FAQs

Concerns about speed on our roads is a regular issue raised with Council from the community wanting safer streets that give residents and visitors freedom to move around more safely. 

The issue was raised by residents as part of the consultation process for the development of the Burnside City Master Plan. Influenced by the feedback received, the Burnside City Master Plan seeks the implementation of 40 km/h zones across 

A city-wide or precinct-based 40 km/h speed limit is a strategy being considered to reduce speed on local roads and increase safety for all road users.  

Lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h is an option that could improve street safety by providing drivers more reaction time to avoid a collision. 

Lowering the speed limits can benefit the whole community by calming traffic and encouraging drivers travelling longer distances to use main roads instead of local streets.

A 40 km/h speed limit provides a calmer environment encouraging a more people-friendly environment and the potential to:

• Improve road safety for all street users, especially people walking, riding, and using public transport. 
• Prevent or reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes, fatalities and injury.
• Reduce noise on local streets and encourage more outdoor use. 
• Slow vehicle traffic, providing more time and safer options for people to cross the street.
• Maintain the existing street environment (reduced requirement for road humps, driveway links, or other traffic calming devices) which is better for emergency services.
• Provide more opportunities for children to ride to school, as well as create a safer environment to play outdoors. 

There would be minimal impact of lower vehicle speeds on travel times. Travel time is more likely to be increased by stopping at intersections, congestion, short street lengths, and on-street parking. Delays experienced by drivers due to a speed limit change would be minimal.

Yes, a street with a lower speed limit will experience fewer crashes as it provides motorists with more time to react and prevent an accident. At lower speeds, the severity of the accidents also decreases. A 40 km/h area provides pedestrians with more time to cross the streets, increasing their safety.

Collisions may occur at any time and at any location. The lower speed limit has proven to reduce the likelihood of crashes and their severity, increasing the safety of all street users.

Yes. Discussions will take place with DIT (South Australia’s Public Transport Service provider) to determine the impact on their level of service in the 40 km/h area.

No. Emergency services (ambulance, fire, and police) can exceed the speed limit in the case of an emergency. Installing other traffic devices (speed humps and chicanes) would slow emergency service to more than a 40 km/h limit.

As part of this consultation, Council will engage with Emergency Services.

Larger areas would provide a consistent speed limit for road users. It would also minimise the amount of required signage throughout the streets.

A strategic approach to speed management is required to develop network-wide or citywide safe streets solutions. There are a number of infrastructure and non-infrastructure methods to manage speed reduction.  

Speed humps, roundabouts, and similar traffic-slowing devices can be useful to reduce speed in the immediate locations in which they are installed, however, they do not have a benefit more broadly as they tend to push traffic into neighbouring streets.

The introduction of a 40 km/h area is a more equitable and cost-effective solution that allows safe options for all people to enjoy their streets and can avoid the need for excessive traffic management devices. 

In areas with speed humps and traffic calming already, these will be retained unless there is a significant change in driver behaviour.

The enforcement of a lower speed limit is performed by the South Australian Police (SAPOL), who work independently of Council. Council does not earn any revenue from any SAPOL enforcement activities.

Changes in speed limits will only be enforced after a reasonable transition period.

No. The council cannot gain any direct revenue from lower speed limits. The aim is to increase safety for all road users. Lower speeds can improve walkability, create calm environments, and encourage motorists to reduce their vehicle speeds without penalty. Council does not enforce speed limits nor does it earn any revenue from any SAPOL enforcement activities.  

Yes. Should this proposal be supported by the community, endorsed by Council and the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the change in speed zone will be permanent.

All feedback received from the community will be collected, analysed and reported to Council, who will consider this feedback when making their decision. The Council meeting date will be added to this project page when it is confirmed.

The first step of the project is to seek your views on a 40 km/h speed limit on residential streets.

 A report will be presented to Council on the outcomes of the engagement and the recommendations. 

Approval will be sought from the Commissioner for Highways for a change in speed limit. 

If supported by the community, the Council, and the Commissioner for Highways, the process for implementation may take 12–24 months.

The change of speed limits on local streets requires the approval of the Commissioner for Highways. If a proposal is supported by the community and in turn endorsed by Council, the Commissioner for Highways is required to formally review and approve changes to speed limits. Council will decide whether to make such an approach, based on the feedback received in this engagement.