South Australian boat operators are reducing their speed in key waterways following the introduction of electronic advisory signs, with early trial results prompting the technology to be rolled out to additional locations.
Data collected by Marine Safety SA shows the digital signs, introduced at North Haven and St Kilda earlier this year, have improved compliance with local water speed limits.
At St Kilda, the average speed of vessels approaching the signs has dropped by more than 30 per cent, equating to a reduction of over two knots. At North Haven, average speeds have fallen by almost 15 per cent.
The results have encouraged authorities to expand the programme, with two additional signs now operating. One has been installed in a seven-knot zone at Barker Inlet in metropolitan Adelaide, while another has been placed within the four-knot zone at Lincoln Cove Marina on the Eyre Peninsula.
The signs provide immediate feedback to boat operators. Vessels travelling at or below the designated speed trigger a display showing their speed alongside a green smiley face. Those exceeding the limit are met with a flashing red warning instructing them to slow down.
Marine Safety SA says the technology addresses a common challenge on the water, where many recreational vessels do not have equipment that clearly displays speed. By providing real-time information, the signs aim to encourage safer behaviour through education rather than enforcement.
Authorities say excessive speed can increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries while generating larger wakes that affect other water users, nearby vessels and shoreline environments.
The initiative comes as compliance remains an ongoing concern. Over the past four years, more than one-third of boat operators were found to be breaching safety regulations, including speed restrictions. Public reports submitted through Marine Safety SA’s online reporting system also show that speed-related concerns accounted for nearly half of all complaints received during the same period.
The use of technology to improve safety was identified as a priority in South Australia’s Recreational Boating Safety Strategy, with officials viewing the signs as a practical way to influence behaviour before enforcement action becomes necessary.
Lincoln Cove Marina’s inclusion marks the first regional deployment of the technology. As one of the state’s busiest marinas, it experiences a high volume of vessel traffic throughout the year.
Marine Safety Minister Joe Szakacs said the signs were helping to improve safety outcomes for both water users and marine wildlife.
He said the initial results had been encouraging and supported the decision to extend the programme to more locations.
Szakacs also noted the value of the signs within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, where boat strikes have previously caused injuries and deaths among Port River dolphins.
While the early data points to improved compliance, authorities will continue monitoring the sites to assess whether the changes are sustained over the longer term and whether further installations may be warranted elsewhere across the state.
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