The Risks of Driving Too Slowly
2 minute read
The hazards of speeding are well-known. Motorists are regularly fined in every state in Australia for exceeding safe speed limits. Did you know that in some states, you can be fined for driving too slowly? There’s a point where slowing down actually becomes dangerous to other drivers around you. And when that happens you might find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
Here we talk through the dangers of driving slowly, how slow you can go on the road, what implications it may have and what you should do if you’re involved in an accident.
The danger of slow driving
In January 2019, Western Australian police officers issued a fine to a Perth man for driving too slowly on the freeway. It was later revealed that the man was doing 28km/h under the speed limit.
Though this seems counterintuitive, slow driving can be just as dangerous as speeding in some circumstances. Driving slower than the posted speed limit is considered a traffic hazard. Not only can it cause congestion, but it can cause frustration and confusion in other drivers.
Traffic officials describe situations where another driver approaching a slower car might swerve to avoid running into the back of the slower vehicle and this could cause a serious car accident with the cars travelling in other lanes. Or other drivers who are frustrated might get distracted and make poor decisions that result in an accident.
Research out of the US shows that those driving 10mph slower than the prevailing speed limit are six times more likely to be involved in a car accident.
How slow can you go?
The rules around slow driving aren’t based on a minimum speed limit, but on a driver’s speed compared to other motorists. According to rule number 125 of the Australian Road Rules ‘a driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or pedestrian’. In other words, if you are causing a problem on the road by driving under the speed limit, then you’re breaking the law.
But how slow can you go? Rule 125 clarifies that you won’t be unreasonably obstructing another road user if you’ve merely stopped in traffic, or if you’re driving slower than other motorists but not considered to be abnormally slow driving.
How slow you can go will depend on the specific situation. For example, the fined Perth driver was going about 50km/h or so in an 80km/h zone – and in this situation, that speed was considered ‘unreasonable’.
But you can ‘reasonably’ obstruct traffic even if you’re going much faster. In fact, police in Perth and Sydney have even fined drivers for going 90 in 100 zones because those drivers were in the right-hand lane and weren’t overtaking.
It’s important to remember that in some situations, such as heavy rain or busy pedestrian activity, it may be necessary to drive at a significantly slower pace than normal. And in those cases, it would be considered a reasonable speed.
Can you get fined for driving too slowly?
Can you get fined for driving too slowly? Absolutely. Rule 125 has been adopted by all Australian states, and that means you can be fined in all Australian states if you’re causing an obstruction to other drivers by driving slower than the posted speed limit.
The amount of the fine does depend on the specific state, however. These are:
Safe driving practices
If the speed limit is more than 80km/h, or more than 90km/h in Western Australia, you’re required to keep left except in special circumstances such as overtaking, turning right or making a U-turn.
Tailgating is illegal and drivers must leave enough space between their own vehicle and the one in front of them so, if necessary, they can stop in time to avoid colliding with the vehicle.
Rules can vary state-by-state so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the rules in your specific state or territory.
Contact us
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident – whether it involved a car driving too slowly or speeding, or it involved a motorbike, bicycle or any other kind of road transport vehicle – you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us today to arrange an obligation free appointment with one of our lawyers who are experts in motor vehicle accident law and work on a No Win, No Fee* basis.
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Please note that at the time of publishing this, the content is considered accurate. However, the applicable laws may have changed and therefore have an impact on the accuracy of the content. Please seek legal advice before making any decisions on the information provided in this content.
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