Law enforcement and emergency vehicles

Rules for law enforcement and emergency vehicles

In emergencies, law enforcement and emergency vehicles:

• have red, blue or magenta (purple) flashing lights
• sound a siren or alarm
• are not required to follow the road rules.

Responding to sirens and flashing lights

If a law enforcement or emergency vehicle has its lights and/or siren on, you:

• must safely get out of its way
• give way and stop if necessary (even if your traffic light is green)
• can enter an intersection on a red light if:
  • it's safe 
  • the only way to make room.

You must also stop if twin red lights are flashing on a road, e.g. outside a fire station or ambulance station. You can start driving again once the lights have stopped flashing and the road is clear of emergency or other vehicles.

Passing law enforcement and emergency vehicles

When law enforcement and emergency vehicles are stationary or slow moving (less than 10 km/h), and have their lights and/or siren on, you must:

• slow down to under 40km/h when passing the vehicle
• remain at 40km/h until you’re a safe distance from the scene.

This rule applies to all roads, including freeways. You must also slow down even if the law enforcement or emergency vehicle is in the service lane or on a dividing strip.

Travelling in the opposite direction 

You must slow down to 40km/h in both directions on roads that are divided by single or double white lines.

You don’t need to slow down if you’re travelling on the opposite side of a road which is separated by a median strip, e.g. an area that’s covered in grass or includes a wire rope, concrete barrier or painted island.

Slowing down on a high speed road 

You should check your rear-view mirror and gradually slow down as soon as you see flashing lights. Keep the current road conditions in mind and avoid sudden braking. 

If the police need to stop a vehicle on a high-speed road, they’ll always try to do this in a location that can be easily seen, so there’s enough time for approaching drivers to slow down safely.

If an emergency or law enforcement vehicle needs to stop in an area of low visibility (due to the location or poor weather), there’ll likely be sirens in addition to flashing lights.

Reducing your speed, even if the vehicle doesn’t get down to 40km/h, will still help reduce the risk of injury for first responders and law enforcement workers. 

Returning to the posted speed limit 

The road rule doesn’t define a ‘safe distance’ from a scene because every incident is different.

For example, a fire truck may be stationed by the roadside with flashing lights, but fire fighters may be managing a fire further up the road. In this instance, you must not increase your speed until you’ve passed all emergency personnel at the scene.

In contrast, a roadside vehicle stopped by the police might require you slow down and travel at 40km/h for a much shorter distance.

You should be aware of the individual circumstances of each incident and drive accordingly. 

Once you’re clear of the scene, you don’t need to wait for the next speed sign to increase your speed up to the previously posted limit.

If the speed limit before the scene is 40km/h 

If the posted speed limit is already 40km/h (e.g. on an electronic speed limit sign on a managed motorway), then you must not increase your speed above 40km/h even after you have passed the scene. 

You must follow the enforced speed limit.

The 40 km/h speed limit is consistent with existing speed limit restrictions through school zones, road work zones and environments with vulnerable and unprotected road users.

Types of special purpose vehicles

Vehicles covered under these rules 

You’ll need to slow down and give way to law enforcement, emergency or escort vehicles from:

• Victoria Police
• Ambulance Victoria
• Fire Rescue Victoria
• Country Fire Authority
• Forest Fire Management Victoria 
• State Emergency Service 
• Search and Rescue Services 
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Safety and Compliance Officer (purple flashing lights)
• enforcement vehicles (purple flashing lights) under the control of a state transport body including VicRoads and Commercial Passenger Vehicle Commission enforcement vehicles 
• other emergency patient transport vehicles with red and blue flashing lights.

Other vehicles with yellow flashing lights 

The road rules for giving way and slowing down only apply to law enforcement and emergency vehicles with red, blue or magenta(purple) flashing lights or sirens.

Other special purpose vehicles with different coloured lights (such as yellow flashing lights) are not covered under these rules. Yellow flashing lights warn drivers of a road hazard up ahead such as road works, the presence of a tow truck operator or another first responder. 

If you see a vehicle with yellow flashing lights approaching, keep driving in a safe manner and follow any traffic control measures in place. You don’t need to slow down or give way.

Road Safety Road Rules 2017

The rules regarding law enforcement and emergency vehicles are published in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017:

• Part 7 - Giving way (Rule 78-79A)
  Part 19 - Exemptions (Rule 305-313B) 

You may be fined if you ignore the law

Drivers can be fined up to $961 if caught breaking these rules. However, no demerit points will apply.

Victoria Police has advised that its primary goal is to educate the community about safe speeds around incidents to prevent the death or serious injury of workers and others at the scene.