Road Safety Minister, Jennifer Rankine today reminded all road users about the reduced 100km/h speed limit now in force on 45 rural road sections within a 100 kilometre radius of Adelaide and on Yorke Peninsula.
“New signs indicating the rural default 100km/h speed limit have now been located on all of those 45 road sections replacing the previous 110 km/h signs,” Ms Rankine said.
“School holidays start today, so I urge all road users travelling to holiday destinations in the coming weeks to familiarise themselves with the reduced speed limit in that inner circle regional road network.
“We’ve taken this action because over the past five years, almost one fifth of all fatal and serious injury crashes in South Australia occurred within a 100 kilometre radius outside of metropolitan Adelaide.
“We know we can cut the road toll by reducing speed limits, particularly on rural roads.
“Records show there were 290 casualty crashes recorded on52 roads identified for a speed limit reduction in the five year period (2006-2010) resulting in 22 fatalities and 121 serious injuries.
“Analysis of this crash data indicates that if the speed limit on all these rural roads is reduced to 100 km/h, there’s the potential for 12 less casualty crashes each year.
“In July 2003, speed limits on 1100 kilometres of rural roads in South Australia were reduced to 100 km/h, resulting in 20% fewer casualty crashes on those roads,” Ms Rankine said.
“We’re continuing to negotiate with councils on the other seven local government road sections within 100 kilometres of Adelaide and on Yorke Peninsula, which have also been identified for the speed limit reduction.
“Alexandrina Council, the District Council of Copper Coast and the Regional Council of Goyder have all supported changes to reduce their sections of roads to 100 km/h and speed limit signs will be in place by the end of the year.
“We’re continuing to strongly urge the District Council of Yorke Peninsula and Mid Murray Council to get behind this initiative so that the speed limit on all roads in their council areas can be reduced in the new year.
“So far this year our road toll is showing an improvement on last year’s figures, but as we enter a high-risk period, there’s no room for complacency. One death or serious injury on our roads is one too many.
“Christmas parties, school holidays, end of year functions and the festive summer holiday season will see more traffic on the roads and families travelling longer distances and all road users need to act responsibly and contribute to preventing fatal and serious injury crashes.
“It may appear that we’re moving towards a considerable improvement from last year, but all it takes is one poor decision or a lapse in concentration to change that,” Ms Rankine said.
The speed limit reductions are part of theRoad Safety Strategy 2020 – Towards Zero Together Action Plan released last month, which has a target of reducing the road toll by at least 30 percent - to less than 80 fatalities and 800 serious injuries by the end of the decade.
Further information and a list of the roads affected by the speed limit changes available on sa.gov.au/roadsafety
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