The state of SA’s roads

Posted 14 May, 2020 Jeremy Rochow

There are 1.8 million vehicles registered in SA. About 225,000 people hop on a bicycle each week, and South Aussies take about 61 million trips on buses and trams each year.   But no matter how you choose to get around, we all depend on one thing – our roads. This edition, we take a look at how the quality of those roads affects everything from your hip pocket to your safety, and why RAA’s been advocating hard for better road maintenance on behalf of our members.  

Potholes and rough roads impact us all

Crumbling road edges, potholes and faded line markings might irk you during your daily commute, but once you pull into your driveway or park your car, you probably don’t give them a second thought. But here are 5 key reasons maintenance matters.  

1. Your car and wallet

Your car bears the brunt of every rut, crack and bump you drive over. From increasing the wear and tear on your tyres to potentially damaging your suspension, road quality affects the cost of running your car.  

2. Fuel bills

Basically, the rougher the road, the harder your car will have to work, meaning your car will burn through more juice.

In fact, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US found rough roads and potholes could increase fuel consumption by up to 4%.

That might not sound like much, but with the average Australian spending $3500 on fuel per year, better roads could save motorists $140 annually.  

3. The environment

That extra fuel you use also means more CO2 emissions. According to a study by Rutgers University, smoother roads will help us reduce greenhouse emissions as well. So, similar to saving fuel with better roads, we’ll also be helping save our planet and emitting less CO2. It might sound like a small change, but given Australians drive the equivalent of 1000 trips to the sun and back each year, every small change becomes a big one.    

4. Road safety

Confusing or vanishing line markings, crumbling edges and slippery surfaces can be dangerous for all road users and are just a few examples of how road maintenance affects your safety. Last year was a horrific year for fatalities and serious injuries on South Australian roads, with 114 people killed and more than 900 seriously injured. While there are many factors that cause a crash, what we do know, unequivocally, is that better roads save lives.