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Road Safety Regulations 2009- Summary of proposed new Australian Road Rules
The proposed Road Safety Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for motorists when they apply for a licence or permit, the requirements for heavy truck and commercial bus drivers in regards to the number of hours they can drive, and the fees motorists can be charged relating to driver licensing.
A number of new and interrelated Road Safety Regulations are proposed. They are:
- Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2009
- Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009
- Road Safety (General) Regulations 2009
- Road Safety Road Rules 2009
- Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2009
- Road Safety (Vehicles) Amendment (Electronic Stability Control) Regulations 2009
- Road Safety (Vehicles) Amendment (Head Protection Technology) Regulations.
The proposed regulations are important to all Victorians because they will regulate the behaviour of drivers (by licensing), vehicle design and safety (by registration) and the use of Victorian roads (by road rules). Victoria’s regulations will also provide economic and social benefits for all Victorians, not only drivers, vehicle operators and other road users.
Victoria’s proposed regulations aim to provide significant economic and social benefits for all Victorians - not only drivers, vehicle operators and other road users. VicRoads outlines the following:
- delivering efficiencies by implementing and maintaining agreed national driver licensing regulations that allow drivers to transfer between jurisdictions without the need for tests, examinations or qualifying periods
- offering an efficient form of identification for individuals who hold a licence or a learner permit
- providing safer roads for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists
- delivering income from employment in and/or profit from businesses related to the delivery and transport of goods
- promoting minimum vehicle standards and efficiencies through national vehicle registration arrangements
- reducing congestion and associated time related costs through efficient management of traffic and transport
- providing more efficient management of road assets through effective cost recovery of heavy vehicle registration charges
- bringing theft reduction and confidence in the new and used car market flowing from an effective national vehicle registration scheme.
TWU members may be interested in the following areas of the proposed regulations from VicRoads:
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Rule
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Description of new rule
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Child restraints
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All young children under seven years must be properly restrained in the appropriate approved child restraint when travelling in a motor vehicle. The type of restraint required depends on their age:
Children under four years must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle, which has two or more rows of seats.
Children between four and seven years must not travel in the front seat unless all other seats are occupied by children less than seven years.
This rule does not apply to buses, and taxis must restrain children in a seatbelt if there is no suitable approved child restraint available for use in the taxi.
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Seatbelts
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It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all passengers, including children and adults, are wearing a child restraint or a seatbelt. The driver can be booked for failing to do so. (This rule does not apply to the driver of a bus, or a taxi with passengers 16 years old or older.)
The law requiring all passengers to be restrained was introduced in December 2008. This means a driver cannot take additional passengers once all seating positions fitted with seatbelts are occupied. (There are exemption provisions for some types of vehicles that are not required to be fitted with seatbelts.)
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New rules for the centre dividing line
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A single continuous centre dividing line, now mean that a driver must not overtake or do a U-turn. A driver can only cross a single continuous centre dividing line (or a single continuous line to the left of a broken line) to enter or leave the road (eg when turning into a driveway).
A driver must not cross a single continuous lane line.
A driver must not cross a single continuous line around a painted island (except for no more than 50 metres to enter or leave the road or to enter a turning lane, but not one that separates traffic travelling in the same direction, such as a freeway on-ramp).
There are also some changes in relation to parking opposite dividing lines which are discussed below under Parking.
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Other rules for drivers
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A driver must not block a crossing, that is, must not enter a children’s crossing, marked foot crossing or pedestrian crossing if the road beyond is blocked.
A driver must stop at the first stop line of a bicycle storage area reserved for cyclists, and must not enter this area when the light is red.
A driver must give way to vehicles (as well as pedestrians) in a slip lane.
A driver may only stop for up to two minutes to pick up or drop off passengers in a driveway.
When driving, a driver must not have a person or animal on their lap.
When diverging within a lane, a driver must give way to other vehicles (eg a bicycle) in the lane.
Unless permitted, a driver is not allowed to drive on a safety ramp or arrestor bed.
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Parking
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Parking in a slip lane, or on a painted island, is prohibited.
A driver can park opposite a broken line as long as there is at least three metres of clear road for traffic.
A driver must not park opposite a:
Unless signed otherwise, a driver must stop at least 20 metres before a tram stop.
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Mobile Phones
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The rule regarding drivers using mobile phones while driving has been further strengthened and clarified.
Except for making or receiving a call, all other functions (including texting, video call, emailing) are prohibited.
The phone can only be used if:
Holding the phone (whether or not engaged in a call) will be prohibited, except when passing it to a passenger.
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