sa motor
Electric vehicle sales hit record high
Electric vehicle sales have hit record highs in 2025, according to Australian Automobile Association (AAA) data.
According to AAA’s EV Index, Australians bought 29,244 new battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the June 2025 quarter – a 64 per cent increase compared to the three months prior.
A BEV is a vehicle that runs solely on electricity from batteries and doesn’t use any other source of power. In South Australia, 1458 BEVs were sold in the June quarter – growing from five per cent to seven per cent of all vehicle sales.
AAA says the uplift is likely due to more affordable models hitting the market, and the end of the financial year prompting an increase in sales.
RAA Principal Advisor of Energy and Future Mobility Peter Nattrass isn’t surprised by the increase in popularity.
“We know electric vehicles are growing in popularity as the range of affordable models available in Australia expands,” Peter says.
“We’re also seeing range anxiety – the fear of running out of charge on a long road trip – reduce with RAA’s statewide EV charging network delivering 75 per cent of all charging sites in regional South Australia.”
Do you have an EV-related question? Call 8202 4689 or visit raa.com.au/car-advice
Edwardstown intersection upgrade to boost safety
The Edward Street and South Road intersection, near Castle Plaza shopping centre is currently being upgraded.
The works are part of a broader upgrade in the local area that includes where Raglan Avenue and Price Street intersect with South Road.
Funded by the state and federal governments, the $35 million upgrade is part of the $850 million Broader Network Upgrade package of works included in the River Torrens to Darlington Project.
The Edwardstown works will feature a new link road to help remove the dog-leg movement of traffic travelling between Edward Street and Raglan Avenue.
Upgrades will improve safety for road users and give pedestrians better access to shops and bus stops.
The new link road is expected to open in mid-2026, with the entire project set for completion later in the year.
Visit dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/projects for more information.
Spike in serious motorcycle crashes
Motorcycle safety is again in the spotlight following an increase in crashes.
Serious motorcycle crashes increased by 58 per cent in SA between 2019 and 2023, according to SA crash data analysed by RAA.
In those five years, there were 966 serious crashes involving motorcycles, compared to 611 in the previous five years.
The increase is despite the number of full motorcycle (R) licence holders falling by three per cent compared to 10 years ago.
Alarmingly, one in 10 motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes didn’t hold a valid motorcycle licence.
An overwhelming majority of motorcyclist casualty crashes involved male riders (93 per cent), with those aged 16 to 28 most at risk, accounting for 34 per cent of the total casualty crashes.
There has also been spike in casualty crashes involving riders aged in their 50s.
Between January and mid-October this year, five motorcyclists lost their lives and 147 sustained serious injuries on SA roads.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain urges riders to take extra care on our roads.
“These casualty crashes have a devastating impact on road safety outcomes and the community,” Charles says.
“Almost half of motorcyclist casualty crashes involved a run-offroad crash – most commonly rolling over or hitting a fixed object.”
RAA’s reminding riders to prioritise their visibility by keeping headlights on at all times and buying a motorcycle with as many safety features as possible.
“Please ride to the conditions, at the appropriate speed, and ensure you’re wearing five-star MotoCAPrated safety gear to best prevent injury – including a helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots,” Charles says.
“As a driver, give motorcycles plenty of space and check your blind spots before turning or changing lanes. Signal your intentions early and keep a lookout for motorcycles at intersections.”
Peace of mind for remote travellers
RAA members who’ve broken down in areas without mobile or Wi-Fi coverage can now receive help, thanks to Apple Roadside Assistance via satellite.
Available on iPhone 14 and later models, the nationwide feature means drivers on or near public roads can access assistance through RAA or its affiliate clubs.
The technology builds on Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite, launched in 2022, which connects iPhone users with emergency services when out of range.
RAA responds to more than 350,000 breakdowns a year, with many occurring beyond the reach of mobile networks.
Apple will provide Roadside Assistance via satellite free of charge to iPhone users for the first two years after activating a device.
AMS-affiliated motoring club members receive benefits according to their membership, while non-members can access support on a paid basis.
SA road in focus
In each edition of sa move, we shine the spotlight on a South Australian road.
