A RECENT traffic study has identified a road in Barmera as a speeding hotspot, with more than half of the road’s users exceeding the speed limit.
In 2018, Bruce Road recorded the worst speeding rates of 13 rural roads with 50km/h speed limits, according to a study by the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) released last month.
The study showed 62 per cent of northbound drivers and 57 per cent of southbound drivers exceeded the speed limit, although this is down from 95 and 92 per cent respectively in 2002, when researchers began collecting data.
Berri Barmera CEO Karyn Burton said the study may be referring to the northern section of Nookamka Terrace beyond Hawdon Street, which was known as Bruce Road when the University of Adelaide study began in 2002.
“That’s been a notorious speeding area there,” she said.
“We have in the past had instances of it being a bit of a problem stretch of road.”
“It’s probably because there’s a section there with no houses so people go a bit faster.”
Senior Sergeant Terence Boylan from the Berri Police Station said while the data suggests the average speed travelled on Bruce Road is slightly higher than the posted 50km/h limit, it was not known to police as an accident hotspot or being frequented by hoon drivers.
“Local police have not received traffic complaints from residents regarding speed in the area but will continue to monitor the situation,” he said.
“Mobile traffic safety cameras are deployed in locations assessed through intelligence as having a road safety risk.
“This includes among other things analysis of crash history, Traffic Watch complaints, traffic flow data and inherent road design.
“Anyone who sees dangerous behaviour on our roads is encouraged to report it via the police assistance line on 131 444.”
Other Riverland roads measured in the study recorded speeding rates in line with or below state-wide rates.
To read the study, visit the CASR website (casr.adelaide.edu.au/publications/list/?id=1809).