Road rule that forces drivers to slam on the brakes passing emergency vehicles causes MORE crashes 

The controversial traffic law that doesn’t even work: Road rule that forces drivers to slam on the brakes while passing emergency vehicles is causing MORE crashes

• Motorists are hitting out at a controversial road rule that caused a rise in crashes 
• SA drivers need to slow down to 25km/h when passing an emergency vehicle
• Nationwide, besides South Australia, the speed limits drop to 40km/h 
• More rear-end collisions have been reported than before the law was introduced

By Alex Chapman For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:41 BST, 1 October 2018 | Updated: 03:41 BST, 1 October 2018

Drivers across the country are reporting more near misses than ever before, with motorists pointing the finger at one controversial road rule.

South Australian drivers are forced to slam on the brakes and get their cars below 25 kilometres per hour any time they pass an emergency vehicle with its lights on.

Motorists also need to give way to any person on foot near a parked emergency vehicle flashing its lights, according to the rule. 

Failure to do so could result in a fine of $448 and three demerit points.

 

Drivers are reporting more near misses than ever before due to one road rule (file picture)

In theory, the rule reduces the risk of a driver hitting a paramedic or police officer, whose attention would be on a scene at the side of the road.

But drivers say that screeching to a halt is increasing the likelihood of a rear-end collision.

Latest South Australian police figures show 42 reports of near misses or collisions when motorists are forced to brake hard since the laws were introduced in late-2014.

One-third of the complaints actually resulted in a collision, or the driver being forced to jerk out of the way.

In some instances, they say they completely lost control of their vehicle.

Before the law was implemented, only one complaint was ever made.

South Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard is calling for reform in the state’s law, resulting in consistency across the country.

The law is designed to reduce the risk of emergency services officers being hit by a passing car (file picture)

Similar laws have been put in place in every other state, though their speed limits drop to 40km/h instead of 25km/h when passing an active emergency services vehicle.

‘Potentially, going to 40km/h across the board could be a smoother understanding for the public and community, so we’ll have a look at whether that’s do-able,’ Mr Wingard says.

He says he hopes to raise the issue in Cabinet, before pursuing possible legal changes to State Parliament.

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