Parking and traffic FAQs

Council no longer installs driveway clearance markers (yellow lines) for individual residential premises, or in streets with variable or occasional parking.

Prior to December 1999, it was an offence for drivers to park a vehicle on-street within 1.8 metres of a driveway.

Since the introduction of the Australian Road Rules in South Australia in 1999, drivers have been allowed to park a vehicle right up to a driveway crossover.

Not withstanding the above, the installation of driveway clearance restrictions may be considered in streets where:

• there is consistent, high level on-street parking and high turnover rates
• improperly parked vehicles regularly disrupt, restrict or hinder access or egress to and from the entrance of an adjacent property
• there is an entrance to a multi-dwelling complex and a restricted sight line in accordance with AS 1742 of approaching traffic when exiting the property due to vehicles parked up to the property crossover
• access to business premises for commercial vehicles and long vehicles is regularly hindered by vehicles parked up to the property crossover
• there is some other unusual, site-specific feature warranting consideration
• there is no or limited capacity to modify the property entrance to improve access.

If you are experiencing issues with vehicles parking across your driveway and restricting access, contact Council on 8416 6333.

The installation of time limit parking controls will be considered by Council on streets where there is a high level of demand for on-street parking and very low turn-over rates, or where safe, convenient traffic flow, access to properties or the general amenity of a street is significantly negatively affected by extended parking.

The installation of time limited parking controls is an appropriate method to control non-residential parking intrusion into residential streets.

Council may install these where:

• there is regular non-resident intrusion into a wholly or primarily residential street
• there is a consistently high level of on-street parking and low vehicle turn-over (75% occupancy for 4 hours per day or greater during business hours) which restricts resident, visitor, service vehicles or emergency services vehicle access to premises in the street
• there is a consistently high level of on-street parking and low vehicle turn-over (75% occupancy for 4 hours per day or greater during business hours) in a street of limited carriageway width and the high parking occupancy levels restricts traffic flow through the street due to limited passing areas within the street
• there is a high level of short duration, event-generated on-street parking and low vehicle turn-over which occurs on a regular basis (75% occupancy for one hour or longer during the event and which occurs on at least a monthly basis) which restricts resident, visitor or emergency service vehicle access to premises in the street
• there is some unusual street-specific feature warranting consideration. 

All fire hydrants are SA Water’s responsibility, which includes maintaining the yellow line marking and the blue ‘cat eyes’. SA Water can be contacted on 1300 883 121.

Council no longer considers individual requests for road humps/slow points, outside of a Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) study. If the road that you are concerned with is not part of a current study, the impacts for this traffic control device (road humps) cannot be investigated and implemented effectively. Your road may, however, be considered in a future LATM.

LATM study for a broad area is used to address common traffic issues such as traffic speeding, rat runs and parking management within a broader road network. Council cannot implement traffic management measures for a single street in isolation because of potential traffic impacts to other streets, such as transferring the traffic/parking issues to the adjacent streets.

The extensive work undertaken for a LATM includes gathering community feedback regarding traffic and parking concerns and collecting and analysing data around road conditions and traffic management measures. Once this has been done, we consult with the community further before recommending a preferred traffic management option, which then needs to be approved by the Elected Council. Once approved by Council, works can be budgeted and undertaken.

A heavy vehicle cannot be parked on a road in a built-up area for more than one hour unless:

• a sign or traffic control device allows a longer period
• the driver is dropping off or picking up goods and stays for no longer than is necessary to complete the task
• the local council has granted an exemption.

A vehicle is deemed 'heavy' if it has a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or more and is, together with any load, projection, caravan or trailer, 7.5 metres long or longer.

Bicycle sharrows are painted on Council's bike direct network* (local roads) to indicate bicycle routes and increase safety for cyclists. Sharrows are not the same as a dedicated bike lane and do not indicate a space that is reserved for bicycles. Instead, sharrows indicate a space that is shared by both cyclists and motorists.

Bicycle sharrows line marking:

• Assist cyclists with positioning on roads that have on-street parallel parking in order to reduce the chance of being hit by an opening door of a parked vehicle.
• Assist cyclists with positioning on roads that are too narrow for a vehicle and a bicycle to travel side by side in the same direction.
• Assist cyclists with navigating a designated bicycle route.
• Alert road users that they are on a bicycle route.
• Alert road users of the location cyclists are likely to occupy within the roadway.
• Encourage safe passing of cyclists by motorists.

