New road rule coming for millions of Aussies over 'scary' problem
Millions of drivers are being warned they face a new road rule in the coming months as one state moves to protect roadside workers and operators of roadside assistance vehicles who routinely face close calls "every day" on the job due to fast-moving traffic.
From July 1, motorists in Victoria will be required to pump the breaks and ensure they're travelling at 40km/h when they pass an incident response vehicle if they want to avoid a hefty fine. The rule is already in place for drivers travelling past emergency services parked on the roadside with their sirens on, such as police cars and ambulances. However, the mandate will soon be extended to tow trucks, mechanics and roadside assistance vehicles.
After South Australia recently introduced legislation to make the change, Victoria was the only state, along with the Northern Territory, that didn't have the rule officially on the books.
Johnny Dipietro, a RACVp atroller, told 7News he frequently has to contend with dangerous conditions 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.
It's is a common occurrence for roadside workers, with incident responder Steven Bevens saying close calls were an "everyday occurrence for our staff" when pulled over on the shoulder of a busy road or highway.
A recent RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) survey found 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.
"It is making sure they're safe when they're out there working on our really busty roads," the state Road Safety Minister, Melissa Horne, said.
👀 Drivers 'completely unaware' of road rule attracting $6,000 fines
☀️ Young driver cops warning over little-known road rule with $323 fine
😲 More expensive road fines coming for millions of Aussie drivers
Motorists have been warned they will be slapped with a fine if they are caught 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.
This new rule will simply be an extension of the 'Slow Down, Move Over' road rule currently in place in Victoria. The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction in the country to not have something similar.
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