro, recently spoke out about the dangerous conditions he contends with while trying to do his job on busy roads.
"I had a vehicle that almost hit me and I'll tell you what, it was really scary," he said.
He's not the only one. Incident responder Steven Bevens said close calls were an "everyday occurrence for our staff" when pulled over on the shoulder of a busy road or highway.
🚗 Drivers warned as major licence change rolls out across Australia in days
🚛 Aussie truckie praises caravanners for simple road act that saves lives
🛑 Meaning behind little-known roadside marker popping up 'a lot' on Aussie roads
VACC CEO Peter Jones backed the change. "With just weeks to go before the expanded Road Rule 79A takes effect on July 1, we're pleased to see the Victorian Government's commitment to roadside worker safety becoming a reality," he said.
Jones said the rule change is about creating a "culture of mutual respect" on Victorian roads and encouraged all drivers on Victorian roads to "familiarise themselves" with the expanded rules ahead of July 1.
"When you see those flashing lights – whether it's police, ambulance, or now our towing and roadside assistance vehicles – slow down to 40km/h. It's a simple action that could save lives," he said.
He argued that roadside assistance workers are first responders too, and often the first on the scene, 'working in extremely hazardous conditions," he said, adding: "This rule change finally gives them the protection they deserve.
Jones added that the rule isn't just about compliance but gives workers "vital extra seconds" to react if something goes wrong.
"We urge all motorists to see this as an investment in everyone's safety," he said.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'just weeks' away
Drivers are being reminded that a major road rule change is just weeks away, with penalties for breaking the law as high as $961. Millions of Aussies will be impacted by one state's move to protect roadside workers and operators of roadside assistance vehicles. From July 1, in just three weeks, motorists in Victoria will be required to ensure they are travelling at 40km/h when they pass the incident response vehicles. The rule, known as road rule 79A, is already in place for emergency services on the side of the road like police cars and ambulances. Now it's been extended to include tow trucks, mechanics and roadside assistance vehicles too. After South Australia recently made a similar change, Victoria was the only state, along with the Northern Territory, that didn't have the rule made official. Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) General Manager Makarla Cole told Yahoo News that the rule will "ensure that emergency roadside workers and tow truck drivers, regardless of who they work for, are given the same protection as other emergency workers." Those who ignore the rule will be fined for not complying with the 40km/h mandate. The standard penalty for non-compliance is $346 with a potential maximum of $961. There will be no demerit points attached to the offence, however. A recent survey by RACV revealed a startling 83 per cent of its roadside workers experience a near miss with another vehicle at least once a week. The road rule change has come after a consistent campaign from the group to bring Victoria in line with other jurisdictions. Patroller Johnny Dipietro, recently spoke out about the dangerous conditions he contends with while trying to do his job on busy roads. "I had a vehicle that almost hit me and I'll tell you what, it was really scary," he said. He's not the only one. Incident responder Steven Bevens said close calls were an "everyday occurrence for our staff" when pulled over on the shoulder of a busy road or highway. 🚗 Drivers warned as major licence change rolls out across Australia in days 🚛 Aussie truckie praises caravanners for simple road act that saves lives 🛑 Meaning behind little-known roadside marker popping up 'a lot' on Aussie roads VACC CEO Peter Jones backed the change. "With just weeks to go before the expanded Road Rule 79A takes effect on July 1, we're pleased to see the Victorian Government's commitment to roadside worker safety becoming a reality," he said. Jones said the rule change is about creating a "culture of mutual respect" on Victorian roads and encouraged all drivers on Victorian roads to "familiarise themselves" with the expanded rules ahead of July 1. "When you see those flashing lights – whether it's police, ambulance, or now our towing and roadside assistance vehicles – slow down to 40km/h. It's a simple action that could save lives," he said. He argued that roadside assistance workers are first responders too, and often the first on the scene, 'working in extremely hazardous conditions," he said, adding: "This rule change finally gives them the protection they deserve. Jones added that the rule isn't just about compliance but gives workers "vital extra seconds" to react if something goes wrong. "We urge all motorists to see this as an investment in everyone's safety," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who goes first? What SC drivers need to know about right-of-way and yield laws
From stop signs to traffic lights and even when leaving your neighborhood, yield laws are almost always at play when you're on the road. While on paper, these laws can seem pretty simple, but sometimes when you're behind the wheel, all the rules can be easily confused. Who stopped first? Can I turn at this light? Who is supposed to go first? Yield laws are everywhere when driving, so no matter if you're a new driver or just want to brush up on the rules, here's what South Carolina drivers need to know about yield laws and how they help keep everyone safer on the road. According to the latest traffic collision data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there was a total of 143,426 traffic collisions reported across the state in 2022. The total number of collisions caused by failure to yield the right of way in South Carolina adds up to a total of 29,040 accidents, which are responsible for over 8,000 injuries and 99 fatalities, making it the second top cause for collisions in the state. In Beaufort County, 3,726 total traffic collisions were reported in 2022, with 964 accidents caused by a failure to yield the right of way, accounting for 25.8% of collisions. Failure to yield the right of way is the number one cause of accidents in Beaufort County, according to the SCDPS. Distracted driving and driving too fast for the road conditions follow close behind as the second and third top causes for collisions. With failure to yield being one of the leading causes of accidents in Beaufort County and across the state, here is a breakdown of yield laws in South Carolina and what drivers should know before getting behind the