Speed limits dropped to 40km/h and 30 new cameras in major $80.1m state budget boost

Speed limits are set to be slashed to 40km/h on some of the city’s busiest major roads, with a suite of new safety cameras installed to catch out reckless drivers. See where.

A number of Adelaide’s arterial roads are set for a shake-up, with 40km/h zones to be enforced around schools and 30 new speed cameras to be installed over the next four years.

On Sunday, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan and Police Minister Dan Cregan announced an $80.1m road safety funding boost at Marryatville High School – where, last year, two students were seriously injured after being hit by a truck that allegedly ran a red light.

As part of the package, speed limits will be reduced to 40km/h at a number of “priority locations” where schools sit on major roads.

Military Rd, Port Wakefield Rd, Lonsdale Hwy/Ocean Blvd, the Port River Expressway and Greenhill Rd have been highlighted as potential sites for changes to be enforced.

Police Minister Dan Cregan says reducing speed limits to 40km/h on major roads near schools could help save lives. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

The new limits will apply on weekdays, during school drop-off and pick-up times, but not on weekends, school holidays and public holidays.

They do not replace existing 25km/h school zones on local streets.

More than $2.5m will go towards new electronic speed limit signs at those locations where new limits will apply, with locations to be determined by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport in consultation with SA Police.

Mr Cregan said crash statistics, driver behaviours and presence of vulnerable road users – such as children – and would be used to choose sites most in need, with the limits to come into effect from 2025 to 2026.

$38.7m will also be allocated to install 30 new speed cameras across the state over the next four years, with 12 additional red light speed cameras in 2024-25 and three new point-to-point cameras in 2025-26.

The remaining 15 speed cameras are expected to be fully operational by mid-2026.

The Kensington Road crossing opposite Marryatville High School, where two teens were hit by a truck last year. Picture: Zayda Dollie

The site has undergone progressive safety upgrades since last March. Picture: Zayda Dollie

Mr Mullighan brushed off suggestions the new cameras were a revenue-raising exercise, saying the government made no apologies for clamping down on dangerous and irresponsible drivers.

He said all funds from the state’s speed and mobile phone detection cameras were returned to the Community Road Safety Fund.

“The number of lives lost on our roads is devastating and, far too often, entirely preventable,” Mr Mullighan said.

“We put these (cameras) in to send a clear message to motorists that we need them to slow down on the roads and we need them to pay more attention, and that’s particularly the case when it comes to our schools.

“It’s entirely unacceptable to have motorists speeding past schools, especially at pick-up and drop-off times.”

The 2024-25 state budget will also allocate $35 million over three years for road safety maintenance, including road resurfacing, and #3.8m for the construction of a new heavy vehicle rest area at Salt Creek, along the Princes Hwy.

Originally published as Speed limits dropped to 40km/h and 30 new cameras in major $80.1m state budget boost