Speed limits for drivers passing emergency services parked on the side of the road should be increased to avoid rear-end collisions, South Australian Police have said.
The law was changed in 2014 to force motorists to slow down to 25 kilometres per hour (kph) while passing a parked emergency vehicle with flashing lights.
It was put in place to protect police officers and pedestrians and was reportedly requested by emergency services.
Emergency services remain in favour of the 25kph limit, believing it contributed to safer conditions for workers on the road.
But SAPOL and the RAA said it had led to a potentially dangerous situation on stretches of high-speed road — the South-Eastern Freeway in particular.
Contributing to a review of the law change which was tabled in Parliament this week, they said it could result in rear-end collisions as motorists applied the brakes while travelling at 100kph or higher.
Police suggested that in zones of 60kph or higher, the emergency limit should be a slightly faster 40kph, a limit that recently became law in Victoria.
But SA Road Safety Minister Chris Picton said the review did not "recommend a change to the speed limit and there are no immediate plans to do so".
"The review recommended a number of improvements that could be considered, such as further education and additional signage on emergency services vehicles," he said.
The Motor Accident Commission launched an education campaign in 2014, with research later indicating that 80 per cent of the SA public was aware of the new speed limit.
Between September 1 2014 and June 30 2017, police issued 216 expiation notices for those exceeding the limit, 986 cautions and five reports.
| EXPIATION OFFENCE | CAUTION ONLY | EXPIATION NOTICE |
| Exceeding emergency service speed zone by 1-9kph | 362 | 21 |
| Exceeding emergency service speed zone by 10-19kph | 378 | 87 |
| Exceeding emergency service speed zone by 20-29kph | 164 | 70 |
| Exceeding emergency service speed zone by 25-30kph | 82 | 38 |
| Total | 986 | 216 |
