Western Australia · Drive Safe · chapter 4 · 20 min read

Signs, Markings & Traffic Signals

• All drivers and riders should know the road rules. The following are some of the major ones together with some ADDITIONAL SAFETY advice.
• 3.1 Speed Limits You must not exceed the legal speed limit for the road or area in which you are driving. Never drive at an unsafe speed for the conditions that exist at the time. 3.1.1 What are the speed limits? There a number of different types of speed limits: ƒ Speed limits that are shown on signs. These can vary from as low as 10km/h up to 110km/h. Times when the limits apply can be shown on the signs, such as for school zones, or the signs can apply for roads in an area, such as area speed limits.
• ƒ Speed limits that apply when there are no speed limit signs. They are called ‘default’ speed limits. One is the ‘Built-Up’ Area limit and one is the maximum State Speed limit. In ‘Built-Up’ Areas In a ‘built-up’ area, the ‘default’ speed limit is 50 km/h unless a sign shows a different speed. A ‘built-up’ area is any road:
• on which there is provision for street lighting at intervals of not over 100 metres for a distance of at least 500 metres; or
• which is ‘built up’ with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses at intervals of less than 100 metres for a distance of 500 metres or more. Outside ‘Built-Up’ areas The speed limit that applies in Western Australia outside ‘built-up’ areas and where there are no speed limit signs is currently 110km/h. The places where this limit starts may be indicated on signs such as a ‘derestriction sign’ or a speed limit sign with the word ‘END’ on it.
• 3.1.2 Temporary speed limits Temporary speed limit signs, for speeds lower than those that normally apply, may be installed along a road for a number of reasons such as poor road conditions, or work or events being undertaken. These temporary speed limits are for the safety of drivers as well as for people undertaking work or participating in an event on or near a road. The law in regard to temporary speed limits is the same as applies to normal speed limits - that is, you must not exceed the speed limit shown on the sign. Speeding vehicles are a very real threat to the safety of other drivers and roadworkers.

Some reasons for temporary speed limits reductions include: ƒ The road condition or layout may have changed and you may not be aware of this. ƒ While under construction or repair, the road surface may not be safe to drive on at the normal speed e.g. loose gravel, uneven surface, narrow lanes, alignment changes. etc. ƒ Some roadwork activities are mobile, such as line marking, road patching and mowing. The roadworker may be moving through the zone and needs a reduced speed limit for safety reasons.

Note: Roadworkers may not always be visible when travelling through a temporary speed limit zone. ƒ Speed limits that apply for certain vehicles and drivers There are speed limits placed on certain vehicles and drivers even though a higher speed limit may be permitted for other vehicles or drivers. It should be remembered that speed limits are the maximum you are allowed to drive at under the best conditions. You must drive slower when the road is wet, narrow, slippery, winding, hilly, has a loose surface etc., or visibility is poor or traffic conditions require you to drive slower for safety. Provisional drivers can drive up to 110km/h (where this is the maximum speed limit), but should remember that they are still gaining experience and need to take extra care. Speed limit restrictions Learner driver Vehicles towing caravans or trailers Buses and coaches over 5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) Vehicles with a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) over 12 tonnes 3.1.3 Max Limit 100 km/h 100 km/h 100 km/h 100 km/h Passing incident response vehicles (emergency and breakdown vehicles) It is an offence not to give way to an emergency vehicle. Roadside workers operate in a hazardous environment. Drivers must slow down and if safe to do so, move over when passing stationary incident response vehicles displaying flashing lights. This is known as Slow Down, Move Over or SLOMO. Incident response vehicles are fitted with flashing warning lights and are authorised to stop at the roadside in order to respond to emergencies and breakdowns. They include the following vehicles: ƒ Police vehicles; ƒ Ambulances; ƒ Fire and emergency services vehicles; ƒ Motor break-down service vehicles; ƒ Tow trucks; and ƒ Main Roads Incident Response Service vehicles. Note: Flashing lights do not include indicators or hazard warning lights. If you are not sure whether a vehicle which is stationary at the roadside and displaying flashing lights is an incident response vehicle, treat it as if it is.

SLOMO Campaign

Approach at a safe speed and be prepared to stop if necessary. Pass the stationary vehicle at no more than 40km/h.

• If the incident response vehicle is ahead of you in the same lane, you must move over to another lane if safe to do so. Flashing lights on a stationary vehicle means approaching vehicles must slow down, move over (if possible) and pass at 40km/h.
• 3.1.4 Two-way carriageway When approaching an incident response vehicle, which is stationary on your side of the road and displaying flashing warning lights, you must: ƒ approach at a safe speed and be prepared to stop if necessary; and ƒ pass the stationary vehicle at no more than 40km/h, leaving as much space as is safe in the circumstances. 3.1.5 Multi-lane carriageway When approaching an incident response vehicle, which is stationary at the roadside and displaying flashing warning lights, you must: ƒ approach at a safe speed and be prepared to stop if necessary; ƒ pass the stationary vehicle at no more than 40km/h, whatever lane you are in; and ƒ if the incident response vehicle is ahead of you in the same lane, you must move over to another lane if safe to do so. For the safety of all road users, it is suggested that you move over to maintain a one lane gap between the stationary incident response vehicle and your vehicle. 3.1.6 Roadworks sites Roadworks improve the roads for everyone, ensuring a safer, more efficient and more convenient road network.