Emergency stopping lanes - when you can and can’t use them

The emergency stopping lanes and bays on WA’s roads and freeways should only be used in legitimate emergency situations.

Pulling over to send a text message, make a call or do anything else in your vehicle which would not be considered an emergency, where you or others are at risk and immediate action is required, is not permitted.

Some drivers are exempt from these regulations, for example police and ambulance officers driving with their lights and sirens turned on. If you don’t have an exemption, a situation in which you would stop in an emergency stopping lane or bay would be because your vehicle is disabled or inoperable, or for any unexpected situation in which the health or safety of the driver or a passenger is at risk, and you must act immediately.

If you do need to stop for any of these reasons, you must not stay in the emergency lane or bay for any longer than necessary in the circumstances. You should also only drive within these lanes or bays for the same reasons or if you’re avoiding a collision.

While some emergency stopping bays have roadside help phones, where there isn’t one or where you can’t get out safely to use one, call Main Roads WA on 138 138 for assistance. If emergency services are needed, call 000.

If you’re on the Kwinana or Mitchell freeways and can’t get to an emergency bay, stay in your vehicle, turn your hazard lights on, keep your seatbelt fastened and wait for the Incident Response team.

WA's two Smart freeways are monitored 24/7, which means that stopped vehicles are detected quickly and an incident response vehicle may be dispatched within minutes.