Following Western Australia's adoption of the slow down and move over (SLOMO) law last week, RACQ has renewed its calls for the Queensland government to introduce the laws for state roads.
WA was the third state, after Victoria and South Australia, to implement the new laws, which require motorists to slow down and move over when emergency or incident responders were working on the roadside.
“These rules are about protecting our emergency responders, whose lives are at risk by working in a high-speed, dangerous environment,” said Steve Spalding, RACQ head of technical and safety policy. “Tragically, we’ve seen lives of emergency respondents lost, and it’s time for the Queensland government to act to reduce the risk to those working to save lives and ease traffic delays on Queensland highways.”
The Brisbane-based provider of roadside assistance and insurance had been calling for the change for some time, as it believed that the laws would provide protection for responders, such as Queensland Police, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, RACQ traffic - vehicles and patrol vehicles, and tow trucks.
“We need to ensure the state government and motorists alike get on board with these laws to give emergency responders, and the public they are assisting, the space and safety they need to do what they do best,” Spalding said.
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