Aussies warned of steep $1,684 fines as road rule shake-up arrives: 'New era'
From this week, South Australian drivers are legally required to slow down to 25km per hour when passing any stationary vehicle displaying flashing amber lights, as fresh road rules come into effect.
The changes mark a significant expansion of previous legislation, which until now applied only to emergency vehicles such as police, fire and ambulance services. The broadened rule now includes the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) patrols, tow trucks and other breakdown and roadside assistance vehicles actively working on the roadside.
"RAA welcomes this new law that will make it safer for drivers when their vehicle breaks down, as well as RAA Patrols and Tow Truck drivers doing their job," a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.
"Along with the state government, RAA has been running an education campaign across various channels to raise awareness of the new law. RAA attends to approximately 950 callouts per day on SA roads, and the roadside can be dangerous for both members whose vehicles have broken down and RAA workers trying to do their job."
The update follows years of advocacy from the RAA's "Slow Down for Yellow Too" campaign, which has argued that roadside recovery crews face the same life-threatening risks as first responders when attending breakdowns and accidents on busy roads.
Senior Manager of Safety, Charles Mountain, welcomed the reforms, branding them "a new era of safety for frontline workers and the hundreds of stranded drivers who rely on their help each day".
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The penalties for failing to comply are steep and are tiered depending on the level of speeding. Drivers caught exceeding the new 25km/h limit by under 10km/h face fines starting at $202 and two demerit points. For more severe breaches — over 30km/h above the limit — fines climb to $1,684 along with seven demerit points. The rule applies across all lanes on multi-lane roads, though vehicles travelling in the opposite direction on divided roads are not required to comply.
The law is underpinned by stark statistics. Between 2019 and early 2025, 23 serious safety incidents or near misses were recorded involving drivers who failed to reduce speed near roadside breakdowns.
In some cases, patrol vehicles were struck or traffic cones and warning equipment destroyed—dangerous events that could have ended in tragedy. The new rule is only triggered when amber lights are actively flashing, typically from rotating beacons or roof-mounted light bars.
Vehicles that use amber lights but are not covered under this legislation—such as garbage trucks, council utility vehicles or construction equipment—are governed by temporary reduced speed limits when signage is in place.
With this legislative change, South Australia aligns itself with other states — New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia — which have already introduced similar protections for recovery and service personnel. Authorities say the move is not just a legal change, but a cultural one, reinforcing the idea that slowing down and being alert could be the difference between life and death.
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