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Safe Speeds

Speeding:

  • increases your risk of being involved in a collision
  • reduces the time you have to react and avoid a collision
  • lengthens your stopping distance
  • increases severity of impact and injuries and lives lost on the roads.

Refer to My Licence for information on offences and penalties.

The effects of speeding on travel time

Speeding saves you very little time.

For example, on a 10-km journey, you would only save 46 seconds by increasing your average road speed from 60 km/h to 65 km/h.

When travelling faster:

  • you also use more fuel
  • your vehicle emits more of the gases that contribute to air pollution.

The relationship between speed and crashes

A critical factor in the relationship between speed and crashes is stopping distance.

There are two components to stopping distance:

  • the distance travelled by the vehicle during the time it takes for the driver to react,
  • the distance travelled once the brakes have been applied.

The faster you go:

  • the further you will travel before you react
  • the longer it will take for your vehicle to stop.

Travelling at a higher speed means that a crash is more likely to happen. If a crash occurs at a higher speed, injuries will be more severe, and there is a greater risk of death.

Research and statistics

When travelling 10 km/h over the speed limit in a 60 km/h speed zone, drivers are 4 times more likely to be involved in a casualty crash. This risk is similar to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of around 0.10 g/100ml – twice the legal limit.

Research shows that the risk of an injury or fatality-related crash roughly doubles with:

  • each 5 km/h increase above the speed limit on urban roads
  • each 10 km/h increase above the average speed limit on regional roads.

Speed limits

Even small increases in vehicle speed significantly impact on road safety risks to yourself and others. Speed is a key factor in crashes and road trauma.

The default speed limits in Australia are:

  • 50 km/h on suburban roads
  • 100 km/h on regional roads.

These limits were set based on research that revealed a direct correlation between:

  • travelling at speed
  • the increased risk of crash and trauma.

Outside a built-up area, some roads may have a speed limit of 110 km/h. The limit will be displayed on speed limit signs. You may travel up to the speed limit as long as it is safe and your licence permits you to do so. Keep in mind that learner and provisional drivers must not travel at this higher speed. Exceeding the speed limit is illegal and can be dangerous.

In South Australia, a 25 km/h speed limit applies:

  • in school zones
  • when passing a school bus that has stopped to set down or pick up children
  • when passing a stationary emergency services vehicle with flashing red or blue lights.

When we recognise the importance of safer speed limits and travel at appropriate speeds, we make our roads safer for everyone.

Speed management considers:

  • the varying types of road users
  • the road environment
  • types of vehicles driven
  • the safety, amenity and economic needs of the community.

Reducing the average travel speed across the network is the swiftest and most effective way to reduce road trauma. It produces significant and immediate safety benefits.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport's Speed Limit Guideline for South Australia (PDF, 1903 KB) is used for applying speed limits throughout South Australia. This makes roads, roadsides and road related areas safer for everyone.

Speed camera program

South Australia's speed camera program targets dangerous behaviour. This includes speeding and red light running, to provide a deterrent effect and reduce crashes.

For information on camera locations, please visit the Speed Camera website.

Speed limits on beaches

Speed limits apply on beaches where driving or riding of vehicles is permitted.

To increase safety for beach goers, there is a default beach speed limit of 40 km/h and 25 km/h when within 50 m of a person, unless otherwise signposted. Fines and demerit points apply for exceeding these limits.

For more information, visit Beach speed limits.