Speed is one of the major causes of road crashes, and despite many warnings to slow down, South Australians still forked out almost $65 million in speeding fines in 2019/20.

Part of the issue is that many drivers are still unclear about speed-related road rules, believing myths that have been passed down for generations.

Myths, like the ones below, need to be debunked as they can cause confusion on the road.

Prepare to have these speeding myths busted!

Myth 1. I can speed while overtaking

Picture this: you’re on a road trip, cruising along a country road, listening to some tunes when suddenly you come up behind a truck travelling below the speed limit.

When you see a break in traffic coming in the opposite direction, you indicate and begin to overtake. Before you know it, you’re driving 20km/h above the speed limit to get past the truck, and back into your lane, as quickly as possible.

You think to yourself, ‘Oh well, I was only speeding for a split second while overtaking – surely, I haven’t broken the law’.

Unfortunately, you’re wrong. In the eyes of the law, overtaking isn’t an excuse to speed.

The Australian Road Rules explicitly state that it’s illegal for motorists to exceed the speed limit under any circumstance, including overtaking.

If you do, you could be hit with a speeding fine, or worse, charged with driving without due care, which can result in a court date.

It carries a maximum $2500 fine, as well as a $90 Victims of Crime Levy and 3 demerit points.

Next time, before you overtake, consider the amount of time you need to complete the manoeuvre without exceeding the speed limit.

For example, if your car’s travelling at 110km/h, you’ll you need about 2km of clear road to safely overtake a 26m B-double travelling at 100km/h.

Myth 2. It’s okay to exceed the speed limit by a few kilometres

You’ve probably heard a friend or relative say something along the lines of “I’m not harming anyone by driving a few kilometres over the speed limit”. They’re wrong.

The myth that it’s okay to exceed the limit by a few kilometres can have potentially catastrophic consequences.

For example, imagine you’re driving at 60km/h and suddenly spot an unexpected hazard, like a pedestrian.

If the pedestrian crosses your path 45m away, you’ll come to a stop before hitting them (incorporating driver reaction time and vehicle braking distance).

If you’re travelling at 65km/h, you’d be still travelling at 32km/h when you reach the pedestrian, seriously injuring or possibly killing them.

You also risk a $406 fine, plus a $90 Victims of Crime Levy and 3 demerit points if you’re doing more than 10km/h about the speed limit.

Myth 3. I don’t need to slow down when I see a 25km/h roadwork sign if there aren’t workers present

Encountering a 25km/h roadwork sign when there aren’t any workers around can be extremely frustrating, even for the calmest drivers.

Even when workers aren’t present, you still need to slow down to the indicated speed. You need to maintain that speed until there’s a sign saying otherwise.

The roadwork sign could’ve been left out overnight for a variety of reasons, including potential hazards or the road condition.

Before you go ignoring the sign, consider the potential consequences if you’re caught speeding.

A motorist caught travelling at 60km/h in a 25km/h zone could receive a whopping $1500 fine, plus a $90 Victims of Crime Levy and 7 demerit points.

For drivers sick of those pesky 25km/h roadwork signs being left out when work is complete, there may be relief in the future.

The State Government has introduced new laws that could see road traffic companies fined $1250 for leaving speed limit signs out after their permit has expired.

If you see missing or incorrect signs at roadworks or signs you think should be removed because no work is taking place, call the Department for Infrastructure and Transport on 1800 018 313.

Myth 4. There’s no 50km/h road sign and I don’t know the speed limit, so I can’t be fined

This is false. Firstly, ignorance of a law isn’t a defence, so when a police officer pulls you over and asks why you’re speeding, it’s probably best to avoid saying you didn’t know the speed limit.

Secondly, if there isn’t a road sign indicating otherwise, then the speed limit in built-up areas is always 50km/h.

This has been the case since 2003, when the default speed limit in city streets and urban areas was reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h.

While we’re talking about default speed limits, we should address country South Australia as well.

There’s a common misconception that the default speed limit on country roads is 110km/h.

Unless sign-posted otherwise, the speed limit outside built-up areas is 100km/h.

Myth 5. Revenue for speeding fines doesn’t go towards road safety

It’s a common gripe among motorists that speed camera fines are filling State Government coffers rather than going towards improving road safety.

This is false. Apart from the $90 Victims of Crime Levy, all red light and speeding fine revenue is returned to the Community Road Safety Fund.

This money funds a variety of safety initiatives like road safety education and infrastructure upgrades.

The Victims of Crime Levy funds the compensation scheme for people who are injured in a crime and includes both physical and mental injuries.

Road safety, our priority

When it comes to advocating for speed rules and limits, RAA’s main concern is the safety of all road users.

RAA regularly receives feedback from its members and the community about speed limits.

The RAA Road Safety team then looks at factors such as the road’s crash history, traffic volumes and the level of freight or tourist vehicles using the route.

It doesn’t stop there though. Once the initial evaluation is complete, RAA assesses the site to check factors like road condition, width, curve alignment, roadside hazards, sight distance, side roads and property access points.

For example, when the speed limit was reduced from 110km/h to 100km/h on the Browns Well/Ngarkat Hwy in country South Australia, RAA undertook an assessment and found issues with the road design and quality, which greatly reduced safety for drivers.

RAA lobbied to have the speed limit reassessed with consideration of 110km/h, provided road upgrades and essential maintenance were undertaken to improve safety.