You’re approaching a sign that reads, ‘Roadwork ahead: 25km/h,’ but the roadworkers have packed up for the day. ‘Who forgot to pack away the sign?’ you think. Did they accidentally leave it out? In this scenario, does the reduced speed limit still apply? There’s no one on the road, so surely I can travel at the maximum default speed of 50km/h.

Before your roadwork resentment kicks in, let’s understand why certain rules are in place.

Let’s get to work

Does it feel like you’re constantly getting held up by roadworks? There’s a good chance you are. At the time of publication, there were about 2000 projects underway across South Australia, according to Traffic SA’s roadworks map.

From smaller projects such as line markings and tree pruning, to bigger ones like road reconstructions and burst water
mains, roadworks are the speed bumps in your commute you often don’t plan for.

And who better to tell us about them than you – our members.

Our Road Safety team has been asked the tough questions, and now we’ve put RAA Traffic Engineer, Paul Leone, to work to answer them.

How do I safely navigate roadworks?

Hopefully you haven’t been stuck in a closed lane, accidentally driven on the wrong side of the traffic cones, or had near-misses with workers walking out onto the road. But if you have, you’ll understand why it’s important road users are extra aware of their surroundings.

To avoid causing a ruckus around roadworks, here are some safety pointers to keep in mind:

• Move into the correct lane (or designated area) as soon as it’s safe to do so.
• Slow down to the reduced speed limit if one has been posted.
• Look out for roadworkers.
• Follow roadworkers’ instructions.
• Follow the directions of the traffic controller, if one is present.
• Watch for vehicles and workers entering or leaving the area.
• Be ready to slow down or come to a stop, where necessary.
• Follow all signs.
• Keep a safe distance from vehicles, barriers, equipment and roadworkers.

Who determines the speed limit through roadworks?

Has your journey ever been interrupted by multiple speed limit changes every few hundred metres? From 100km/h to 25km/h, speed limits when approaching or driving through roadworks might seem random, but they’ve been carefully determined. Simply put, speed limits around roadworks are based on the level of risk to both roadworkers and road users.

Generally, if any work is happening within 1.2m of traffic, the speed limit will be 25km/h to protect roadworkers.

“In most other instances, it will be 40km/h in the immediate vicinity of works.”

In higher speed zones, like on country roads, reducing the speed limit in 30km/h increments is essential. According to Mr Leone, speed reductions can start 500m or more before there’s any sign of roadworks.

“In this case, it’s important to step the speed limit down, so it may go from 110km/h to 80km/h, to 60km/h to 40km/h,” he says.

Who’s responsible for the signs you see around roadworks?

Roadwork signage is the responsibility of the company undertaking the work. The signs must, however, be approved by the road owner – either the local council or State Government. Companies who leave out temporary speed limit signs, when they’re not required for safety reasons, can be fined up to $1250.

Why are roadwork and reduced speed limit signs left out when no roadworkers are present?

Hard at work or hardly working? Rest assured, it’s not the latter. The reason some reduced speed limit signs are left out long after roadworkers have gone home is to keep you and others safe.

Driving on newly sealed surfaces, gravel shoulders or roads with no line markings requires extra concentration and can hinder a motorists’ ability to safely control their vehicle. According to Mr Leone, newly laid road surfaces can take a few months to settle – especially on country roads used by big trucks.

The asphalt mix used on these roads is more durable. If the surface hasn’t settled, it can make skidding more likely.

“If the speed limit were to be reinstated prior to the skid resistance reaching a safe level, the risk of an incident is higher,” Mr Leone explains.

RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure, Charles Mountain, says while roadworks can cause some frustration, it’s important to adhere to signage so you can get from A to B safely.

“With major roadworks, the trade-off is that the durability of the new road surface means maintenance will not be required as regularly, and the road will remain in better condition for longer,” Mr Mountain says. “Safer roads can save lives, and that’s the ultimate message we encourage people to remember when they’re behind the wheel and frustrated by roadworks.”