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South Eastern Freeway Heavy Vehicle Safety Review
The South Australian Government has undertaken a comprehensive review of heavy vehicle safety on the South Eastern Freeway down-track (the city-bound lanes) between Crafers and the intersection of Cross Road, Portrush Road and Glen Osmond Road.
The safety measures currently in place on the South Eastern Freeway include increased signage, reduced speeds for heavy vehicles and covering the costs of towing heavy vehicles from safety ramps.
The review further explored:
- improvements and better ways to use existing infrastructure and systems such as safety ramps, signage and safety cameras;
- how technology could be used to improve safety;
- improvements to compliance and heavy vehicle driver competencies, including legislation, driver and industry training, education and communication with industry and communities; and
- investigating other similar examples across Australia to understand the range of measures that have been implemented to manage steep descents.
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (The Department) continues to work with other state governments to improve and streamline heavy vehicle training, competency frameworks and licensing systems across Australia.
A number of proposed safety options have now been investigated to improve the safety on the South Eastern Freeway, some of which are short, medium- and long-term. The State Government will consider these options before deciding which will proceed.
Community Engagement
Improving safety on the South Eastern Freeway is complex and requires a range of solutions. To make sure we understood the problem fully, consultation was undertaken with the key stakeholders. Three industry roundtable sessions were held in August, October and December 2022, to identify issues and to inform a range of potential feasible solutions. Roundtables were attended by representatives from the heavy vehicle and transport industry, road and safety experts, South Australian Police, specialists at the Department.
The community has also provided their views and ideas through DIT’s website, social media channels and an online survey.
The proposed initiatives include heavy vehicle driver licensing and training improvements, improved education and information to the road freight sector, compliance improvements, a new third safety ramp between the current safety ramp and the intersection of Glen Osmond Road, Portrush Road and Cross Road, heavy vehicle detection technology systems, intersection improvements and further signage improvements.
Proposed options document can be reviewed for further information.
Next Steps
The State Government will now consider these proposed options before deciding which will proceed.
The project team will work on finding the most efficient and effective way to implement the program of proposed solutions.
Communications and behaviour change initiatives are already being implemented, including a communications and awareness campaign targeting heavy vehicles who use the Freeway and a new South Eastern Freeway heavy vehicle information webpage.
Some of the more complex medium and long-term solutions will require further planning and business cases prepared that will enable the Department to submit submissions to the Commonwealth and State Governments.
Contact Us
Phone: 1300 794 880
Email: DIT.Engagement@sa.gov.au