Victorian drivers face $961 fines for not slowing down past tow trucks, roadside support or incident units
From July 1, drivers will need to slow to 40km/h when passing these vehicles — in addition to emergency services and VicRoads incident response vehicles — when they are stationary or moving slowly with lights flashing or alarms sounding.
The expanded rule will apply to Victoria Police, ambulances, fire services, the State Emergency Service, accident and breakdown towing, roadside assistance, incident response services and escort vehicles.
The Victorian government announced the change on April 30, acknowledging the risks additional roadside workers face on the job.
'Incident response, roadside assistance and breakdown towing vehicles are there for us when we are in need – this change acknowledges the risks they take and our commitment to keeping them safe,' Roads Minister Melissa Horne said.
Under the new rule, drivers must slow to 40km/h when passing emergency, incident response or roadside assistance vehicles that are stationary or moving below 10km/h with flashing red, blue, magenta or yellow lights, or with an alarm sounding.
Vehicles are expected to pass the scene at 40km/h and be able to stop if directed, even on high-speed roads like freeways.
Drivers can only return to the legal speed limit once they've passed the scene and reached a safe distance, which may vary depending on the situation.
'You should be aware of the individual circumstances of each incident and drive accordingly,' the road rule advises.
In emergencies, law enforcement and emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, or police are not required to follow these road rules.
However, when these vehicles are moving with their lights and/or sirens on, drivers must give way.
Drivers in Victoria face fines of up to $961 if they don't comply with the new law.
A 2024 survey by the Road Worker Safety Working Group, involving more than 1100 road workers, found almost one in four had witnessed or been involved in a near miss with a member of the public.
Nearly one in 10 said they had been hit by a vehicle in a collision involving a road worker.
Victoria is the last state or territory in Australia to introduce these expanded protections.
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"The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia," said Mr Limbrick. "Even if you're not a car enthusiast, councils should not concern themselves with where you park your cars or what you choose to do on your own property so long as you're not harming others," said Mr Limbrick. "A permit system probably would have eventually led to restrictions on all kinds of activities." Amid backlash from residents, the council suspended the permit system earlier this year after it impounded two vehicles allegedly stored by a resident without the required permits. The council voted to review the regulations saying it was listening to its resident's views on the issue. The first round of community feedback was carried out from April 21 to June 1, 2025. This was reviewed before Casey Council endorsed the permit system's end during its August 19 monthly meeting. 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A move to end the permits was endorsed by the council last night at its monthly meeting, and if publicly supported will become law in February 2026. The council will publish its report confirming the details tomorrow, August 21, 2025, when it will open a final round of public feedback. CarExpert has contacted Casey Council for official comment. Victorian state MP David Limbrick, who lives in the council's catchment area, has urged residents to show their support before the public consultation period ends on September 19, 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The proposed change is a sensible return towards respecting property rights and hobbies people have been pursuing for decades," said a statement from Mr Limbrick. "The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia." The City of Casey, 40km south-east of Melbourne, is Victoria's most populous municipality in Australia, and stretches from the Dandenong Ranges to Western Port Bay. Earlier this year it reviewed laws introduced in 2024 requiring its 400,000 residents to apply for a permit to store more than two unregistered vehicles on their own property for up to 90 days. Residents were forced to pay a non-refundable $150 application fee before paying an additional $250 for an approved permit, for a total $400 cost. A permit would also be needed for 'non-commercial' work on a vehicle, including dismantling or servicing it, on private property. That meant even a simple oil change would have required a permit. "The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia," said Mr Limbrick. "Even if you're not a car enthusiast, councils should not concern themselves with where you park your cars or what you choose to do on your own property so long as you're not harming others," said Mr Limbrick. "A permit system probably would have eventually led to restrictions on all kinds of activities." Amid backlash from residents, the council suspended the permit system earlier this year after it impounded two vehicles allegedly stored by a resident without the required permits. The council voted to review the regulations saying it was listening to its resident's views on the issue. The first round of community feedback was carried out from April 21 to June 1, 2025. This was reviewed before Casey Council endorsed the permit system's end during its August 19 monthly meeting. A petition to the Victorian Government opposing the permit system also remains open and can be signed online until October 2, 2025. "When families are required to make hard decisions like not using their family car or paying registration for that quarter or getting their family car serviced by dealers, the Council has placed even greater pressure by requiring families to fork out hundreds of dollars on new permits and fees for activities on their own property," the petition (Legislative Council Petition #612) said. The final review of the amended laws will take place on November 18, 2025. MORE: Australian council suspends controversial vehicle fees after community backlash Content originally sourced from: Residents in the City of Casey, Victoria are being urged to support a move to abolish a controversial permit system where motorists were charged fees for storing vehicles on their own property, and