*BikeDirect is a strategic network of bicycle routes across the Adelaide metropolitan region in a variety of formats (i.e. arterial roads or local roads, bicycle lanes or off/on road facilities).

You must not stop within 10 metres from the nearest point of an intersecting road or at an intersection without traffic lights, unless parking is permitted by a traffic control sign. Refer to the diagram below:

You must position your vehicle so that there are at least 3 metres of the road alongside your vehicle enabling other vehicles to pass. Unless permitted by a parking sign, leave a minimum of 3 metres between your vehicle and any continuous dividing line or dividing strip; or, if there is no continuous dividing line or strip, leave a minimum of 3 metres from the other side of the road. Refer to the diagram below:

No Stopping

To 'stop' a vehicle means to stop and remain stationary for even a short period of time. You must not stop or park your vehicle in any area where a 'No Stopping' sign or a continuous yellow edge line applies, even to pick up or set down passengers or goods.

No Parking

You must not park your vehicle in an area where a 'No Parking' sign applies, unless:

• you are dropping off or picking up passengers or goods
• you do not leave the vehicle unattended - that is, move more than three metres away
• you complete the dropping off or picking up within 2 minutes.

Note: a No Standing sign has the same meaning as a No Stopping sign.

The functions of both Give Way and Stop signs is such that a vehicle which approaches an intersection must give way to other vehicles.

A decision as to whether a Stop sign rather or a Give Way sign is installed is based on sight distance requirements for drivers on the minor approach based on the Australian Standards.

Stop signs are usually installed where the sight distance in either direction is deficient when measured in accordance with Australian Standards. It has been found that the use of Stop signs in locations with adequate sight distance does not provide additional safety benefits.

If you are having issues with intersection sight distance due to overhanging vegetation and tree branches, contact Council on 8416 6333 or lodge a request online or via the My Local Services app.

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In accordance with Australian Road Rules, T-intersections operate in the same way as a Give Way sign and do not require the installation of a sign.

Give Way signs at 3-way intersections are only used where:

• The terminating road is an arterial road and a driver on this road may not be aware that they do not have priority.
• The T-intersection rule does not operate satisfactorily due to irregular intersection geometry, where it is unclear which are the terminating and continuing approaches. 

While this is frustrating, the answer is no. If you have issues with vehicles parking where you would usually place your bins, you can put these on your driveway on bin collection day.

No. The Australian Road Rules - REG 199 advise that a driver must not park within 3 metres of a public post box. Stopping is permitted if you are dropping off or picking up passengers or mail; or if the driver is permitted to stop under the Australian Road Rules.

No. The Australian Road Rules - REG 194 advise that a driver must not stop within one metre of a fire hydrant, fire hydrant indicator or a fire plug indicator.

The exceptions are if you are the driver of a public bus and you stop at a bus stop or in a bus zone (not leaving the bus unattended), or if you are driving a taxi and you stop at a taxi zone and do not leave the taxi unattended, or if you are driving a public minibus and you stop in a minibus zone and do not leave the minibus unattended.

Arterial roads are those with substantial traffic volumes that are under the care, control and maintenance of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). Council has limited power over traffic issues on a DIT Road and its associated intersections/junctions. If you have any feedback regarding the operations on DIT roads, contact  DIT direct.

All DIT's arterial roads within West Torrens are outlined below:

• Marion Road
• Richmond Road (between Anzac Highway and Marion Road)
• Sir Donald Bradman Drive
• Burbridge Road
• Tapleys Hill Road
• Anzac Highway
• Airport Road
• South Road
• Henley Beach Road
• Holbrooks Road
• James Congdon Drive
• Rowells Road
• Cross Road
• Railway Terrace
• Port Road
• Morphett Road (between Anzac Highway and Glengyle Terrace).

All other roads within West Torrens are owned by Council. It should be noted that all roads which connect to a DIT arterial road (intersection/junction) come under the care, control and maintenance of DIT.

Generally, in narrow residential streets with low traffic volumes and low parking demand, Council prefers not to install parking controls to allow local residents flexibility in where they park within the street.

