RAA’s 2024 Risky Roads survey is now open for South Australian drivers to nominate any dangerous roads or intersections. The results of the survey will be used by the state’s peak motoring body to advocate for safety upgrades.

Risky Roads is SA’s most comprehensive state-wide survey of road users, aimed at identifying unsafe roads or intersections, with the results then used by RAA’s traffic experts to make recommendations to road authorities and state government.

Of the 20 most-nominated roads in the latest survey (in 2021), 19 have had at least some upgrades completed, announced or a planning study commenced – underscoring the potential impact of the community’s feedback to RAA.

Commonly raised spots from the 2021 survey that have since been successfully addressed include:

• Main Road (Cherry Gardens) – widened, resurfaced and safety barriers installed.
• Upper Yorke Road (Kulpara to Arthurton) – currently being upgraded to achieve 3-star AusRAP rating.
• Victor Harbor Road/Hindmarsh Tiers Road intersection (Hindmarsh Valley – will be upgraded to add right turn lanes, and improve surface and sight distance.

A recent RAA poll of motorists found 73 per cent say they regularly drive on a road that makes them feel unsafe – with the most common safety concerns being related to road surface, dangerous road users and poor road layout.

All South Australians can nominate roads or intersections until Wednesday 4 December via the RAA website, as well as providing any feedback on why they find a road or intersection risky.

RAA Senior Traffic Engineer Matt Vertudaches says RAA is on the hunt for the state’s riskiest roads as voted by the community.

“Our Risky Roads survey is the biggest piece of community research we undertake every few years to inform our infrastructure priorities that we present to Government and road authorities on a regular basis.

“Since our last survey in 2021, 19 of the top 20 metro and regional roads have had at least some work done or a planning study announced.

“The local knowledge that drivers have about the roads and intersections they travel on every day is invaluable, and helps us identify areas that have an increased risk of serious crashes occurring.”

Four Fleurieu roads are among the top 20 of the 2021 Risky Roads where progress has been made following community feedback:

• Main South Road (Aldinga – Sellicks Beach) - Pavement rehab works undertaken, and duplication works started in 2024.
• Victor Harbor Road - Minor maintenance works completed.
• Inman Valley Road - Culvert upgrade in 2022-23 East of Mayfield Rd, as well as 3km of resurfacing/reconstruction between Torrens Vale Rd/Bald Hills Rd including line marking and safety barriers.
• Goolwa Road - September 2024 announcement that new guard rails are being installed on Goolwa Road.