New 40 km speed limit NSW when blue & red lights are flashing on roadside

[Maka]

Just read this, thought i would post the news report on behalf of other AFF members based in NSW, the penalty is pretty severe if caught breaking the new road rule -

SBS News: Motorists risk $448 fine over new NSW road rule.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/motorist...-nsw-road-rule

cheers, Maka

[cro142]

I am concerned about the effect of this on freeways etc where it could cause secondary accidents.
I suppose we will see how it goes.

[flightstrike]

Originally Posted by cro142

I am concerned about the effect of this on freeways etc where it could cause secondary accidents.
I suppose we will see how it goes.

We’ve had this rule in WA for a little while now... people seem to either ignore it, or everyone slows down to 40...

[EBSXR6]

A motorcyclist was killed as a result of a similar rule in Victoria.
Police Motorcycle Patrol intercepted car between Middleborough Rd and Blackburn Rd off ramp Eastern Freeway, civilian Motorcyclist braked to slow down to 40 Km/h truck following swerved around civilian Motorcyclist almost rolled it according to Police Officer.
Second truck following didn't react in time, collided with Motorcyclist and Motorcyclist died.

[happy1]

https://www.rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Pena...gency-Vehicles

It is absolutely crazy to suddenly slow a freeway to 40 km/hr, just because the police feels like pulling over a motorist for example for a speeding offence, where they have stopped in the emergency lane, and ALL lanes suddenly have a 40 km/hr limit, and should move lane.

In WA the SLOMO also refers to RAC-assistance vehicles, so as soon as RAC turns up to assist a broken down motorist in the emergency side lane, (outside the driving lanes) then the traffic in ALL lanes shall suddenly drop speed to 40.

I feel like upgrading to 6-pot brembos, install front & rear dashcam, and follow this law as written down. I wonder how long it will be until my rear bumper needs replacing?

[Sioso]

So the bike rider travelling at 110km/h with a full laden truck behind him is required to jump on the brakes and bring it down to 40km/h or cop 3 demerit points and a fine of $448?
I hope the truckie is paying attention!!!

Another great safety initiative by these tax funded morons...

[sierra63]

Originally Posted by happy1

https://www.rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Pena...gency-Vehicles

I feel like upgrading to 6-pot brembos, install front & rear dashcam, and follow this law as written down. I wonder how long it will be until my rear bumper needs replacing?

I am feeling fortune that I have both these items right now. I can imagine the price of bumpers for many vehicles going to short supply, and a sharp rise in prices....

[MAGPIE]

If you cant bleed off 70 odd km in a safe manner I would be concerned whether you should even have a licence.

How about looking at it from Police/Fire/Ambo's perspective, they have to work in that environment with retarded rubber necking motorists flying past at 100km/h.

[csv8]

Most people slow down anyway to have a look . What was the reason for this law ? Don't remember any ambos etc being killed ?

[Peter B - CV8]

On multi lane motorways,with a wide grass dividing strip, do vehicles travelling on the unobstructed side of the road also have to slow down ??

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

On multi lane motorways,with a wide grass dividing strip, do vehicles travelling on the unobstructed side of the road also have to slow down ??

Only applies to the side the emergency vehicle is on with a divided road. ie freeway.

[happy1]

At night when there is planned lane closures, (with hazard trucks, bollards etc.) then the speed limit on the freeway is usually reduced to 60 km/h.

I wonder if the police can then give out the fine and demerits for going faster than the new SLOWMO 40-limit, (when the road workers advertise 60, but the new law describes 40 when there are hazard vehicles and workers on the road).
I saw the road works on the freeway in Perth have 60-signs the other night, with flashing yellow lights and people in the lanes putting up bollards etc.

[Maka]

If its truly about safety fair enough but i can see a legal minefield coming up through confusion, implementation of the zones & blind spots.

Mobile radar operators put signs up dont they so why cant the emergency workers & police do it too perhaps in conjunction with the flashing lights, takes all the doubt away then.

cheers, Maka

[Rallye Sport]

They introduced slowmo in perth over a double demerit long weekend, people were crapping themselves, all went back to normal within a month though, no one slows down.

I don't think much thought was put into the whole scheme, if I want to slow traffic in a work zone I need to submit a plan and then stick to the rules pre determined by a traffic engineer, 3 advanced warnings at set distances in relation to the speed limit and so on. This is to slow traffic in a controlled manner not law of the jungle, whoever has the best brakes wins.

