It's taken to the end of a 12 months trial but the bureaucracy has seen the light and (excuse the pun) listened to the chorus of criticism about the structure of the 40km/h emergency vehicle law.
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Previously if you approached any vehicle with flashing red and blue lights you had to slow down to 40km/h, even on freeways with speed limits of 110km/h - an unrealistic and dangerous law.
From September 26, motorists will no longer need to slow down to 40km/h on roads with speed limits of 90km/h or more when passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
Drivers will need to slow down safely and move over to give them as much space as possible.
In speed zones of 80km/h or less, motorists will still need to slow down to 40km/h.
The rule will also be expanded to include stationary tow trucks and breakdown assistance vehicles displaying yellow flashing lights.
The law was instigated partially by an accident on a motorway where a motorist and tow truck driver died following a vehicle running into their stationary vehicles.
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My article in the Extra dated September 17, 2018 and on social media was critical of the law and highlighted the fact that the law as it stood still didn't cover anything that didn't display flashing red and blue lights.
The law as amended is sound, subject to emergency vehicles not being parked on blind bends where approaching vehicles can't see them until the last moment.
Let's hope the police use common sense in these situations.
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