The road rules require drivers to pass a stationary or slow-moving emergency services vehicle at 40 kilometres per hour if it has red and blue, or magenta, flashing lights, or an alarm sounding.

But central Victorian police say they often see drivers flout the rule, some through confusion or ignorance.

Read more: How the 40 km/h speed limit rule works | Q&A

Bendigo Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks said drivers speeding past stopped vehicles was a huge problem for all services, putting responders in danger.

He warned police were intercepting these drivers where they had the capacity, or following up later using the video streams from police cars.

Senior Sergeant Brooks said many drivers were confused about when they had to slow down, or said they didn't know it was law.

Drivers must slow to below 40 kilometres per hour when passing a stationary or slow-moving vehicle with flashing lights, unless it is on the opposite side of a road divided by a median strip or wire rope barriers.

Senior Sergeant Brooks urged people to heed the 40 kilometre per hour passing law, saying safety on the road was everyone's responsibility.

He urged drivers to always drive to conditions, even if that meant travelling below the speed limit.

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"If you do come across an emergency services vehicle with blue and red flashing lights... slow down, give us the courtesy that we're helping somebody," he said.

"The last thing we need is someone injured while we're trying to do the best we can."

Senior Sergeant Brooks said police understood some of the angst about people on the freeway slowing down from 110 kilometres per hour at short notice, but asked drivers to do so as best as possible.

"What we're asking people to do is to make the attempt at least, and give us the courtesy of attempting to slow down," he said.

"Especially on the freeway if you can move to the other lane, if you can move to the right lane that gives us added protection as well."

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