Tamworth Fire Station commander Glenn Willsallen has put out a reminder for drivers to respect the new road rules around emergency scenes, which will be rolled out this Saturday.
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“Emergency crews already have measures in place to work safely on the side of the road. The new law will supplement our safety precautions and put the onus of responsibility on the driver,” he said.
Drivers will need to reduce their speed to 40 km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles that display red and blue flashing lights on the side of the road.
“It’s like when you’re driving behind a school bus with flashing lights, or you drive through a school zone. You will need to respect the speed limit,” Mr Willsallen said.
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Drivers who are caught ignoring the rule will be slapped with a $448 fine and three demerit points.
“A lot of drivers might already be slowing down when they pass an emergency vehicle, but they might not be taking into account other factors like wet weather and slippery roads. A 40 km/h speed limit gives a definite limit that every driver must follow,” Mr Willsallen said.
Mr Willsallen worked in Sydney before he was transferred to Tamworth. He said each place brought its own road awareness.
“Tamworth is different to Sydney, just like Moree is different to Tamworth. In the city, a driver might see an emergency vehicle more frequently than someone living in a rural town. When you drive along the highway [like the Newell], you’re less likely to encounter them, so drivers might not be as aware how to respond when passing an emergency scene.”
He pointed out emergency workers on the side of the road had to contend with passing b-doubles and road trains.
“The new rule will create a process and procedure that educates drivers about safe road practice.”
Moree firefighter Warren Clark said eventually the new road rule would become second nature.
“When you drive through a school zone, most people instinctively slow down. Soon, when they see the flashing lights on an emergency vehicle, drivers will slow down to 40km/h.”