SA leading the way in road safety innovation

Australian road safety experts met in Lonsdale this week to oversee the testing of the latest safety innovations from South Australian firm Automotive Safety Engineering.

Representatives from VicRoads, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, the South Australia Local Government Supervisory Officers’ Association, Sakai Australia, SA Police and the RAA among others attended the meeting.

ASE demonstrated some its energy absorbing product range, which includes bollards, crash cushions and poles/tree buffers.

According to a statement from the office of South Australia Police Minister Peter Malinauskas, local councils across the state are increasingly embracing the bollards, which have been installed at the likes of Norwood Parade, Hutt Street, Jetter Road Glenelg, and outside childcare centres in Salisbury.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has also used energy absorbing bollards on many infrastructure projects across SA including the South Road Superway and North East Road and Sudholz Road Safety Improvements Project.

The statement asserted that energy absorbing bollards will continue to be strongly considered by the department to improve safety for road users including on projects such as the Torrens Road to River Torrens, O-Bahn City Access and Darlington Upgrade projects.

The products have been engineered with features such as strategically slotted cellular pockets for controlled crumpling and energy absorption.

“Innovations that reduce the severity of crash impacts and improve protection for pedestrians are fantastic to see, and especially so when they are being produced by a local company,” said Mr. Malinauskas in the statement.

“ASE are already selling their products to Japan, USA and Dubai, and [this week] we welcomed road safety experts from around Australia along with a representative from Japan to their Lonsdale headquarters. ASE are a local company with huge potential for growth.

“I encourage local councils to continue to engage with ASE and consider whether these road safety innovations could improve road safety outcomes within their local areas and particularly in areas where there is high pedestrian traffic.”