Drivers

Safe driving habits help reduce the number and severity of crashes on our roads. Ensure you share the road safely with all road users.

Remember, we are all in this together. Let’s look out for one another.

Safe drivers aim to reduce and manage the risk of driving by:

making good decisions
taking responsibility for their driving behaviour.

My Licence provides a range of safe driving tips.

Road rules refresher

Brush up on the road rules. The road rules refresher pocket guide outlines common road rules. It also highlights certain behaviours that are contributors to high-risk driving and crashes.

The pocket guide is available from Service SA, public libraries, local council offices, RAA and police stations. You can also download a copy of the Road Rules Refresher Guide (PDF, 5148 KB).

Learn more about the road rules refresher or order a hard copy.

Test your knowledge by completing our THINK! Road Safety Quiz.

To keep you and other road users safe, read about sharing the road and offences and penalties.

Look out for pedestrians

There are specific rules for drivers and riders when it comes to pedestrians:

Drivers must always give way to pedestrians on the footpath, including:
- when driving in or out of a private property, car park or a road-related area
- when a pedestrian is crossing a road that the driver is entering.
A road-related area includes:
- an area that divides a road
- a footpath or nature strip next to the road
- an area open to the public used for driving, riding or parking vehicles.

Drivers can help make the roads safer for pedestrians.

Scan for pedestrians at crossings and intersections.
Slow down where there are more pedestrians.
Remember that pedestrians can be unpredictable.

Watch out for children

Small children are especially vulnerable to accidents in driveways and car parks, even when vehicles are moving slowly.

Tragically, every week in Australia, a child (often a toddler) is run over in a driveway, often by a parent or someone they know.

Visit My Licence to learn about driveway safety and what you can do to keep children safe.

Before and after school drop-offs are busy times on the roads. This is when many children walk, ride and use public transport to get to and from school. Young children are particularly vulnerable, so we must be alert and take precautions around schools. For information on school zones and crossings, visit Safety around Schools.

Sharing the road with motorcyclists

Drivers can also make roads safer for motorcyclists.

Always check what is in front of your vehicle, behind it and to each side.
Always leave plenty of room if overtaking a motorcyclist.

Sharing the road with bicycle riders

As a driver, it is your responsibility to help keep bicycle riders safe. Bicycle riders can be harder to see than other vehicles.

Before opening a vehicle door:

Look behind and over your right shoulder for bicycle riders and other road users.
Open the door with your left hand, so you can look over your shoulder to see if it's safe to open your door.

Drivers must give a minimum of:

1 metre when passing a bicycle rider where the speed limit is 60km/h or less
1.5 metres when travelling over 60km/h.

Visit My Licence to learn about sharing the road with bicycle riders.

Be cautious and patient near heavy vehicles

Trucks and buses (heavy vehicles) are large and not very manoeuvrable. They generally take off more slowly and need longer distance to stop. Therefore, it is important to:

be cautious
be patient
keep a safe distance
give heavy vehicles enough room to stop or turn.

My Licence provides driving tips to help keep you safe and information about sharing the road with heavy vehicles.

Visitors to South Australia

Anyone visiting South Australia and using our roads is a road user, whether they are a pedestrian, driver, bicycle rider or passenger.

International visitors to Australia may be faced with several challenges on South Australia’s roads.

Driving on the left side of the road (the standard practice throughout Australia) and on the right side of the vehicle. This may cause disorientation for drivers more familiar with driving on the opposite side.
Unfamiliar road signs, sometimes written in an unfamiliar language.
Sharing the road with trams in Adelaide and road-trains (long trucks) on regional roads.
Unfamiliar road rules and roads.
Unfamiliar travel conditions, including long distances between destinations, extreme heat, flash flooding, bushfires or wildlife on roads.

Useful tips when visiting South Australia

The default speed limit in built-up areas is 50km/h and 100km/h outside a built-up area. Unless a road sign or a licence condition indicates otherwise, these are the general maximum speeds you are allowed to drive.
On regional roads, avoid driving after dusk and before dawn to reduce the chance of a collision with our wildlife.
Gravel and dirt roads can be unpredictable. Drive to the conditions and slow down.
You are not permitted to use a handheld mobile phone when driving. This includes making or receiving calls, and/or sending a text message.
You must stop your car off the road in a safe space before you take photos.
If you are visiting from overseas, remember we drive on the left in Australia!

My Licence has detailed information and videos to help visitors to South Australia, including:

South Australia driver’s licence laws
road rules
hazard perception test
short videos.

If you are visiting from interstate, you can drive in South Australia with your current interstate licence – as long as you adhere to the licence conditions.

Watch for animals and horse riders

Wildlife and livestock

Wildlife and livestock are unpredictable, particularly in regional areas. Wildlife and livestock on roads add risk to road users.

Wildlife may appear on or near the road, particularly at dawn or dusk, when visibility is reduced. Livestock may also present a danger when driving. Often pressing your horn is enough to make an animal back away from the road.

Follow animal warning signs. The signs indicate where animals are more likely to be present.
Slow down and look out for wildlife.
Stay alert as animals can be fast and unpredictable.
Brake safely. Don’t swerve to avoid an animal because you may lose control of your vehicle.
Have bright headlights when driving at night.
Minimise distractions in your vehicle.

Horse riders

Under the Australian Road Rules, a horse is considered a vehicle and permitted to be ridden on the road.

The Driver’s Handbook includes information for drivers on what to do if you see a horse or rider on or near the road, and My Licence covers safe driving tips.

Extreme weather

Wet weather and floods

Driving during wet weather is something all drivers will experience. Depending on the severity, it may impact your driving capabilities. If possible, avoid driving during unsafe heavy rainfall and never drive into floodwaters. These conditions may affect your control of your vehicle, reduce visibility and increase traffic congestion.

Tips for driving in wet weather

Drive slowly and drive to the conditions.
The signed speed limit is for ideal conditions, so you may need to drive slower in wet weather conditions.
Drive with your lights on, so that you are visible to other vehicles.
Use road markings to stay in the middle of your lane.
Keep a safe distance (more than 3 seconds) between yourself and other vehicles because wet roads can affect your stopping distance.

Bushfires

If you are driving in an area threatened by bushfire, it is important to know what to do.

Avoid areas affected by fires.
Have food and water supplies, a full tank of petrol and a fully-charged mobile phone.
If there is smoke in the area, turn your headlights on to increase your visibility.
Get access to updates on fire conditions in the area, including road closures.

The local fire authority in South Australia is the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS). CFS has information about travelling in a bushfire zone in South Australia.