New regulations for road worker safety take effect in Victoria

New Regulations for Road Worker Safety Take Effect in Victoria

Victoria has strengthened protections for roadside workers, supporting drivers in various scenarios, including responding to crashes, vehicle failures, or urgent life-threatening circumstances. The updated rule requires motorists to slow down when passing incident response vehicles, giving workers a safer margin while they carry out roadside duties.

Melissa Horne, the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, announced that starting on 1 July, road rule 79A will be enhanced to improve safe road use for vehicles passing by incident scenes. The change forms part of broader efforts across Victoria's transport network to reduce risks faced by those working alongside moving traffic.

Why the Change Matters for Roadside Workers

“Today’s changes acknowledge the vital role that incident response, roadside assistance and breakdown towing vehicles play on our road network – risking their own safety every day to keep us moving,” Horne said.

“It is so important that we slow to 40 km/h past responding vehicles – for our own safety and the safety of the workers helping us in vulnerable and potentially dangerous situations.”

These adjustments stem from an analysis of the road rule that assessed its regulatory range, compliance rates, and safety improvements. The review considered how transport authorities monitor driver behaviour near incident scenes and where existing standards fell short of protecting frontline crews.

How This Fits Into Victoria's Broader Road Safety Efforts

Roadside incident work sits at a dangerous intersection of unpredictable traffic conditions and time-pressured response tasks. Strengthening rule 79A gives incident responders, tow operators, and transport crews clearer legal backing when they're exposed on live roads.

For businesses managing crews who work near live carriageways, understanding this update is only one part of a wider safety obligation. Employers should also review how their own procedures align with new laws affecting first responder safety on Victorian roads, and ensure site-specific documentation reflects current standards.

Similar regulatory shifts have occurred across other sectors recently, including new quad bike safety regulations in Queensland and upcoming electrical safety regulations, showing a consistent national push to establish appropriate rules for high-risk work environments.

Practical Steps for Employers and Workers

• Review site safety documentation to confirm alignment with the updated road rule.
• Brief transport and logistics teams on the 40 km/h requirement near incident vehicles.
• Update road safety barrier installation SWMS where roadside work intersects with live traffic.
• Use a digital Job Safety Analysis template to reassess risks for crews working near moving vehicles.

Businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, including those managing transport fleets in New Zealand, can also review relevant safety documents for New Zealand businesses to keep compliance consistent across borders.

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