A new education campaign is calling on South Australian drivers to ‘slow down for a breakdown’ ahead of a new law to better protect roadside service workers.
From Monday 19 May, motorists will need to reduce their speed to 25km/h when travelling past stationary tow trucks, vans and other breakdown services vehicles which are stopped at the roadside and displaying flashing amber lights.
The reduced speed limit will also apply when passing bollards or cones that have been set up around a vehicle by a breakdown services worker.
“The roadside can be a dangerous place for breakdown services workers who face high-risk situations every day by simply doing their job and helping others,” said SA Transport Minister, Tom Koutsantonis.
“This campaign is driving home the roadside safety message and calls on all road users to slow down for a breakdown to ensure everyone can get home safely.
“If you see flashing amber lights on a vehicle up ahead, take your foot off the accelerator and reduce your speed to 25km/h.
“Pay attention, slow down and stick to the limit to protect the people who answer the call when car troubles strike.”
The safety campaign will utilise radio, social media and roadside advertisements, targeting metropolitan and regional drivers.
The 25km/h speed limit will not apply to drivers if the stationary breakdown services vehicle is on the opposite side of the road they are travelling.
“Roadside patrol workers work in inclement weather with traffic going in their direction at speeds up to 110 km/h, putting their lives at risk while assisting others,” said Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Acting State Secretary, Stuart Gordon (the AMWU represents Roadside Patrol Workers at RAA).
“Everyone deserves a safe workplace and these changes have gone a long way in making RAA Patrol and Vehicle Assistance workers safer.
“Union members at RAA applaud the decision to slow down to 25 after decades of campaigning for safety by the AMWU,” he said.
The new law is an extension of the existing 25km/h speed limit in place to protect stationary school buses that have stopped to set down or pick up children, and frontline volunteers and emergency services workers with vehicles displaying flashing blue or red lights as they respond to incidents roadside.
