Ever had to press the accelerator a little harder because you’ve underestimated the gap in traffic when turning right at an intersection?

The Rural Junction Active Warning System (RJAWS) has been designed to prevent risky situations like this and is now being trialled in SA.

Funded by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, electronic safety signs that automatically reduce the posted speed limit by up to 20km/h when 2 or more cars are detected approaching an intersection will be installed in key locations.

The technology has already been installed at the Cudlee Creek Rd and Fox Creek Rd intersection in the Adelaide Hills, with trials starting at the below junctions from mid-October.

• McLaren Flat Rd and Baker Gully Rd
• Bull Creek Rd and Paris Creek Rd
• Horrocks Hwy and Stradbrooke Rd

Since 2013, crashes at these intersections resulted in the death of 1 person, 5 serious injuries and 3 minor injuries.

Last year, RAA’s Risky Roads survey named the Fleurieu Peninsula’s Bull Creek and Paris Creek Rd junction among SA’s worst.

RAA road-safety expert Charles Mountain says he looks forward to seeing how the technology will improve the safety of all road-users travelling through these intersections.

“Lower vehicle speeds translate to lower impact speeds in the event of a collision, which reduces the severity of sustained injuries. Any new technology designed to achieve this is a welcomed initiative,” Mr Mountain says.

Stay tuned as our road-safety team monitors the future crash data at these intersections.