First experience .. Vic law regarding passing emergency vehicle

[OzJavelin]

So .. first time Ive had to slow down to 40km/h passing an emergency vehicle under the new Vic road law.

Basically straight country road, 100km/h limit, daylight, damp but good visibility.

Car infront of me, and I see a car and truck heading towards us. Truck suddenly swerves onto my side of the road, car infront of me brakes, truck eventually pulls back in and as he passes us I see police car on the side of the road with lights on and someone pulled over.

I slow down .. car infront of me accelerates back up to 100 past the police car.

I think what happened was car coming towards us braked suddenly seeing the police car, truck couldnt brake as suddenly so swerved into opposite lane.

Nice one .. good reminder that need to be even more vigilant about checking rear mirrors.

[Raptor]

Dumbest rule ever IMHO

I think it's one I'd ignore, BUT be ready for anything other motorists might do

[stock1991]

the speed in sa is 25, wouldn't be so bad if it was just ambulance but a cop pulling someone over creates a hazard

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by stock1991

the speed in sa is 25, wouldn't be so bad if it was just ambulance but a cop pulling someone over creates a hazard

That's a joke. I thought 40 was bad but 25 is stupidity as a blanket rule.
I was riding my mountain bike today I noticed I was doing 25 on the flat without actually putting in any effort.

I find a lot of people tend to slow to a reasonable speed when the conditions require people to slow past emergancy vehicles, but as always the few idiots that pass 4 metres pass a crash scene at 100km/h are the ones who ruin it for everyone.

[roKWiz]

Digging this old chestnut up again for an update.
On the Hume over the past few weeks I've noticed several times the HWP and (Vic roads) pulling trucks over and parking in front of them (lights on) now. Seems standard practice to change to the outside lane and pass with no one slowing down.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Digging this old chestnut up again for an update.
On the Hume over the past few weeks I've noticed several times the HWP and (Vic roads) pulling trucks over and parking in front of them (lights on) now. Seems standard practice to change to the outside lane and pass with no one slowing down.

Yep .. I noticed that too a couple of days ago. Police car with lights on had car pulled up .. I started to slow down (as I eventually realised I was meant to) and everyone drove around me without slowing down. I think it's a forgotten rule already ..

[roKWiz]

Not so much the slowing down I was getting at but the fact they were parking in front of trucks only (looks like they want to remain invisible and not freak drivers out) cars I haven't seen any being pulled over lately.
The Hume (NE Vic) you wouldn't expect to many slowing down cause a lot are from interstate.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Dumbest rule ever IMHO

Hopefully it gets revoked or at least changed.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Hopefully it gets revoked or at least changed.

At least on freeways as I have always said.

[383hq]

Yup and not just emergency vehicles - school buses pulled over on side of road require one to slow down too.
It's a fair squeeze of the brake pedal given people cruise near 120 (no fear of the 1km over bandit as in some police states)- At least the police are generally policing for real criminals not just revenue from Joe average.

[78xcgxl]

Happened to me on the eastern. Cop pulled over a car in the emergency lane. And all of sudden people started to slam their brakes on. Almost rear-ended someone and someone almost rear-ended me. Dumbest rule. Absolute hazard and dangerous on the road. Scary thing is that if you were to technically continue doing your speed at 100km past the cop car that is technically 60km over the speed limit and automatic loss of licence for 12months. Can't win in this world. Luckly the FG has good brakes, might have to invest in brembos if this happens on a regular basis though hahahaha

[EDManual]

I believe the rule has not and wont be enforced. Also it is a fine and no points even if it was enforced. The police commisioner said so himself on 3aw that it is not going to be enforced any time soon.

[prydey]

I have no problem with it.

In the first post example, how come the car could see the situation and the following truck couldn't?

It also highlights many people's bad habits of following too closely.

Too many drivers struggle to see past their windscreen and many people these days are selfish. Their time is more important than anyone else's.

If people give driving the respect it deserves then this rule won't be the massive issue many are making it out to be.

[Grom13]

[QUOTE=prydey;5987663]I have no problem with it.

In the first post example, how come the car could see the situation and the following truck couldn't?

It also highlights many people's bad habits of following too closely.

Too many drivers struggle to see past their windscreen and many people these days are selfish. Their time is more important than anyone else's.

If people give driving the respect it deserves then this rule won't be the massive issue many are making it out to be.[/QUOTE
Dumbest rule ever , going to cause accidents , give emergency vehicles room and reduce your speed is common sense, but to tell people they must do 40kmh that's a green light for all the morons to stomp on the brakes without even thinking or checking their surroundings they are asking to be hit by a b-double . Stupidity at its gloriest best!!

[burnz]

Originally Posted by prydey

I have no problem with it.

In the first post example, how come the car could see the situation and the following truck couldn't?

It also highlights many people's bad habits of following too closely.

