Your roadwork questions answered
It may feel like you’re endlessly slowing down for roadworks on South Australian roads.
With hundreds of roadworks currently being undertaken across the state, you’re bound to come across a few when you’re driving.
Roadworks are important though, and typically the longer the roadworks are in place for, the greater improvement and benefit once the roadworks are complete. drivers’ short-term frustration is a small price to pay for long-term road safety upgrades and improvements.
We answer the questions that tend to roll through your mind when approaching roadworks. Before we begin, tell us how you behave around roadworks.
Why do I have to drive so slowly?
You’re happily driving at 60km/h when you see the tell-tale yellow sign in the distance. You sigh and start braking to reduce your speed to 25km/h before reaching the sign.
Surely it’s fine if I drive faster than that, right? you think. The answer is no.
The limits are carefully determined based on the level of risk to both roadworkers, other road users and yourself. RAA Traffic Engineer Paul Leone explains why.
“Generally, when roadwork is happening within 1.2m of traffic, the speed limit for that particular road section is reduced to 25km/h to protect road workers,” he says.
“In most other cases, the speed limit will usually be 40km/h around the roadworks.”
Travelling at low speeds also protects other road users. Some typical hazards that you might not see when driving through roadworks, especially at night, include:
- narrowed lane widths
- loose gravel on the road, or
- deep trenches or humps in the road.
Make sure to look out for changed speed limits displayed on electronic variable speed limit signs too, like the ones found on expressways.
Why do I need to slow down even when the roadworks look finished?
As you’re approaching the 25km/h sign on a newly sealed road, you look around and there isn’t a single road worker to be seen. All the trucks have left and there may even be shiny new line markings on the asphalt. Yet, the reduced speed signs are still on display.
You might think there’s no point reducing your speed, because it looks as if all the work has been completed.
There’s a surprising safety reason for continuing to drive at reduced speeds on a new road surface long after the workers have gone home.
Newly laid road surfaces can take a few months to settle and cure. This means that even though nobody is working, the road still may not have reached an appropriate level of hardness or skid resistance for the normal speed limit to be safe to reinstate.
“The skid resistance of the road needs to reach a safe level before the original, higher speed limit is reinstated,” Paul says.
Remember, speeding is never okay, even through roadworks when no workers are present, whether it’s day or night.
Other reasons signs could be displayed without roadworks looking like they’re happening nearby could include:
- tree trimming works
- footpath works
- line marking and general street maintenance works.
Have the road signs been left out and forgotten?
You’ve been slowing down for the same road signs despite the newly laid road surface being completed months ago. Surely the asphalt has settled.
While it’s possible that signs have been left out and forgotten, chances are that they are still necessary. Road signage placement is the responsibility of the company undertaking the work and approved by 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.
Concerned about a road?
If you’ve spotted a road or intersection that’s dangerous or frustrating, let our Road Safety team know.