South Australia’s latest AusRAP road safety results show significant progress across the state’s high-speed regional road network, with the length of roads rated three stars or better increasing by 54 per cent since 2014.
Austroads has welcomed the results, which were assessed in 2023 and 2025 as part of the Australian Road Assessment Program.
More than 3,000 kilometres of South Australia’s regional network have recorded an improved star rating since the first assessment in 2014, while more than 1,500 kilometres have improved to a three-star rating or better.
The latest data shows 55 per cent of travel on the state’s regional network now takes place on three-star or better roads.
What do the AusRAP road safety results show?
AusRAP uses star ratings to assess the safety risk built into a road and help governments prioritise infrastructure upgrades.
Roads are rated from one to five stars, with five stars representing the safest standard. For each one-star improvement, the risk of death or serious injury is roughly halved.
A lower star rating does not mean a road is unsafe to use. It means targeted improvements could reduce crash risk or crash severity.
The ratings are based on road characteristics and layout, safety infrastructure, speed limits and traffic volumes. They do not measure driver behaviour.
Higher-rated roads typically include features such as sealed shoulders, audio-tactile line markings, smoother surfaces, wider lanes and curves, and safety barriers.
Why does this matter for regional freight?
Regional road safety is not only a passenger vehicle issue.
South Australia’s regional road network supports freight, agriculture, tourism, mining, emergency services and community access across long distances.
Safer regional roads can reduce crash risk for heavy vehicle operators and other road users, while also supporting more reliable movement across key corridors.
Which road programs are supporting the gains?
The $168 million National Road Safety Program, jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on a 50:50 basis, is delivering upgrades aimed at lifting roads to a three-star rating.
The program has included improvements to regional roads and highways, including Mannum Road, Main South Road, Upper Yorke Road, Mallee Highway, Lincoln Highway, Thiele Highway, RM Williams Way, Southern Ports Highway, and Barrier Highway.
The South Australian Government’s ongoing $10 million regional road safety infrastructure program is delivering safety upgrades along the Southern Ports Highway, Spencer Highway, Flinders Highway, Goolwa Road and Gorge Road.
The $150 million Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package, jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on an 80:20 basis, is also improving safety on key strategic arterial roads in the Adelaide Hills.
How does AusRAP support investment decisions?
Austroads, the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies, leads AusRAP.
It uses the internationally recognised iRAP methodology to assess road safety risk and identify infrastructure treatments that can reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Austroads Chief Executive Dr Geoff Allan said South Australia’s results showed the value of long-term investment and consistent assessment.
“South Australia’s results show what can be achieved when road agencies use evidence-based tools to identify risk and prioritise safety improvements over time,” Allan said. “We congratulate the South Australian Government on this milestone and its commitment to improving the safety of its regional road network.”
The latest AusRAP data will also help develop road safety initiatives for future budget submissions.
How does this fit into national road safety targets?
The release of South Australia’s results strengthens the National AusRAP Dashboard and adds to the national picture of road safety performance.
Road safety star ratings support the National Road Safety Strategy target of ensuring at least 80 per cent of travel occurs on roads rated three stars or better by 2030.
That target sits within the longer-term Vision Zero goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
Allan said publishing results publicly helps improve transparency and supports better investment decisions.
“By making these results publicly available, jurisdictions are helping build a clearer national picture of road safety and supporting informed investment decisions that can save lives,” Allan said.