RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs, Will Golsby, said 'slow down move over’ laws are not only a road-safety matter for members and the community; they are also about workplace safety.
"RAC has been are calling for 'slow down move over’ laws to be introduced since 2012, due to the deep concern about motorists who do not slow down as they pass broken-down vehicles,” Mr Golsby said.
"Our concern is that without a firm and joint effort to confront this problem, further deaths on our roadsides will, tragically, be inevitable.
"This is why RAC has consistently called on other parties to commit to introducing 'slow down move over’ laws into Western Australia.”
'Slow down move over’ laws, which have been implemented in South Australia and parts of the US and Canada, require motorists to slow down when they see the flashing lights of emergency-service vehicles, tow trucks or roadside-assistance patrol vehicles; and if possible, move over to another lane as they pass the scene.
"There is no question that the roadside, particularly on high-speed roads, is a dangerous place for stranded motorists, road workers, emergency-service personnel, police officers, tow-truck drivers, roadside assistance patrols and all those who call the roadside their place of work.
“It is important to also highlight that our concerns are not just confined to the metropolitan road network. The problem is also exacerbated on country roads where high speed limits apply, but there is little room on the roadside to safely park a broken-down vehicle.”
RAC believes the next step is for legislative amendments to be introduced in 2017 to the Road Traffic Code or Road Traffic Act to require motorists to slow down or move over and exercise care when approaching and passing a broken-down vehicle or crash.
"A community-awareness campaign would also be required to promote awareness of the new requirement to slow down or move over, and to highlight the safety issues facing incident or breakdown respondents.
"The campaign should also inform motorists about what they should do to remain safe in the event of a breakdown on a high-speed road. This is an aspect of road safety that cannot be overlooked."