Then theres incidents like the one I saw early in the laws introduction. Tow truck driver pulls over, puts his flashing lights on, as you do and almost drummed up some work as everyone bricked it and layed on the anchors... all while he's having a chat on his phone, calling his tow'y mates I presume.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by happy1

At night when there is planned lane closures, (with hazard trucks, bollards etc.) then the speed limit on the freeway is usually reduced to 60 km/h.

I wonder if the police can then give out the fine and demerits for going faster than the new SLOWMO 40-limit, (when the road workers advertise 60, but the new law describes 40 when there are hazard vehicles and workers on the road).
I saw the road works on the freeway in Perth have 60-signs the other night, with flashing yellow lights and people in the lanes putting up bollards etc.

You have to read the rule, it only applies to red and blue flashing lights ie emergency vehicles not road works or tow trucks.
There is a little clause, however here in Victoria which also covers Vicroad inspector vehicles with purple flashing lights.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by csv8

What was the reason for this law ? Don't remember any ambos etc being killed ?

yes, lets wait for a fatality before making a change

[prydey]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

If you cant bleed off 70 odd km in a safe manner I would be concerned whether you should even have a licence.

How about looking at it from Police/Fire/Ambo's perspective, they have to work in that environment with retarded rubber necking motorists flying past at 100km/h.

agreed.

how dare we try to care about those who are trying to do their job, with their focus on the person/people they are dealing with rather than the passing traffic.

Mind you, just like the plastic bag ban, its just further proof that many people in the eastern states can't see past their own borders. These laws have been in place for some time now in other states and after a little while, all the 'sky is falling' people get sick of complaining and life goes on.

if people can't drive in such a way that they can brake in time for unforeseen hazards that arise, perhaps time to hand in your licence. its not the law makers fault that people like to travel at high speed within touching distance of the car in front. driver behaviour and attitude is the issue, not the new laws.

[CyberWasp]

Awesome - In peak hour when we see a stopped Emergency Vehicle with flashing lights we can can speed up.
Most of the time we are going much slower than 40.

[Papa Smurf]

Just another cash grab for state governments. in NSW the gov dropped the price of rego (lost $$$s) and so, they have to recoup it somehow?

[Falcon SXR8]

Originally Posted by prydey

yes, lets wait for a fatality before making a change

How do we know this won't cause more fatalities? People braking abruptly causing rear enders, we all know most drivers are idiots so this may cause more problems than it addresses. Im all for emergency workers safety myself but I've seen my fair share of stupid laws by so called experts, to not blindly accept what they claim.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Papa Smurf

Just another cash grab for state governments. in NSW the gov dropped the price of rego (lost $$$s) and so, they have to recoup it somehow?

Go ask any policeman, fireman, ambo or emergency services worker if they think it's just a cash grab!!

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

How do we know this won't cause more fatalities? People braking abruptly causing rear enders, we all know most drivers are idiots so this may cause more problems than it addresses. Im all for emergency workers safety myself but I've seen my fair share of stupid laws by so called experts, to not blindly accept what they claim.

Any accidents are caused by poor driving rather than legislation.

[Falcon SXR8]

Originally Posted by prydey

Any accidents are caused by poor driving rather than legislation.

Exactly and unfortunately you have to take that into account when making new laws. For example its against the law to tailgate but how many do it? How many get busted for it? If a heap of people are doing it then they may need to fix that problem as well before asking people to rapidly slow down on a major highway hence possibly causing an accident.

Just my opinion, I hope it works for the sake of everybody involved especially the police, ambo's, ect

[danzvtil]

We discussed this on an earlier thread, I’ll repeat the SA experience.
1- cop with the lights flashing is busy, they’re not on the laser gun to get you.
2-the truck behind you can see the red and blues flashing long before you can from your car.
3- SA has a 25k limit and no one has died.

[Ben73]

Good idea in theory. 40 is a bit slow for freeways unless there is a major incident.


Personal story why I think 40 is too slow for traffic stops on a freeway.
Two weeks ago I was driving northbound on the M1. I overtook a car, made sure there was a safe gap before moving back into the middle lane in front of them. We were going around a slight left hand bend as I was changing lanes.
The microsecond my entire car was clear in the middle lane I saw a highway patrol on a traffic stop on the left shoulder.

So am I supposed to brake hard instantly after changing lanes? I left a safe gap but still if they hit me I'm sure I will be at fault because there will be no proof there was a safe gap.

So I went home and pulled my dashcam footage. From the point the police car came into view, to the point where I was side by side with the cop car was 5 seconds
Now an average new car can brake from 100km/h to 0km/h in about 3.5 seconds.(P Drive TV Youtube channel for my source)
That's not taking into account a reaction time. Just foot to the floor braking in 3.5 seconds.

