MOTORISTS travelling on Riddoch Highway in Coonawarra are urged to be alert on the roads as vintage is expected to start in coming weeks.
Limestone Coast Superintendent Phil Hoff has called on drivers along the Terra Rossa strip to take extra care in coming months as more slow moving vehicles are expected to travel around the area.
Supt Hoff said motorists will likely encounter a number of slow moving vehicles along the highway – which has a signposted 110kph limit – but urged people to err caution and drive to the conditions.
“It is a major wine region and during the vintage there will be a greater concentration of driving to the conditions,” Supt Hoff siad.
“We are always worried about motorists driving with fatigue and speeding, particularly during the season where there are quite a lot of distractions along the road.
“There may be more slow moving vehicles on the highway and although the speed limit is 110kph it is sometimes advised to travel slower to allow motorists to have more time to react.
“Regardless of how fast the speed limit is, motorists must always drive to the conditions presented to them.”
“We need to have people take notice of the roads and be cautious of trucks and machinery during the vintage period,” Supt Hoff said.
Supt Hoff said vignerons are aware of the risk slow moving vehicles pose to other road users and commended their efforts on exercising caution on the roads.
The senior police officers plea follows a report released by the RAA, labelling the Riddoch Highway as the ninth most dangerous road in South Australia.
According to the report, the 240km stretch of road had 129 casualty crashes – including 13 deaths – between 2014 to 2018.
Almost two-thirds (73pc) of the RAA survey’s 1000 respondents said the lack of overtaking lanes was an issue, with 33pc nominated uneven surfaces.
Although a recent announcement states there are plans for three new overtaking lanes – one being between Naracoorte and Keith and two between Naracoorte and Penola – additional passing lanes are still requested.
Limestone Coast Local Government Association’s regional road safety officer Ali Auld said the report highlighted a number of grave concerns, but said human error was still the greatest cause of accidents.
Ms Auld agreed with the reports recommendations and said the State Government-owned highway needed to be placed on the National Road Network.
“This will ensure it will be eligible for federal funding to upgrade and maintain and ensures that money can be spent on the road to make it safer,” she said.
“The statistics from previous years demonstrates the 240km stretch – especially between Naracoorte and Keith – can actually frustrate a lot of drivers which is when they take unnecessary risks.”
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said upgrades on the Riddoch Highway between Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell were under way and include shoulder sealing, roadside hazard protection, pavement correction and line marking.
“We are delivering over $1.1b in regional roads to deliver intersection upgrades and also fix around 1000km of country roads,” he said.
“In the South East the Marshall Government is also building the Penola Bypass, contributing to the upgrade of the Mount Gambier Airport and we also have $250m on the table for the Princes Highway.”