Length
Casualty crashes
Lives lost
Serious injuries
Minor injuries
The road: Main South Road
Why it’s in focus
Main South Road – from Darlington to Cape Jervis – passes through several areas including Happy Valley, Morphett Vale, Myponga, Yankalilla, and Normanville.
It serves freight, tourism and agriculture industries and is the main route to Kangaroo Island.
In RAA’s Risky Road surveys, Main South Road was nominated as the second-riskiest regional road in 2024 and the riskiest metropolitan road in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Crash history (2019–2023)
Crash hotspots on Main South Road include the Victor Harbor Road to Southern Expressway section (13 per cent of total casualty crashes) and the section between Sellicks Beach and Yankalilla.
Rear-end collisions were the most common crash type at about 35 per cent, although they were mostly low severity.
Four in five casualty crashes occurred on the Darlington to Aldinga Beach Road section. While this section is about a third of the road’s total length, traffic volumes are five to 10 times higher.
The most common fatal and serious injury crashes were hitting a fixed object (18 crashes) and right-angle crashes (17). As a popular motorcycle route, about 13 per cent of casualty crashes involved motorcyclists.
Recent upgrades
In 2021, RAA reviewed the corridor south of Sellicks Beach and recommended overtaking lanes, improved signage and other upgrades.
Duplication between Seaford and Aldinga Beach is complete and the Aldinga Beach to Sellicks Beach duplication is due to finish in 2026.
Other planned upgrades include $32 million for three new overtaking lanes between Normanville and Cape Jervis and $80 million for safety upgrades between Myponga and Yankalilla.
What RAA wants done
Planned investments will help to address a horror 2024, with six lives lost along Main South Road.
RAA is advocating for improvements to the DV Fleming Bridge, where road capacity is insufficient, contributing to crashes and bottlenecks.
RAA is recommending a third lane in each direction is added between Victor Harbor Road and the Southern Expressway to improve safety and economic growth.
Intersections, including Country Road (Sellicks Beach) and Pages Flat Road (Myponga), also need critical safety improvements, which RAA will continue to advocate for.
Let RAA know about a road that you find confusing, unsafe or poorly signed at raa.com.au/report-a-road-issue
New 40km/h school speed limits
Motorists will now have to slow down to 40km/h on several major Adelaide roads near schools during drop-off and pick-up periods.
The new 40km/h time-based speed limits apply to major roads near schools with speed limits of 50km/h or higher.
The new speed limits are designed to help children get to and from school safely.
Kensington Road (at Marryatville High School) and Goodwood Road (at Goodwood Primary School and St Thomas School) will be the first sections of road to be reduced to 40km/h.
About 150 schools across SA will have the new speed limit implemented by the end of 2026.
Other major roads that will see reduced speed limits include Cross Road, Port Road, Unley Road, The Grove Way, Holbrooks Road and Marion Road.
The 40km/h speed limits will apply on school days, from 8am until 9.30am and from 2pm until 4pm. Weekends, public holidays and school holidays will be excluded.
Existing 25km/h school zone speed limits on local roads will not change, so road users must reduce their speed and take caution near schools.
RAA Senior Traffic Engineer Matthew Vertudaches welcomes this announcement by the South Australian Government.
“RAA supports measures that better protect vulnerable road users such as school children and other pedestrians,” Matthew says.
For more details, visit dit.sa.gov.au
RAA member wins new BYD
Long-time RAA member, Paul Brownwood, is the proud new owner of a BYD Dolphin Essential.
Paul’s name was drawn from thousands of entries in RAA’s Win an EV competition run by RAA Charge and BYD.
“At first I didn’t believe it when I heard I’d won,” Paul says. Paul loves the new BYD, which his wife (Therese, pictured left with Paul) drives regularly, and is impressed by the electric vehicle.
“I drive an Isuzu MUX and it’s amazing how much quieter the BYD is on the road,” he says.
“We leave it charging each night and get plenty of range for our needs. We’ve taken it to Goolwa too, so it’s been really versatile.”
IMAGES: Department for Infrastructure and Transport; Getty; RAA/Thomas Aldahn, Wil Stevens, Matthew Vertudaches.
