'Slow down for a breakdown' to keep roadside workers safe

Monday, 12 May 2025

A new education campaign is calling on drivers to ‘slow down for a breakdown’ ahead of a new law to better protect roadside service workers.

From Monday 19 May motorists will need to reduce their speed to 25km/h when travelling past stationary tow trucks, vans and other breakdown services vehicles which are stopped at the roadside and displaying flashing amber lights.

The reduced speed limit will also apply when passing bollards or cones that have been set up around a vehicle by a breakdown services worker.

The education campaign urges drivers to slow down when passing a breakdown scene so that roadside workers, stricken motorists and passengers can get safely back on the road.

Breakdown services workers are particularly vulnerable on high-speed arterial roads, with poor visibility, weather and ground conditions also posing a risk.

The safety campaign utilises radio, social media and roadside advertisements, targeting metropolitan and regional drivers. All licence holders are encouraged to brush up on the road rules before the new law comes into effect to help improve safety on South Australian roads.

The 25km/h speed limit will not apply to drivers if the stationary breakdown services vehicle is on the opposite side of the road they are travelling.

The new law is an extension of the existing 25km/h speed limit in place to protect stationary school buses that have stopped to set down or pick up children, and frontline volunteers and emergency services workers with vehicles displaying flashing blue or red lights as they respond to incidents roadside.