New campaign highlights the dangers of speed to our workers on the road

Published date: 26 Nov 2021

The everyday dangers faced by Victorian roadside workers and first responders are at the centre of a new road safety campaign urging motorists to slow down.

The Transport Accident Commission campaign profiles six people who either work on the roads, or for emergency services, and highlights how their safety is at stake when people speed or drive dangerously past them.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll, today joined the TAC and Road Safety Victoria to launch the campaign and urge drivers to consider the safety of roadside workers and first responders, and slow down when passing them.

Using the popular ‘Humans of the Road’ format across digital channels, the campaign aims to further raise awareness around the safety of first responders and roadside workers, and remind motorists of the laws in place to protect them.

Victoria has opened up, the roads are busier and there is a huge program of works being delivered across the state.

With hundreds of people out working on the roads, and our first responders continuing their critical role in getting Victoria moving safely again, it’s never been more important pay extra attention, look out for people working on or near the roads, and to slow down.

Since 2017, it has been law in Victoria to slow down to 40 km/h, or less, when passing law enforcement and emergency services that are active or with lights flashing. In addition, it is law to slow down to the posted speed limit when passing other roadside workers.

Despite the laws, too many motorists continue to speed and drive dangerously when passing these workers, putting their lives at risk.

Victoria Police actively enforce motorists slowing to 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle with emergency lights flashing. In 2020 alone, police issued 503 infringement notices for this offence.

Drivers can be detected by a laser or other speed measuring device, in-car video, and emergency workers can also make reports to police if they witness an incident.

The TAC’s new campaign will run across digital media from today, and will continue over the coming weeks and months.

Quotes attributable to Minster for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll:

“Near misses are all too common for our emergency services and roadside workers, so this campaign highlights the dangers they face at work every day, and how we can all help keep them safe by slowing down.”

“The campaign is also a reminder to motorists to slow down when passing anyone on the roadside, and of the laws and limits in place to protect people whose workplace is the roads.”

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO, Joe Calafiore:

“Roadside workers and first responders face more risks than most of us in their workplace but we can all play a role in making their environment safer by slowing down when passing them on the roads.”