SA Gov to introduce $98M road safety program

The South Australian State Government has announced plans to invest $98 million in a new road safety program to address the state’s high road death toll.

Under the $98 million program, half of the funding will be allocated to improve the safety of road infrastructure.

This includes $40 million for connections surrounding the Mount Barker roundabout in Adelaide. The scope of works for this project involves upgrading the intersection to increase capacity from all roads, provision of shared use paths, stormwater drainage improvements and installation of streetlights. These works are expected to be completed by June 2026.

The $98 million funding package includes $17.8 million for approximately 15 new mobile speed cameras and the replacement of an anticipated 16 fixed speed & red light cameras with newer technology. A further $13.4 million will be spent on an anticipated 10 additional mobile phone detection cameras to deter dangerous behaviour.

Related stories:

591 people have died on South Australian roads so far this year, 17 higher than the five year average.

31 per cent of lives lost have been attributed to excessive speed and 27 per cent attributed to dangerous driving so far this year. The State Government says Mobile speed cameras will assist in enforcing speed limits in regional areas, where the 1 As of 14 June 2023 majority of fatal crashes occur—including 60 per cent of all lives lost this year.

The cameras are expected to be operational in 2024. The initiative is projected to increase expiation revenue by $17.1 million per annum (indexed) from 2024‐25.

A further $10 million will be spent over four years on rural road targeted initiatives including audio tactile line marking, safety barriers and rural junction activated warning system signage.

SA Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services Joe Szakacs said the funding package would contribute to keeping motorists safe on South Australian roads.

“The road toll and number of serious injuries this year is simply unacceptable. The State Government has an ambitious goal of zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050, and this package shows our commitment to that cause,” he said.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re a driver, a passenger, a cyclist, a pedestrian or any other road user, there is no excuse for not paying attention on our roads.”

The road safety package also includes:

$6.2 million for road safety campaigns
$6.2 million over four years for Kangaroo Island road improvements and maintenance
$3.8 million to deliver the motorcycle Rider Safe reform program which focuses
on awareness, judgement and decision making
$494,000 to implement a new licensing scheme for ultra‐high powered vehicles