South Australian road rules, explained in short plain-English videos — checked against the SA Driver's Handbook and the Australian Road Rules. Watch, understand, then practise it on the road. New rules added regularly.
Sound on 🔊 — the rule is narrated as the car drives through the zone.
This is a South Australian road law. In a school zone, the maximum speed is 25 km/h when children are present. The zone begins at the 25 WHEN CHILDREN PRESENT sign and ends at the END SCHOOL ZONE sign.
It applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round — school holidays included — but only when a child is actually present within the zone. If no child is present, the road's normal signed limit applies.
Anyone under 18, or a student of any age wearing school uniform — whether they are on the road, the footpath, the median strip, or on a bicycle.
When a child is present in the school zone, travel at no more than 25 km/h, and do not go over 25 until you have passed the END SCHOOL ZONE sign. The zig-zag and dragon's-teeth markings warn you a zone is just ahead — stay alert and be ready to stop, because children are still learning how roads work.
Verified against the SA Driver's Handbook and the Australian Road Rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sound on 🔊 — the rule is narrated as the car stops at the crossing.
This is a South Australian road law. An emu crossing is a children's crossing marked by orange CHILDREN CROSSING flags on red-and-white posts, and it sits inside a school zone.
It only operates when the flags are displayed — usually around 30 minutes before school, 30 minutes after, and at lunchtime. Because it is in a school zone, travel at no more than 25 km/h when children are present.
Approach at a speed that lets you stop safely before the crossing. When the flags are up, you must stop at the stop line if anyone is on the crossing, or stepping onto it — whether walking or riding a bicycle — and do not move off until the crossing is clear. If a school crossing monitor holds up a STOP sign, stop and wait until it is turned away. Never overtake a vehicle that has stopped at the crossing.
Verified against the SA Driver's Handbook and Australian Road Rule 80. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sound on 🔊 — the car handles all three situations: lights flashing, someone crossing, and lights off.
Prefer it interactive? Watch the animated explainer with narration in 11 languages →
This is a South Australian road law. A koala crossing is a children's crossing with red-and-white posts topped by twin yellow lights. You will usually find one near a school, and it operates only while the yellow lights are flashing.
When the lights flash, a 25 km/h limit applies from the CHILDREN CROSSING · 25 WHEN LIGHTS FLASHING sign, and it holds until you have passed the speed-limit sign (for example 50) on the other side of the crossing.
While the lights are flashing, stop behind the stop line for anyone using the crossing, or about to step onto it, and stay stopped until they have completely crossed and reached the footpath — then move off when it is safe, still at no more than 25. Never overtake a vehicle stopped at the crossing, and don't park within 20 m before or 10 m after it on school days.
The crossing is not operating and the road's normal signed limit applies — but stay alert as you approach: the lights can start flashing at any moment, and someone may still step out. Cover the brake and be ready to stop.
Verified against the SA Driver's Handbook, Australian Road Rule 80 and the SA Police koala crossings fact sheet. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sound on 🔊 — the same road at three moments: 8:47 am on a school day, 12:30 pm, and a Saturday.
Prefer it interactive? Watch the animated explainer with narration in 11 languages →
This is a new South Australian road law, rolling out from November 2025. On busier roads (signed 50 km/h or higher) near around 150 SA schools, a timed 40 km/h limit now applies — shown by a SCHOOL 40 sign listing the times. All sites get their signs by late 2026; some use electronic signs.
The 40 applies on school days from 8–9:30 am and 2–4 pm — even if you can't see a single child. It does not operate on weekends, public holidays or school holidays.
During those times, be at 40 or below before you reach the SCHOOL 40 sign, and do not exceed 40 until your whole car has passed the next speed-limit sign (for example 60) after the school. Outside the times, the road's normal signed limit applies — but stay alert near schools at any hour.
The timed 40 zones do not replace the 25 km/h when children are present zones on local streets — SA now uses both. If the sign shows times, the clock sets the rule; if it says WHEN CHILDREN PRESENT, the children do.
Verified against the DIT 40 km/h school speed limits program and the SA Driver's Handbook. This is general information, not legal advice.
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