Too many drivers struggle to see past their windscreen and many people these days are selfish. Their time is more important than anyone else's.

If people give driving the respect it deserves then this rule won't be the massive issue many are making it out to be.

different state different laws, the truck driver may not have been aware of this law...

and cars braking hard very little time to react, irrespective of gap given.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by burnz

different state different laws, the truck driver may not have been aware of this law...

and cars braking hard very little time to react, irrespective of gap given.

ignorance isn't an excuse.

the OP mentions its a country road, 100km/h signposted. no excuse for travelling within 50m of the preceding vehicle. being a country road, there is any number of scenario's that could cause a vehicle to suddenly brake. part of operating a vehicle is having that awareness, and respecting following distances.

of course there will always be the odd scenario that will be the exception, but most of the time, if drivers are giving respect to the task at hand, then it shouldn't be a problem.

[Streets]

Originally Posted by prydey

no excuse for travelling within 50m of the preceding vehicle. being a country road, there is any number of scenario's that could cause a vehicle to suddenly brake. part of operating a vehicle is having that awareness, and respecting following distances.

Exactly right. Every time on the highway I get someone sitting up my **** despite being on the speed limit. They're not trying to intimidate me, they just have no idea about safe following distance, or they don't care. What's their plan if I have to jam on the brakes, or if I blow a tyre? They don't have a plan. Because people don't think about what they're doing and what's going on around them when they drive. And when you're up someone's **** at 100kph you have nowhere to go when something goes wrong.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by prydey

I have no problem with it.

In the first post example, how come the car could see the situation and the following truck couldn't?

It also highlights many people's bad habits of following too closely.

Too many drivers struggle to see past their windscreen and many people these days are selfish. Their time is more important than anyone else's.

If people give driving the respect it deserves then this rule won't be the massive issue many are making it out to be.

bolded bit for numpties

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by EDManual

I believe the rule has not and wont be enforced. Also it is a fine and no points even if it was enforced. The police commisioner said so himself on 3aw that it is not going to be enforced any time soon.

The other interesting thing I heard, was that at the moment the offence is not listed on the current infringement notices that the traffic cops carry with them, so they cannot issue you with an on the spot ticket technically.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

The other interesting thing I heard, was that at the moment the offence is not listed on the current infringement notices that the traffic cops carry with them, so they cannot issue you with an on the spot ticket technically.

but they can take your details and issue a summons to court

[roKWiz]

Doesn't look like much policing on the Hume since this new law appeared.
Guess even the local HWP don't want to trigger a mass pile up.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Doesn't look like much policing on the Hume since this new law appeared.
Guess even the local HWP don't want to trigger a mass pile up.

Well the HWP proved me wrong yesterday,
in the opposite direction a cop had someone pulled over on the superslab near the Euroa turn off. ( I stopped on the old Hume observing) Not one car, motorhome or B double appeared to slow down. (Mixed Victorian and out of state plates)

I did notice most trucks changed lanes but cars didn't. I still haven't seen TV or newspaper ads up here, regarding this law.
If it so important to all the experts, where is the evidence and media blitz.

[OzJavelin]

I can't see a reason the truck didn't see the police car .. I'm suspicious that:
1. Truck was following to close
2. Truck didn't think to slow down, and didn't think the car in front would
3. Car in front stood on the brakes heavily

Only reason the car infront of me slowed down was because the truck pulled onto our side of the road (I thought he was going to pass the car infront of him?!). The car infront of me sped back up to (likely) 100km/h passing the police car .... the whole event was a dogs breakfast.

[simon varley]

4. truckie texting

[marty351]

Common cents aren't worth a dollar.


Time for mixed lollies.

[marty351]

Urgh!
Phone **** ups!

[joolz]

Towing a caravan to Stawell on the Western Hwy a couple of weeks ago. Doing 100km/h in a 110 zone and coming around a bend, see the red and blues on a police car that pulled over a car. I tried to slow safely to 40 in the distance I had but could only manage around 55-60km/h. Thankfully no one behind me as they probably wouldn't be able to see the police car and realise why I was braking.
Just as well he didn't have the radar out...

In saying that there have been reports of police cars pulled over with flashing lights pulled over an apparent unmarked police car with radar in hand. If true its a pretty low way to generate revenue.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by joolz

In saying that there have been reports of police cars pulled over with flashing lights pulled over an apparent unmarked police car with radar in hand. If true its a pretty low way to generate revenue.

load of rubbish. A mate of a mate of my wife's third cousin read about it on Facebook

[joolz]

Originally Posted by Lever T

load of rubbish. A mate of a mate of my wife's third cousin read about it on Facebook

It wasn't from facebook. A caller to 3AW reported it.

[danzvtil]

It's not that hard, up ahead, 3 lanes of traffic suddenly showing brake lights, might be time you do too.
And a truckie can see flashing red and blues long before the cars in front of him.