Road Safety

In reply to Mr DULUK (Waite) (11 May 2021).

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): I have been advised:

The Marshall Liberal government is committed to improving road safety and reducing trauma on our roads through a combination of education, engineering and enforcement initiatives. Improving road safety requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses the safety of the road environment, the vehicles in which people travel and the behaviour of everyone on the road. The four pillars of the 'safe system' approach is based around creating safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles and safer people.

This commitment to improve road safety extends to the state government's delivery of a record $16.7 billion in infrastructure works over the next four years, more than any other period in our state's history. This includes a significant investment in road maintenance to help address the massive $750 million road maintenance backlog that was left behind by the former Labor government, as well as investment in key intersection upgrades like the Cross Road/Fullarton Road, Magill Road-Portrush Road and Main North Road-Nottage Terrace upgrades that will deliver improved pedestrian facilities.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) installs pedestrian crossing facilities including signalised pedestrian actuated crossings (PACs) in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards and departmental guidelines including AS 1742.10 and the 'Code of Technical Requirements for the Legal Use of Traffic Control Devices.

In response to correspondence received from the Member for Waite in 2020, a pedestrian survey was undertaken in the vicinity of the Cross Road-Waite Road intersection to determine if the installation of a PAC at this location was justified. The results of the pedestrian survey indicated a low pedestrian demand along this length of Cross Road that was well below the warrants of the Australian standard for a PAC.

For example, the Australian standard calls for a pedestrian demand of more than 60 pedestrians in two separate one hour periods during a weekday to justify the installation of a PAC. The departmental survey revealed no more than 20 pedestrians in any single hour period during the survey using this location.

Furthermore, a five-year analysis of crash data for this section of Cross Road from 2015 to 2020 revealed no crashes related to pedestrians.

The results of the survey indicated that this location did not meet the requirements for the installation of a PAC. Nonetheless, the state government will continue to monitor pedestrian safety and traffic movements at this location and should the need for change become apparent, appropriate action will be taken in the interests of road safety.

With regard to the three pedestrian refuges installed on Cross Road between Fullarton Road and Glen Osmond Road, they were installed as compliant items of infrastructure at the time they were installed.