Motor Vehicle
The Fast and the In-Furiated – Unreasonably Slow Drivers in Australia
In 2019, a Perth resident was fined for driving 28km/hr under the designated speed limit. The police issued this fine because the slow driver was creating an unreasonable obstruction to other drivers which could result in a car accident.
Whilst there are no explicit road rules that set a minimum speed limit on roads, Rule 125 of the Queensland Road Rules 2009 states that “A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian”.
The rule continues by saying that a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or pedestrian only because the driver is stopped in traffic or driving more slowly than other vehicles, unless the driver is “driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances.”
If the Queensland Police Service were to follow the practices of their Western Australian colleagues, it appears that drivers driving 28km/hr under the designated speed limit would be in breach of Rule 125, however, the threshold may well be lower depending on the circumstances.
Driving Behind an Unreasonably Slow Driver
For motorists driving behind unreasonably slow drivers, it is important to ensure that it is safe and legally permitted before trying to overtake a slow driver, as exceeding the legal speed limit or breaking the Road Rules can result in penalties and fines, as well as create unsafe situations which can lead to car accidents.
Regardless of your decision, it is important to maintain a sufficient distance behind a vehicle travelling in front of you so that you can, if necessary, stop safely to avoid a car accident. In Queensland, more than 7,000 injuries and fatalities were attributed to tailgating between 2019 and 2020.
Car Accident Claims
At Claimwise our mission is to help you save money on your legal fees. By starting your CTP claim with a traditional ‘No Win, No Fee’ law firm your total legal fees can end up being $10,000 or more higher than by using us.
If you or someone you know have been injured on the road in Queensland and want to keep your legal costs down, feel free to get in touch with us.
Be smart, claim wise.
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/sl-2009-0194
http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/toumrr2009629/s126.html