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Road rules

25km/h speed limit

From Monday, 19 May 2025, drivers must slow down to 25 km/h when passing a stationary breakdown service vehicle with flashing amber lights.

Drivers must travel at 25 km/h when:

  • driving through an emergency service speed zone
  • passing a stationary breakdown service vehicle with flashing amber lights
  • driving in school zones when children are present or passing a school bus that has stopped to set down or pick up children
  • the speed limit is displayed with a 25 km/h speed sign, e.g., for roadworks.

Where the speed limit applies

Example 1: Driver slowing to a safe speed (no greater than 25km/h) when passing an emergency services vehicle displaying red and blue flashing lights that is straddling a dividing strip.

The 25 km/h Emergency Service Speed Zone applies on an area of road:

  • near an emergency service vehicle that has stopped on the road and has flashing blue or red lights
  • between two sets of flashing blue or red lights placed at either end of a section of road where an emergency vehicle has stopped.

The 25 km/h speed zone around breakdown service vehicles applies:

  • near a breakdown service vehicle that has stopped and has flashing amber lights
  • alongside road bollards or cones placed by a breakdown service worker.

The speed limit does not apply if:

  • you are driving on a road with a median strip and the emergency service speed zone is on the other side of the road beyond the median strip
  • the stationary breakdown service vehicle is on the opposite side of the road from you.

About emergency and breakdown service vehicles

An emergency services vehicle includes:

  • ambulance
  • fire service vehicle (CFS, MFS or Federal Aviation Rescue)
  • State Emergency Services (SES) vehicle
  • police vehicle.

A breakdown service vehicle includes:

  • tow trucks
  • vans and other vehicles with flashing amber lights providing roadside assistance.

When there are other vehicles with flashing amber lights

Vehicles with amber lights that are not breakdown service vehicles use the road network too. These vehicles include farming equipment, vegetation control and construction.

If you see a vehicle on the roadside with flashing amber lights, please exercise caution. This means to:

  • reduce your speed
  • be prepared to brake.

If it is a stationary breakdown service vehicle providing roadside assistance, you must reduce your speed to 25 km/h when passing.

Why we must slow down

The emergency service speed zone will help protect frontline workers and volunteers while they carry out vital emergency work.

These emergency services staff and volunteers could be from the CFS, MFS, SES, Police and/or SA Ambulance. They could be providing life-saving assistance at roadsides, or a police officer may have pulled over to question a driver.

The law has been extended to include breakdown services. It aims to improve safety for these workers as well as motorists and passengers waiting at the roadside.

By slowing down, we can all help them to safely get on with their job.

More information

Learn more about speed limits in the road rules section of The Driver's Handbook

Find out about speeding offences and penalties

Read about road rules and road rules amendments.

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