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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National

Drug-driving man triggers reminder to slow down near emergency vehicles

Motorists are reminded to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary or slow-moving emergency services vehicles with flashing lights as police still find people being unsure of the requirement.

The reminder comes after ACT Policing recently charged a man with driving offences, including driving at more than 40km/h when passing an emergency service vehicle, drug driving and driving with a suspended licence.

In a statement on Sunday, police said the officers were conducting a routine traffic stop when the man, 40, drove past them "at speed".

They said a magistrate recently found the man guilty of all charges and the penalty for not slowing down when passing police was a fine of $500.

"If the man fails to pay this fine, he will be imprisoned for two days," police said.

"While this law was introduced in 2018, officers still find that people are unsure of the 40km/h requirement.

"Sticking to this speed limit is an important safety measure for emergency service workers as they go about their work on Canberra's roads."

Acting Superintendent Stephen Booth said that while most Canberrans complied with these road rules, some do not.

"We all have a role to play in providing a safe working environment for our emergency service workers on the road or roadside," he said.

The infringement notice penalty for failing to slow near emergency vehicles is $257 and two demerit points.

NSW also introduced a 40km/h maximum limit and following a 12-month trial, it amended the requirement in 2019 in which drivers need to slow down to that speed when passing stationary emergency vehicles only where speed limits are less than 80km/h.

ACT drivers must slow to 40km/h near emergency vehicles. Picture: Rohan Thomson
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