Black Spot Program

The Black Spot Program is an annual investment program in road safety infrastructure. It aims to significantly reduce road crashes and trauma. The program focuses on high-risk roads or roads with a proven crash history.

The program is highly effective in reducing crash risks and improving road safety. It achieves this by implementing affordable, high-impact projects that improve safety outcomes. These projects help prevent fatalities and injury crashes within the community.

The Australian Government funds the Black Spot Program. Funding is subject to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development's approval.

Everyone is encouraged to nominate a black spot, including:

  • local road authorities
  • community groups
  • associations
  • road user groups
  • industry
  • individuals.

Nominating a Black Spot

The 2026–2027 program was approved in July 2026. See a list of approved projects.

You can submit a nomination in two ways:

  • directly using the nomination form and guidelines on this page
  • through the relevant road authority:

What to consider before nominating

  • Describe the road safety issue linked to the site.
  • Contact and consult with the local road authority.
  • Check the casualty crash rate at the site within the last 5 years.

Black Spot Program projects do not include red light cameras, speed cameras, vegetation control or maintenance concerns.

Checking the casualty crash rate

A casualty crash is defined as either a fatal or an injury crash. It excludes crashes involving only vehicle or property damage.

In urban areas over the last 5 years, check if either applies:

  • 3 or more casualty crashes at an intersection, or on a road length less than 3 km
  • 0.2 crashes per km per year for a road length longer than 3 km.

In rural areas over the last 5 years, check if either applies:

  • 2 or more casualty crashes at an intersection, or on a road length less than 3 km
  • 0.13 crashes per km per year for a road length longer than 3 km.

For crash rate calculations, refer to the urban and rural boundary map (PDF, 838.1 KB). This map was last updated in July 2024.

How to apply for funding

Step 1: Read criteria and guidelines
Step 2: Review data and information for nominations

The crash data is confidential. It belongs to SA Police and must only be used for crash analysis. The data is often preliminary and may change as investigations progress.

You must not share the data, username or password.

To request access, email DIT.SABlackspots@sa.gov.au with your full name, position and email address.

Crash data and maps

Step 3: Complete and submit your nomination form

Use the templates, forms and supporting information below to prepare your nomination.

Incomplete or late nominations will not be considered.

Supporting information

For reactive projects, you must provide the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) based on crash history with your nomination.

Calculate the BCR to determine the highest benefit using one of these methods:

  • Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) method
  • Austroads crash-type method.

You must use the latest BCR spreadsheets. It combines BITRE's crash cost methods and Austroads' updated crash type costs methods. This keeps the BCR method consistent with other road safety programs.

Make sure you enable the macros before using these spreadsheets:

Nomination form

Complete the online nomination form and attach supporting information.

Step 4: Assessment and approval

The South Australian Consultative Black Spot Panel assesses and endorses recommended nominations for the program. The Australian Government will then consider and approve these nominations.

Panel members include:

  • South Australian Road Transport Association
  • South Australian Freight Council
  • Traffic Management Association of Australia
  • Royal Automobile Association of South Australia
  • Bicycle SA
  • Representatives of the Local Government Association
  • Representatives of the South Australian Minister for Road Safety
  • South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport
  • Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

Nominations for level crossing-related projects are reviewed separately from road nominations. This is due to the specific risks at level crossings.

Program administration

We will assess and recommend projects. The Australian Government will provide final approval.

Councils that receive Black Spot Program funding must enter into a funding deed with the Department.

Administration forms

Once projects are approved and underway, please use the following administration forms.

Step 5: Provide additional information for physically completed projects

Once the project is physically completed, you must provide the following before funds can be released.

For projects that are fully funded by the Australian Government, refer to their Building Australia signage guidelines (PDF, 18.9 MB).

Provide us with other reporting. When you do this, make sure you follow the funding deed or other requirements. This includes the physical and financial status of the project.