40 km/h school speed limits

40 km/h school speed limits

Introducing a 40 km/h time-based school speed limit across the state. This improves children's safety and helps them when they travel to and from school.

Improving children's safety.

Fast facts

Status

Works underway

Location

Multiple locations across South Australia

Funding

Part by the Road Safety Program and part by the $2.36 million from the 2024-25 State Budget.

About the project

We are introducing a 40 km/h time-based school speed limit in South Australia on roads near schools that currently have speed limits of 50 km/h or higher. This will improve children’s safety and help them when they travel to and from school.

This project is part funded by the $168 million Road Safety Program and the $2.36 million budgeted for road safety as part of 2024–2025 State Budget.

The change to a 40 km/h time-based school speed limit will bring South Australia in line with other states. In other states, there is already a lower speed limit for school crossings on all arterial and high-volume council roads.

40 km/h school speed limits

We are introducing a 40 km/h time-based school speed limit for school pedestrian actuated crossings on busy roads.
Less than 2 minutes

What's happening

Timings

Installation of the new 40 km/h school speed limit signs began in November 2025, with advance notice provided to schools and the community. Installation of all new speed limit signs will be completed in late 2026.

When speed limits will apply

The new 40 km/h time-based school speed limit will apply on school days when children are travelling to and from school during these times:

  • 8:00 am to 9:30 am
  • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

This excludes weekends, public holidays and school holidays.

School days are defined by the Department for Education and can be found on their website: Term Dates for South Australian State Schools.

Speed limits are enforced from the date of completion at each site.

Existing ‘25 km/h when children present’ school zone speed limits will not change. Road users must reduce their speed and always take caution near schools.

Frequently asked questions

Browse our frequently asked questions for detailed information about the rollout.

Locations

New 40 km/h time-based school speed limits are being rolled out across South Australia in a phased approach. Locations have been chosen based on an assessment that considers the schools’ proximity to busy roads. This includes traffic speed and traffic volumes.

The first locations rolled out were:

See below for changes in your area:

Adelaide Hills Council

Alexandrina Council

The Barossa Council

Berri Barmera Council

City of Burnside

To be delivered in late 2026:

Completed sites:

Campbelltown City Council

City of Charles Sturt

To be delivered in late 2026:

Completed sites:

Town of Gawler

City of Holdfast Bay

District Council of Loxton Waikerie

City of Marion

Completed sites:

To be delivered in late 2026:

City of Mitcham

To be delivered in late 2026:

Completed sites:

Mount Barker District Council

Completed sites:

To be delivered in late 2026:

City of Mount Gambier

Rural City of Murray Bridge

Northern Areas Council

City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters

City of Onkaparinga

City of Playford

City of Port Adelaide Enfield

City of Port Lincoln

City of Prospect

Completed site:

To be delivered in late 2026:

City of Salisbury

City of Tea Tree Gully

City of Unley

Victor Harbor City Council

Wakefield Regional Council

Town of Walkerville

To be delivered in late 2026:

Wattle Range Council

City of West Torrens

Yorke Peninsula Council

Contact

Engagement Team

Explore the project