Not slowing down to 40km/h will carry an on-the-spot fine of $448, or $2200 in court, plus three demerit points.

Motorists are also required to give way to personnel on foot, but the speed limit does not apply when the motorist and emergency vehicles are separated by a median strip. 

Member for Orange Phil Donato said it was important to protect the emergency services personnel trying to respond to incidents. 

“They’re working on the roadway and they don’t want to be hit – they want to go home to their families,” Mr Donato said. 

“They’re people who are focusing on the task at hand removing injured people from a vehicle, for example, and they don’t have to worry about cars flying past at 100km/h.”

He said while some were concerned it was a revenue-raising exercise, fining people was not the objective.

“The objective is to protect those who protect us – if it means saving one life, it’s worth it,” he said. 

Lucknow Rural Fire Brigade captain Mick Bloomfield described attending incidents alongside high-speed traffic as terrifying. 

“One day, a bus came through and he was doing the speed limit and nearly ran into other cars,” he said. 

“At a fire, the cars came past so quick we couldn’t get out of the truck, we had to get out the passenger side.

“You’re trying to do your job and you’re trying to keep an eye on the traffic and it makes it very difficult.”

It has been a long campaign for Mr Donato, having pushed for the change since September. 

The state government did not act on the requests until April after a police officer lost the lower part of his leg.

Mr Donato said the promised comprehensive public education campaign had not occurred. 

“Drivers’ awareness is the key to this working,” he said.

“Largely the community are still unaware [and] many emergency services workers have not seen standard operating procedures or received requisite education, training and safety equipment either.” 

The trial will remain in place for 12 months. 

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