Leading up to the federal election, RAA has been advocating for a number of road safety and infrastructure issues.

Here’s where the major parties stand, and what they have committed to less than a week out from the election.

North-South Corridor

What RAA’s calling for:

RAA has called for the completion of the remaining sections of Adelaide’s 78km North-South Corridor to reduce heavy traffic congestion, improve travel times and increase safety for the tens of thousands of motorists who use it every day.

What each party has committed to:

Labor (ALP)

Construction of the next stage of South Rd, between Tonsley and the tram line in Black Forest, would be fast-tracked if the Opposition takes up office after the election.

The $95 million Labor initiative is part of a down payment on its $2.7 billion commitment to the North-South Corridor.

Liberals

Prior to April’s Federal Budget, the government promised it would commit $1.5 billion to completing the North-South Corridor if re-elected at the election.

That’s on top of the 1.2 billion it allocated to the project the 2018/19 budget.

Augusta Hwy

What RAA’s calling for:

Recent road crash deaths along the Augusta Hwy have highlighted the need to upgrade the dangerous stretch of the road.

RAA is calling for the next federal government to commit to the staged duplication of Augusta Hwy between Copper Coast Hwy and Port Augusta, ensuring the safe operation of freight, tourist and regional traffic, as well as prepare for future autonomous vehicles.

What each party has committed to:

Labor 

Labor is yet to make any election promises to duplicate Augusta Hwy, which more than 4000 vehicles – including cars and heavy freight such as b-doubles and road trains – drive on every day.

Liberals 

The Liberal Party has announced $64 million will be committed to the staged duplication of Augusta Highway.

RAA is now calling on the opposition to at least match the Liberals’ pre-election commitment.

Dukes Hwy

What RAA’s calling for:

RAA is calling for the staged duplication of Dukes Hwy, between Tailem Bend and the South Australian/Victorian border, to reduce road fatalities, improve freight efficiency, futureproof the corridor for autonomous vehicle trials, and ensure the entire corridor between Adelaide and Melbourne is two lanes in each direction.

What each party has committed to:

At the time of writing, neither of the major parties have made any commitments to duplicating the Dukes Hwy.

Riddoch Hwy

What RAA’s calling for:

RAA is calling for Riddoch Hwy to be formally recognised as a national highway by its inclusion on the National Highway Network, which will make the road eligible for federal funding to improve and maintain it.

What each party has committed to:

Neither of the major parties have committed to recognising the Riddoch Hwy – which sees 4000 motorists travel along it each day – as a national highway.

Freight level crossings

What RAA’s calling for:

RAA wants the next federal government to invest in the grade separation of roads and interstate rail lines at five major level across Adelaide: Cross Rd, Kings Park; Torrens Rd, Renown Park; Park Tce, Salisbury; Kings Rd, Salisbury Downs; and Cormack Rd, Dry Creek.

This will improve the efficiency on metropolitan roads, reduce congestion and increase safety at the intersections.

What each party has committed to:

Labor 

If Labor forms government following this month’s federal election, it’s planning to invest $105 million to upgrade the Cross Rd level crossing.

The crossing and road will be separated, cutting down travel times for the 35,000 vehicles that cross the intersection each day.

Liberals

The Liberals have committed $115.5m in the budget to upgrading and separating the Torrens Rd, Renown Park level crossing upon re-election.

They have also committed $85.5m to grade separate the level crossing on Brighton Rd.

While RAA welcomes the commitment, it still wants both major parties to commit to upgrading all 5 major crossings across Adelaide.

Autonomous and zero-emission vehicles

What RAA’s calling for:

Vehicle technology is rapidly changing. By 2040, it’s predicted that four out of every 10 vehicles on the road will be autonomous, which has the potential to open up new opportunities for innovation across a wide range of industries worldwide.

RAA wants the next federal government to create a national approach to the development, trials and operation of autonomous vehicles. RAA is also calling for a federally-driven scheme to ensure owners and operators of zero-emission vehicles (EVs) contribute to maintaining and upgrading the road network they use.

What each party has committed to:

Labor 

Labor has announced a plan for the introduction of vehicle emissions standards, and a target for 50% of all new car sales across Australia to be electric vehicles by 2030.

They have not made any commitments regarding autonomous vehicles, or the implementation of a scheme to ensure all vehicle owners contribute to the maintenance of our road networks.

Liberals 

The Liberals are yet to commit to any strategy relating to autonomous or zero-emission vehicles.

National Road Safety Strategy

What RAA’s calling for:

RAA wants the next federal government to commit to all 12 recommendations made in the National Road Safety Strategy inquiry. These recommendations include establishing a road safety entity and invest at least $3 billion a year to a road safety fund.

What each party has committed to:

Labor

Last December, Labor committed to establishing a National Office of Road Safety, however there’s no word yet on which of the other 12 recommendations Labor will commit to.

Liberals

In this year’s federal budget the Liberal government announced a $2.2 billion road safety plan which includes a black spot repair program and new National Office of Road Safety.

The Liberals have also allocated $12 million in their budget for a National Office of Road Safety and a Road Safety Innovation Fund.

While RAA welcomes this initiative, the Liberal party still has some work to do to meet all 12 recommendations made by the National Road Safety inquiry.