Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

View the Frequently Asked Questions as a PDF .

What do I need to know about the 50 km/h limit?

The State Government has introduced a 50 km/h general urban speed limit in built-up areas of all South Australian cities and towns.

The 50 km/h speed limit applies on all local streets unless you pass a sign indicating a different speed limit.

If there is no speed sign, the speed limit is 50 km/h in a built-up area.




What is a built-up area?

A built-up area is where there are buildings such as houses, shops and factories located next to a roadway. These areas usually have street lighting and are found in both the Adelaide metropolitan area and country towns.

When did the new speed limit start?

The new speed limit became effective from one minute after midnight on Saturday, 1 March 2003.

Which streets are affected?

Local urban streets in the metropolitan area and country towns have a 50 km/h speed limit. This limit replaces the previous general urban speed limit of 60 km/h.

Most of these streets ARE NOT marked with speed signs but automatically attract the 50 km/h speed limit.

If in doubt, and there is no speed sign, you must not exceed 50 km/h in a built-up area.

Which streets and roads are not affected by the new 50 km/h speed limit AND where are speed signs used?

Streets and roads where the speed limit is higher or lower than 50 km/h are clearly marked with speed limit signs. Examples include main roads, road works, 40 km/h areas, 25 km/h school zones and children’s crossings.

Some main streets and roads through country towns are 50 km/h. These streets have a speed limit sign.
All major roads such as highways and arterial roads-those that serve as key traffic routes-are clearly signed. Signs on these roads can be expected at:

• The start of the road.
• Near major intersections.
• Regular intervals along the road.

Transport SA’s website has the latest maps of roads remaining at 60 km/h or higher – these maps are frequently updated with the latest information available.

Will police enforce the new speed limit?

SA Police are conducting a 3-month public education period from the date of implementation of the new 50 km/h speed limit on 1 March 2003. During this period Police will use their discretion to caution or educate offenders. Drivers detected in a serious offence will be fined or prosecuted. A substantial breach of the 50 km/h speed limit may still incur a fine during the 3-month education period.

After this 3-month period, police will conduct an active enforcement program and will issue expiation notices to drivers exceeding the 50 km/h speed limit.

Expiation fees start at approximately $140 and may incur demerit points.

Expiation fees for speeding offences are the same, regardless of the speed limit on the road where the offence is committed and are calculated according to the speed recorded in excess of the speed limit.

For further information contact SA Police Traffic Enquiries on (08) 8207 6586.

Why do we need a lower speed limit?

The reasons for the introduction of a lower built-up area speed limit are as follows:

to improve road safety - reducing the default speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h will improve your ability to stop thereby reducing crashes and making local streets safer;

make streets safer for pedestrians;

improved amenity (e.g reduced noise and air pollution);

to bring South Australia in line with other Australian States.

Further information available from the fact sheet titled: “50 km/h Speed Limit – The Facts” and information brochure on Transport SA’s website.

How are bus timetables affected?

Bus drivers have to obey the speed limit like any other driver. The likely impact of lowered urban speed limits on public transport vehicles was considered.

About two thirds of the total length of bus routes are on arterial roads which retain a 60 km/h speed limit. Spot checks on bus routes using non-arterial roads indicate that generally buses do not exceed about 52 km/h maximum speedbetween stops on all but the widest of such roads. It is unlikely therefore that the lower speed limit on local streets has a serious impact on most bus timetables.

Assuming a speed limit on bus routes was reduced from the current 60 km/h to 50 km/h, and that buses were currently travelling at a maximum of 60 km/h, bus travel time would increase by a maximum of 8 to 10 seconds per kilometre of travel within local streets. Based on this estimate, the travel time on a route with 4 km of travel on local streets, would increase by 30 to 40 seconds at most over the whole route. Any impact of this increase is further reduced by the fact that the buses make a number of stops.

What happened to existing 40 km/h Local Area Speed Limit zones?

Existing 40 km/h local speed zones have not changed. Drivers must remember that 50 km/h is a default speed limit, which means that it applies whenever there is no other sign on streets in built-up areas such as cities, towns and townships.

What is the speed limit in the city of Adelaide?

A 50 km/h speed limit applies on streets within the Adelaide City Council.

Further details will be provided when available.

Will speed humps on local roads be removed?

Some local councils have installed speed humps and the decision on whether they remain will be made by the council that installed them.

What will be the effect on the environment?

One of the reasons for lower speed limits is to improve the social amenity of our residential streets. Reducing vehicle speed can reduce noise and vehicle emissions as well as improve safety on streets particularly for vulnerable users like pedestrians.

Further information:

Transport SA on 1300 360 067 (cost of local call) and website www.transport.sa.gov.au

SA Police Traffic Enquiries on (08) 8207 6586