Following an extensive review, the speed limit on Sturt Highway at Nuriootpa will be reduced from 110 kilometres an hour to 80km/hr from next month.
The new speed limit will be in effect along a three-kilometre stretch of the busy highway, from south of Moppa Road to north of Murray Street.
Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll – also Minister for Planning, Transport and Local Government – announced the speed reduction on Friday, saying the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure review was conducted in response to a query from his electorate office in 2018.
"This change is being made as a response to local constituents who raised this matter of safety with me last year," Mr Knoll said.
"Not long after the election, I met with several constituents who raised their concerns about safety around the intersections of Old Kapunda Road and Murray Street.
Mr Knoll said the review had identified issues which warranted a hasty response.
"Along the length of the 3km corridor, five-year crash data history (2013-17) shows that 11 casualty crashes resulted in 16 casualties – two serious injuries and 14 minor injuries," he said.
Additionally, of the four intersections along this stretch, two are rated in the top 10 rural intersections for casualty crashes: Murray Street (Barossa Valley Way) is ranked sixth, and Old Kapunda Road is ranked 10th.
"We know regional roads can have additional risk factors, and we know humans make mistakes," Mr Knoll said.
"By reducing the speed limit in this area, motorists will have more time to react to oncoming traffic and, at the same time, reduce the severity of an injury in the event of a crash.
"We have a lot of young drivers in our region and we want to do whatever we can to reduce the risk of such serious accidents occurring.
Weather permitting, the new speed limit will be in place from early March.
At the same time the change is activated, existing road signage in the immediate vicinity will be updated and replaced.