Lower freeway limit for all
The State Government will reduce the speed limit for light vehicles on the lower section of the South Eastern Freeway in response to this week’s fatal truck crash.
Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo announced this afternoon that from 1 September, 2014, the maximum speed limit for light vehicles between the Stirling interchange and the lower arrester bed would be reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h on the freeway “downtrack”.
The Government will also reduce to 60km/h the maximum speed limit for all trucks and buses using the freeway from the Crafers interchange to the bottom of the freeway. Until now, only trucks with five axles or more had to drive at the reduced limit.
A truck is defined under the Australian Road Rules as a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of 4.5 tonnes or above.
Piccolo said the move was “an initial measure to calm traffic down”, and that other proposals would be considered.
The RAA’s senior manager road safety, Charles Mountain, welcomed the decision, but said it wasn’t the complete solution to the freeway’s safety problems.
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“While it’s important to look at the operational aspects of the road, such as speed limits, the design and operation of the arrestor beds and the road environment, it’s vital that we also look at driver education and levels of accreditation,” he said.
“We want to see a task force established to examine how heavy vehicles use the SE Freeway, and investigate any further measures that can be taken to ensure another crash like this week’s doesn’t happen again.”
Earlier today, the state coroner called for all trucks, regardless of size, to be subject to the 60 km/h speed limit while coming down the freeway towards the intersection where two people died in a horrific crash.
Deputy state coroner Anthony Schapel said the truck involved in the crash only had two axles while the reduced speed limit from 100km/h currently only applies to vehicles with five axles or more.
He recommended that the speed limit change be implemented immediately.
Schapel on Friday began an inquest into the deaths of Thomas Spiess, 56, and Jacqueline Byrne, 41, who died after a sewage truck slammed into three cars at a major Adelaide intersection on Monday.
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The 28-year-old male truck driver, of Netley, and a 48-year-old woman, of Hahndorf, are in a critical condition in hospital.
After hearing evidence from the investigating police officer and watching CCTV footage relating to the truck’s descent, the coroner adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.
Brevet Sergeant Peter Light estimated the Transpacific truck was travelling at about 151.9 km/h just before it slammed into the three stationary cars.
That CCTV footage of the truck just before the impact appeared to show it was out of control, he said.
A coroner usually makes recommendations after delivering his or her findings into an inquest, but Schapel said they can be made if evidence suggests the need for urgent action.
The State Liberals, meanwhile, have endorsed the Coroner’s speed limit recommendation.
“In the interests of public safety I fully support Mr Schapel’s recommendation,” said Shadow Minister for Transport Corey Wingard.
“After a series of tragedies involving runaway trucks on the South Eastern Freeway the Weatherill Government needs to move quickly to implement the recommended speed reductions.
“The Coroner’s Office has acted in a timely fashion on this important public safety issue – the Weatherill Government needs to follow suit.
“It is notable that the South Australian Road Transport Association also supports the introduction of this important road safety measure.”
– with AAP
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