wheel. At an Uncontrolled Intersection (No Signs or Lights) When approaching an intersection with no traffic signals or signs, every driver must yield to the driver who was already there. The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Two Cars Arrive at the Same Time at an Uncontrolled Intersection If you and another car arrive at the same time from different roads, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Turning Left Let oncoming traffic pass before turning left at an intersection, driveway, alley, etc. Yield to vehicles coming straight from the opposite direction if they are close enough to be a hazard. Stop Signs At a stop sign, come to a full stop. Then, yield to any traffic in or approaching the intersection. Yield Signs At a yield sign, slow down and prepare to stop if needed. You must yield to traffic already in or closely approaching the intersection. Entering a Road from a Driveway or Parking Lot When entering a road from anywhere other than another road, like a driveway or parking lot, you must yield to all traffic already on the road. Cars already on the road have the right-of-way. Green Light Go, but yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection, no matter if you are turning right, left or continuing straight. Yellow Light Slow down and prepare to stop. If the intersection is safe and clear, you may pass, but don't enter unless you can make it through. Red Light Stop and yield to all traffic. You may turn right on red after stopping unless a sign prohibits it. Yield to traffic and pedestrians before turning. Emergency vehicles You must always give the right of way to ambulances, police vehicles, fire engines or other emergency vehicles when their sirens or flashing lights are engaged. Pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so. Do not pull over in an intersection. Pedestrians in Crosswalks If there are no traffic lights, you must yield to pedestrians crossing or entering at a crosswalk or intersection. Pedestrians must be given the right of way. If you are a pedestrian, do not suddenly walk out into traffic. If there is a school bus, you must yield the right of way to children entering/exiting a bus under all conditions. Bicyclists and Bike Lanes Drivers must yield to cyclists in bike lanes and not block bike lanes when turning or parking. Cyclists must use the bike lane, unless passing or avoiding hazards. Through Highways A through highway is one where other roads must yield before entering (usually marked by stop or yield signs). If you're on a main road with signs at intersections, others yield to you. For a look at all yield laws and traffic situations, here is a further breakdown: Traffic Situation Who Yields? Arriving at the same time (no signs) The driver on the left yields Turning left Yield to oncoming traffic At a stop sign Stop, then yield if traffic is coming At a yield sign Slow or stop, yield to traffic Entering from the driveway Yield to all road traffic Pedestrian in a crosswalk Yield to pedestrians; they have the right-of-way Green light Yield to vehicles & pedestrians already in the intersection Bike lane Yield to cyclists, don't block the lane No matter if you're a new driver or just want to brush up on the rules of the road, right-of-way yield laws are crucial to staying safe on the road. To learn more about South Carolina's road laws, click here to view the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
SUV drivers should pay more tax, Sadiq Khan told
Sir Sadiq Khan is under pressure to tackle 'car-spreading' by hitting bigger vehicles in London with even higher taxes and parking fees. In a motion passed by the London Assembly, the Mayor has been urged to write to the Government to demand higher vehicle excise duty for heavier vehicles and tighter restrictions on car sizes. Assembly members, 11 of 25 of whom are the Mayor's Labour allies, also urged him to write to councils across the capital to ask them to adopt higher parking fees for bigger cars – a policy some have embraced already. The motion blamed larger cars for clogging up London's streets, putting pedestrians at greater risk of injury or death and causing road surfaces to wear down more quickly. Elly Baker, the Labour assembly member who proposed it, said the capital's streets 'weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs'. She said: 'Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' A spokesman for the Mayor said on Friday: 'The Mayor, Transport for London and borough partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads, by expanding the cycle network, making road crossings and junctions safer, reducing speed limits on our roads, and making larger vehicles like HGVs and buses safer. 'This year the Mayor will be refreshing his Vision Zero Action Plan, to restate his commitment to reducing road danger and responding to new and emerging risks on our roads'. The assembly's call comes after several English local authorities have proposed higher charges for larger or heavier vehicles, amid complaints they occupy more space, produce higher levels of pollution and take a bigger toll on road surfaces. Such charges have been proposed in Haringey, Bath, Oxford and Bristol, among other places, with many councillors taking a lead from Paris, where Left-wing French politicians have launched their own crackdown on SUVs. Sir Sadiq currently lacks the formal powers to introduce such charges himself but has said he is watching developments in the French capital closely. 'SUVs take up more space and we know there's issues around road safety, we know there's issues around carbon emissions and so forth,' he said in February. 'We know some councils in London are taking bold policies in relation to parking fees, in relation to your tickets and so forth. It's really good to work with those councils.' SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with just 12pc a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The increase in the size of cars has been described as car-spreading. However, Edmund King, the president of the AA, said it should be 'up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs'. He said: 'It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. 'Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. 'London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change.' A recent study found that pedestrians and cyclists are 44pc more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London stated that the figure rises to 82pc for children. Meanwhile, research by the campaign group Transport & Environment has previously found the average width of cars in the UK was growing by about half a centimetre per year. A typical car was 180.3cm wide in 2023, up from 177.8cm just five years earlier. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
