NSW firefighters push for 'slow down' laws

NSW firefighters have reignited their push for new laws to force drivers to slow down when passing emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

The NSW Rural Fire Service Association on Saturday said the state can't afford to wait and risk further tragedy.

It follows the introduction of laws to protect emergency workers in Western Australia, which came into effect on Friday.

Drivers in WA who don't slow down to 40km/h when passing incident response vehicles with flashing lights face a $300 fine and the loss of three demerit points.

"The message from the WA Government is clear and correct: we must look after those who look after us," the association's president Ken Middleton said in a statement.

The association has long been campaigning for a new 40km/h speed limit, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian setting up a working group to consider legislation.

But Mr Middleton said he was "extremely disappointed" that a planned meeting of that group on Friday was postponed.

"This should be an extremely straightforward process - these laws protect emergency services, make our roads safer and are already in force across half of the country," he said.

"Governments in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria have acted quickly to protect the protectors and I'm urging the premier to recognise the clear need to do the same here in NSW."

In February, a police officer lost his foot and another was injured when an driver crashed into them as they set up a random breath test site in Sydney's south west.