It's Simple: Slow Down if we are on the road! (05/04/2024)
This afternoon, at 12:20pm, the brigade was responded to a motor vehicle accident on Maroondah Highway near the Little Steavenson River bridge. A vehicle had left the road just after the Dyes Lane intersection and collided with a tree after impacting the armco safety rail. The vehicle came to rest on top of the damaged armco rail.
Fortunately the driver was unhurt and was helped from the vehicle by other motorists and staff from the nearby Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm. Upon our arrival, the vehicle was made safe and Police and Towing requested. An assessment with Marysville District Towing identified a need to cut and remove the armco. SES Marysville Unit was requested to undertake the task of removing the armco.
As the location involved the only river crossing, every effort was taken to allow traffic past the scene. Despite having flashing red and blue lights operating and one member on a Stop Slow batton, numerous drivers proceeded past the incident at speed; some drivers approached the scene well over 60kph and failed to slow to a safe speed before approaching emergency workers on the road.
The road rules clearly say a driver approaching an emergency vehicle displaying red or blue flashing lights "must drive at a speed at which the driver can, if necessary, stop safely before passing the vehicle" and then can only proceed at a speed no greater than 40kph. The same applies for any emergency workers "on foot in the immediate vicinity of the emergency vehicle". The driver must not increase speed until the driver is at a sufficient distance from the vehicle (or emergency workers) so as not to cause a danger to the any emergency workers. [Road Rule 79A]
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