New laws passed this week mean Victoria drivers must slow down to 40km/h for a wider range of roadside assistance crews from July 1 or face a $960 fine.
The 40km/h slow down rules previously only applied when emergency services and VicRoads incident response vehicles were stopped roadside, but extended rules were announced by the state government on Wednesday.
Workers from accident towing companies, breakdown towing, roadside assistance, Peninsula Link Incident Response, Eastlink Incident Response and Transurban Incident Response will be now be covered by the change.
“Incident response, roadside assistance and breakdown towing vehicles are there for us when we are in need – this change acknowledges the risks they take and our commitment to keeping them safe,” Roads Minister Melissa Horne said.
“It is the responsibility of all drivers to familiarise themselves with this road rule and to always slow to 40km/h past responding vehicles – for the safety of workers and all road users.”
The rule applies when motorists see any vehicle with flashing red, blue, magenta or yellow lights stopped on the side of the road.
RACV welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement that Road Rule 79A will be expanded to protect emergency roadside workers, tow truck drivers, and their customers.
RACV General Manager of Automotive Services Makarla Cole said the amendment addresses a safety issue in the Victorian road rules and aligns Victoria with other Australian states.
“Since 2017, drivers on Victorian roads have had to slow down to 40 kms per hour when passing emergency services vehicles at the side of the road,” Cole said.
“For the past two years, RACV has called on the Victorian Government to include roadside assistance vans, such as RACV patrol vans, and tow trucks in this rule.”