gave the council power to confiscate cars. A move to end the permits was endorsed by the council last night at its monthly meeting, and if publicly supported will become law in February 2026. The council will publish its report confirming the details tomorrow, August 21, 2025, when it will open a final round of public feedback. CarExpert has contacted Casey Council for official comment. Victorian state MP David Limbrick, who lives in the council's catchment area, has urged residents to show their support before the public consultation period ends on September 19, 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The proposed change is a sensible return towards respecting property rights and hobbies people have been pursuing for decades," said a statement from Mr Limbrick. "The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia." The City of Casey, 40km south-east of Melbourne, is Victoria's most populous municipality in Australia, and stretches from the Dandenong Ranges to Western Port Bay. Earlier this year it reviewed laws introduced in 2024 requiring its 400,000 residents to apply for a permit to store more than two unregistered vehicles on their own property for up to 90 days. Residents were forced to pay a non-refundable $150 application fee before paying an additional $250 for an approved permit, for a total $400 cost. A permit would also be needed for 'non-commercial' work on a vehicle, including dismantling or servicing it, on private property. That meant even a simple oil change would have required a permit. "The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia," said Mr Limbrick. "Even if you're not a car enthusiast, councils should not concern themselves with where you park your cars or what you choose to do on your own property so long as you're not harming others," said Mr Limbrick. "A permit system probably would have eventually led to restrictions on all kinds of activities." Amid backlash from residents, the council suspended the permit system earlier this year after it impounded two vehicles allegedly stored by a resident without the required permits. The council voted to review the regulations saying it was listening to its resident's views on the issue. The first round of community feedback was carried out from April 21 to June 1, 2025. This was reviewed before Casey Council endorsed the permit system's end during its August 19 monthly meeting. A petition to the Victorian Government opposing the permit system also remains open and can be signed online until October 2, 2025. "When families are required to make hard decisions like not using their family car or paying registration for that quarter or getting their family car serviced by dealers, the Council has placed even greater pressure by requiring families to fork out hundreds of dollars on new permits and fees for activities on their own property," the petition (Legislative Council Petition #612) said. The final review of the amended laws will take place on November 18, 2025. MORE: Australian council suspends controversial vehicle fees after community backlash Content originally sourced from: Residents in the City of Casey, Victoria are being urged to support a move to abolish a controversial permit system where motorists were charged fees for storing vehicles on their own property, and gave the council power to confiscate cars. A move to end the permits was endorsed by the council last night at its monthly meeting, and if publicly supported will become law in February 2026. 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Earlier this year it reviewed laws introduced in 2024 requiring its 400,000 residents to apply for a permit to store more than two unregistered vehicles on their own property for up to 90 days. Residents were forced to pay a non-refundable $150 application fee before paying an additional $250 for an approved permit, for a total $400 cost. A permit would also be needed for 'non-commercial' work on a vehicle, including dismantling or servicing it, on private property. That meant even a simple oil change would have required a permit. "The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia," said Mr Limbrick. "Even if you're not a car enthusiast, councils should not concern themselves with where you park your cars or what you choose to do on your own property so long as you're not harming others," said Mr Limbrick. "A permit system probably would have eventually led to restrictions on all kinds of activities." Amid backlash from residents, the council suspended the permit system earlier this year after it impounded two vehicles allegedly stored by a resident without the required permits. The council voted to review the regulations saying it was listening to its resident's views on the issue. The first round of community feedback was carried out from April 21 to June 1, 2025. This was reviewed before Casey Council endorsed the permit system's end during its August 19 monthly meeting. A petition to the Victorian Government opposing the permit system also remains open and can be signed online until October 2, 2025. "When families are required to make hard decisions like not using their family car or paying registration for that quarter or getting their family car serviced by dealers, the Council has placed even greater pressure by requiring families to fork out hundreds of dollars on new permits and fees for activities on their own property," the petition (Legislative Council Petition #612) said. The final review of the amended laws will take place on November 18, 2025. MORE: Australian council suspends controversial vehicle fees after community backlash Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
2 days ago
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Young sensation Piastri to have stand named after him
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7NEWS
2 days ago
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Oscar Piastri to have grandstand named after him at Melbourne's Albert Park Grand Prix circuit
Young Australian motorsport sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two — Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most sought-after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. 'I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix,' said Piastri. 'It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. 'Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere.' Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year.
