The 2024-25 State Budget includes a further $80.1 million for road safety, including reducing the speed limit on arterial roads and some council roads near schools to 40 kilometres an hour at priority locations.
The limit will apply on weekdays during the mornings and afternoons when children are being dropped off and picked up. It will not apply on weekends, school holidays and public holidays. The new limit does not replace or remove existing 25km/h school zones on local
streets.
$2.6 million will go towards installing new variable speed signage at priority locations near school pedestrian actuated (push button) crossings where the new 40 kilometre speed limit will apply.
Priority push button crossings will also be equipped with new road safety cameras, as part of a $38.7 million investment over four years for an additional 30 cameras across the state.
The locations will be determined by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport in consultation with SAPOL, based on crash statistics, driver behaviours, presence of vulnerable roads users and existing safety measures in place.
The change will come into effect from 2025-26.
As part of the $38.7 million, there will also be:
- 12 additional red light speed cameras installed in 2024-25
- 3 additional point-to-point cameras installed in 2025-26.
Those locations will be determined on the criteria outlined above, however the following five locations have been identified as potential priorities and are currently being investigated:
- Military Road
- Port Wakefield Road
- Lonsdale Highway/Ocean Boulevard
- Port River Expressway
- Greenhill Road
Last year, 117 lives were lost – the worst result since 2010.
According to police, dangerous driver behaviour such as speeding and running red lights continues to be a major factor.
The additional safety cameras are expected to be operational commencing from mid-2025 and all online from mid-2026, allowing time for them to be collaborated and commissioned.
All revenue from speed cameras and mobile phone detection cameras is returned to the Community Road Safety Fund which allocates money towards safety initiatives such as policing, infrastructure projects, black spots, education and training programs, road safety campaigns, road safety community grants and bike education in schools.
The 2024-25 State Budget also allocates to road safety:
- $35 million over three years to deliver road safety maintenance such as road
resurfacing, replacement of safety barriers and audio tactile line marking, and
maintenance of electrical assets, including traffic signals.
- $3.8 million over three years for the construction of a new heavy vehicle rest area at
Salt Creek along the Princes Highway, helping heavy vehicle drivers manage fatigue
and improve road safety whilst commuting on South Australian roads. This will be
funded with the Commonwealth on an 80:20 basis.
This is the third road safety package delivered by the Malinauskas Government with a combined $346.1 million, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government for some of the measures.
As put by Stephen Mullighan
The number of lives lost on our roads is devastating, and far too often, entirely preventable.
We make no apologies for clamping down on dangerous and irresponsible drivers.
This funding is in addition to the $98 million announced for road safety in last year's Budget and $168 million, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, announced in the 2023-24 MYBR.
We are determined to address the key problems and to make our roads safer.
As put by Dan Cregan
These measures target speeding and dangerous drivers who put themselves and other road users at risk.
They also help students get to and from school safely during busy periods on our roads.
This investment, backed by better driver behaviour, will go a long way in reducing road trauma.