Freeway speed is 110 and yes you don't have to come to a stop you only have to slow to 40, but is heavy braking on a freeway for no real reason actually safer than continuing at the limit or gently slowing to a higher speed like 80?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Good idea in theory. 40 is a bit slow for freeways unless there is a major incident.


Personal story why I think 40 is too slow for traffic stops on a freeway.
Two weeks ago I was driving northbound on the M1. I overtook a car, made sure there was a safe gap before moving back into the middle lane in front of them. We were going around a slight left hand bend as I was changing lanes.
The microsecond my entire car was clear in the middle lane I saw a highway patrol on a traffic stop on the left shoulder.

So am I supposed to brake hard instantly after changing lanes? I left a safe gap but still if they hit me I'm sure I will be at fault because there will be no proof there was a safe gap.

So I went home and pulled my dashcam footage. From the point the police car came into view, to the point where I was side by side with the cop car was 5 seconds
Now an average new car can brake from 100km/h to 0km/h in about 3.5 seconds.(P Drive TV Youtube channel for my source)
That's not taking into account a reaction time. Just foot to the floor braking in 3.5 seconds.

Freeway speed is 110 and yes you don't have to come to a stop you only have to slow to 40, but is heavy braking on a freeway for no real reason actually safer than continuing at the limit or gently slowing to a higher speed like 80?

or, you could just try to wash off as much speed as you safely can...

the intent of the rule is to protect those who are working on the side of the road. as mentioned, they don't have the staff numbers to be able to have a 'spare' cop at every scene trying to catch those who may not be doing the mandated speed.

[happy1]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

They introduced slowmo in perth over a double demerit long weekend, people were crapping themselves, all went back to normal within a month though, no one slows down.

I don't think much thought was put into the whole scheme, if I want to slow traffic in a work zone I need to submit a plan and then stick to the rules pre determined by a traffic engineer, 3 advanced warnings at set distances in relation to the speed limit and so on. This is to slow traffic in a controlled manner not law of the jungle, whoever has the best brakes wins.

Then theres incidents like the one I saw early in the laws introduction. Tow truck driver pulls over, puts his flashing lights on, as you do and almost drummed up some work as everyone bricked it and layed on the anchors... all while he's having a chat on his phone, calling his tow'y mates I presume.

Rally Sport's comments are well reflected.
(In WA we have to apply SLOWMO also for yellow lights, including RAC roadside assistance on the road shoulder, as well as the tow truck mentioned.)

Another relevant comment above was about the reaction time. You could almost have passed the emergency vehicle before having enough seconds to safely slow down. In addition I have experienced that not everyone are aware of SLOWMO (or respect SLOWMO), and when slowing down (in a safe rate) I found that some annoyed drivers behind you will shift lane in order to speed up again.

I also wonder how police will enforce this new law, will they put out 'simulated' emergencies, and stand there with laser guns or deploy the new LIDAR space capsule, in order to catch anyone going above 40?

Cheers,

[xxx000]

God all these threads seem to attract the conspiracy theories.
As the saying goes: if nothing changes nothing changes.
Seatbelts became compulsory in cars and despite the fears of some people didn't burn to death in crashes because of them
Police pursuits haven't skyrocketed because of hoon legislation and the fear of car confiscation.
We adapted to rego labels no longer being issued.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by prydey

or, you could just try to wash off as much speed as you safely can...

the intent of the rule is to protect those who are working on the side of the road. as mentioned, they don't have the staff numbers to be able to have a 'spare' cop at every scene trying to catch those who may not be doing the mandated speed.

If the wrong highway patrol officer catches you wiping off as much speed as you safely can they will still fine you. Then it will be up to you to prove it in court.

I have seen unconfirmed reports on Facebook that highway patrol in Newcastle area have been abusing the rule already.
I wouldn't be surprised, there is one HP guy around here who is known for doing dodgy stuff just so he can write a fine.

I have no faith in common sense being applied to the policing of this rule.
I can see RBT sites with one cop doing RBts with another 3 checking radar and pulling people over. I bet you will find more speeders than drunk drivers. But we will see I guess

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by Maka

Just read this, thought i would post the news report on behalf of other AFF members based in NSW, the penalty is pretty severe if caught breaking the new road rule -

SBS News: Motorists risk $448 fine over new NSW road rule.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/motorist...-nsw-road-rule

cheers, Maka

South Australia have taken it a step further and have introduced a speed limit of 25kph. You have to feel for this traveller that also lost her licence and had to store her vehicle.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/trave...b3ba6dd3df8136