For most narrow streets, Council has not installed parking controls due to provisions under the Australian Road Rules to regulate parking in such streets. When parking in any street, drivers must ensure that there are at least 3 metres of the road alongside their vehicle that is clear for other vehicles to pass.

Council may install parking controls in a narrow residential street where:

• there is a regular high level of on-street parking and low vehicle turn-over (80% occupancy for 4 hours per day or greater) and the high parking occupancy level restricts traffic flow through the street due to limited passing areas within the street
• there is a regular high level of on-street parking and low vehicle turn-over (80% occupancy for 4 hours per day or greater) which restricts resident, visitor, service vehicle or emergency services vehicle access to or egress from premises in the street
• there is a high level of on-street parking for short durations generated by regular sporting, social, artistic or community events  at a nearby venue which restricts traffic flow through the street
• there is an unacceptable level of drivers parking vehicles opposite another parked vehicle which restricts service vehicle access through the street or is likely to restrict emergency services vehicle access to premises in the street or transit through the street
• there is some unusual street specific feature warranting consideration.

No. Parking a vehicle on a Council verge is an offence under Australian Road Rule 197. Vehicles must not be parked with any part of the vehicle on a footpath and verge. Apart from creating an obstruction for pedestrians, parking on a verge/footpath/footway may damage infrastructure as it is not designed to bear the weight of vehicles.

Yes, however you must apply to Council if the road is to be closed for any period of time (even a short period). We require at least 4 weeks' notice.

The temporary road closure of a section of public road for a community event is regulated by Section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, and the compulsory process is established through the State Government's Guidelines for Events on SA Roads document.

The essential requirements include:

• The event organiser shall be responsible for arranging and meeting the costs of preparing and implementing event management plans for all events.
• The event organiser shall deal with any public liability claims made in respect to the traffic management arrangements for an event.
• Council would need to be informed of the road closing and opening times. The road closing and opening times would need to take into account the time required to install and remove appropriate road signage.
• The Road Traffic Act also requires a public notification of local residents for the road closure. Advanced written notice must be distributed to directly affected residents and the road closure must be declared by public notification in The Advertiser (at the organiser's cost). Further to this, Council must notify all emergency services of the road closure (SA Ambulance, SA Metropolitan Fire Service, State Emergency Services and Police) no less than 2 weeks before the event. 
• For the administration works required for conducting the road closure, Council charges application and authorisation fees. Refer to our website for costs.

Convex mirrors are usually installed at a private car park instead of roads because it is not a legal traffic control device. Convex mirrors show distorted images and do not reflect the true speed of incoming vehicles. For this reason, Council cannot install convex mirrors for road safety improvement purposes.

Council frequently receives complaints about excessive speeding and traffic 'hooning' in local streets. Excessive speeding and loud engine noises should be referred to SAPOL for action. SAPOL's Traffic Watch.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) has control over speed limits on all roads within South Australia, including all local streets within West Torrens. 

Council can propose speed limit amendments to DIT, but it is up to the Department to approve any speed limit changes. More information about changing speed limit and its criteria can be read on the Speed Limit Guideline for South Australia.

For a 40 km/h speed limit reduction to be effective, Council is of the view that the enforcement of the reduced speed limit should be implemented in conjunction with an appropriate road environment and suitable engineering measures. These road engineering measures may include road realignment, delineation and Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) schemes, developed through thorough investigations involving assessments of traffic volumes and speeds, existing road geometry, land use, road function and community demands. This is approach is also consistent with the State Government’s Speed Guideline for South Australia (see excerpt below and underline commentary about the road environment for emphasis).

A 40 km/h speed-limited area may be introduced to help create a speed environment appropriate to local streets.  The speed limit of 40 km/h is generally appropriate in precincts where existing speeds are not overly high.  These may be areas where higher speed streets have been treated with local area traffic management devices, or where speeds are naturally low because of existing road and traffic characteristics (Speed Limit Guideline for South Australia).

In the recent years, Council has implemented many physical traffic control devices to deal with the traffic issues (speeding and hooning) in the community. Such devices are effective in physically restricting the opportunity to speed and installed with support from the community. Solely relying on the use of lower speed limit signage to change driver behaviour is unlikely to be as effective.