Roads Minister confirms new law requiring drivers to slow to 40km/h around flashing emergency lights

FIRST ON 3AW

Victorians will be required to slow to 40km/h around emergency vehicles.

Neil Mitchell had been hearing rumblings about the change, which Roads Minister Luke Donnellan confirmed on Monday.

It’s a change that emergency services personnel have been requesting for some time.

“Many of them had many close calls, suffered injuries, and have been saying ‘we need this to protect ourselves while we’re working and assisting the community’,” Mr Donnellan told Neil.

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The rule applies to stationary police, ambulance, fire, and transport safety vehicles, as well as slow moving vehicles.

The on-the-spot penalty for failing to slow down will be $277.

On freeways, the new rule applies to all lanes.

The law applies from July 1.