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Road rules

25km/h speed limit

Drivers must slow down to 25 km/h when passing a stationary breakdown services vehicle with flashing amber lights. This road rule came into effect on 19 May 2025.

Drivers must travel at 25 km/h when:

  • driving through an emergency service speed zone
  • passing a stationary breakdown services 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, for example, for roadworks.

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.

Where the speed limit applies

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 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 25 km/h limit around breakdown services vehicles applies near a breakdown services vehicle that has stopped and has flashing amber lights.

Tow truck with flashing lights loading a car on roadside, warning triangles placed for safety. Breakdown service vehicle with flashing lights assisting a car on roadside, warning triangles placed.
Breakdown service van with flashing lights helping a car on suburban street, warning triangles placed.

The speed limit does not apply:

  • to vehicles with flashing amber lights such as farming equipment, vegetation-control vehicles, construction vehicles and similar machinery
  • to vehicles with flashing amber lights used for planned activities with approval from the relevant road authority
  • when a stationary breakdown services vehicle displaying flashing amber lights is on the opposite side of the road from you.

About emergency and breakdown services vehicles

An emergency services vehicle includes:

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

Breakdown services vehicles are vehicles with flashing amber lights that provide roadside assistance. These vehicles may be tow trucks or vans.

When you see vehicles with flashing amber lights

You are required to 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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