NSW 40km/h slowdown rule scrapped from highways

The NSW Government has announced changes to a controversial 40km/h rule around emergency vehicles, amid ongoing debate from motorists.

Under the laws, which will be made official on September 26 following a polarising 12 month trial, motorists will need to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency vehicles (police, ambulance and fire services with their lights flashing) only when the posted speed limit is below 80km/h.

For signposted speed limits above 90km/h, drivers will now be expected to slow to a “safe and reasonable speed”, allowing “sufficient space” to those working on the roadside, and “change lanes to keep the lane next to the vehicle free if it is safe to do so”.

In addition, the slowdown laws will be expanded to include tow trucks and breakdown assistance vehicles displaying flashing yellow lights while stopped on the road.

The changes follow months of heated debate and lobbying from motoring and transport bodies, who argued the previous requirement to slow to 40km/h from higher speeds caused accidents and unnecessary danger to motorists.

"These changes are about slowing down safely," said NSW Minister for Rural Roads, Paul Toole.

“If you are driving on roads 90km/h or over you will need to consider how close you are to the stationary vehicle and slow to a safer speed and give as much space to the vehicle as you can.”

During the 12 month trial, 926 infringements were issued to motorists who failed to obey the slowdown rules.

According to government research, in the five years from 2014 to 2018 about 85 per cent of crashes where emergency service vehicles were stopped at the roadside happened in 80km/h speed zones and below.