A new rule was trialed in NSW to improve the safety of emergency workers and volunteers while working on the road. The rule came into effect on 1st September 2018 and requires drivers and riders to reduce their speed to 40 km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles with red or blue lights flashing, give way to any person on foot in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle and not increase speed until they are at a sufficient distance past the vehicle.
The rule applies to all roads, including motorways, highways and freeways.
The rule does not apply when an emergency vehicle is on the opposite side of a road separated by a median strip.
If the emergency vehicle is on the median strip (with lights flashing) then the rule applies to vehicles on both sides of the road.
The broad objective of this project was to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the 40km/h trial, to inform improvements or adjustments to the application of the new road safety rule.
Media
NSW Centre for Road Safety: Slow Down, Move Over and Give Space – a road rule has changed
Funding / Grants
- Transport for NSW (2018 - 2019)
